Hunters have taken 29 deer in a special city hunt that began on Nov. 1

According to Austin Park and Recreation Director Kim Underwood, the majority of the deer came from the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and Bustad Park. Only one deer has been harvested at Todd Park.

Of the 29 deer, 25 were does and four were bucks.

Hunters are required to report the number of deer they harvest.

Underwood anticipates that more deer will be taken once nearby corn fields are harvested.

The City Council voted for the special deer hunt within city limits earlier this year after residents were complaining of large deer populations damaging their yards. Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Director Luke Reese told the council that large deer herds can wreak havoc with ecological preservation.

Austin’s special deer hunt received approval from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

More than 70,000 deer were registered across Minnesota in the first two days of deer hunting season. Last year, 173,213 deer were harvested throughout the state.