Around 60 hunters will take part in this weekend’s Lake Darling Deer Hunt. DNR Park Ranger Jeff Hildebrand says it’s been a few years since the last time Lake Darling State Park held the hunt, due to a drop in the amount of deer when construction began.

This kind of hunt is held at state parks and in cities to curb or avoid overpopulation. He explains when the park is overpopulated with deer they see an increase in the amount of traffic accidents, especially on Highway 1. Crop damage on land surrounding the park also becomes a problem. Hildebrand adds when a large deer population is concentrated in a certain area, the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease is another concern.