Pierre Police To Reduce Urban Deer Herd By 20

Pierre commissioners have approved a plan to kill 20 deer within city limits this year.

That was the recommendation of the city's Deer Management Task Force. Chairwoman Jeanne Goodman says the group tried to reach a "socially acceptable" number. Twenty deer is the lowest number in the six years the city has been reducing the urban deer herd to cut down on property damage and vehicle accidents.

The city will request a permit from the state Game, Fish and Parks Department to kill 20 antlerless deer between Nov. 15 and March 1. Police will conduct the hunt. The deer carcasses will be made available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.