Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) As a lot of towns in Western New York struggle to co-exist with a growing deer population, the Town of Aurora, is doing something about it.
"It's well known in our community that we have too many deer. They're
everywhere," said Town Board member Joe McCann on WBEN Wednesday.
"We looked into it and contacted the Department of Environmental Conservation. They made us aware of a deer management assistance program, that already exists in other local towns."
The program allows licensed hunters to get additional doe permits.
The key, McCann said, to reducing the deer population, is to get people to specifically hunt does, or females.
The town board has taken the first step in the process by passing a resolution declaring deer a nuisance.
Next, hunters can apply to get two additional doe permits.
"All other hunting regulations still apply," said McCann. "The program runs during the regular hunting season. This only applies to the town of Aurora. It does not apply to the village of East Aurora. You are still required to be a minimum distance from a dwelling. And you would need permission from a landowner."
McCann added that the key to the program is recognizing that this is about deer management, not deer extinction.