Deer Culling to Continue, But Rounds to Change

The that began in 2010 will continue in 2011 and is expected to begin next month.

"Although we probably stand opposed to it, it did stay carefully monitored last year," said at the village board meeting Monday.

began last year for the first time in Will County. Many residents were concerned about the process by which the Forest Preserve of Will County chose to cull the deer - using sharpshooter volunteers, which were later replaced by forest preserve officers.

Cook pointed out two issues that came out of the culling last year that officials would be addressing before culling this year.

The first is changing the size of the round used in the culling. In an interview after the regular board meeting Monday, Cook said the rounds will allow the shooters to aim for a larger part of the deer.

Last year, sharpshooters used a .223 caliber ammo. This year they will be using .308 caliber.

"It's a bigger, heavy-duty round with more impact for the deer," Cook said.

In addition to changing the rounds, officials will be removing carcasses differently this year as well. Cook said last year village officials received complaints about blood trails being left in the woods, where the deer were removed.

"What they'll do now is use tarps or drag them across the ground," Cook said during the meeting.

Cook also mentioned that the kill ratio last year was 91 percent.

"(That's) almost one of out of every 10 bullets and we don't know where they went," he said.