Presque Isle Deer Hunt Controls Population - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Presque Isle Deer Hunt Controls Population

Wednesday through Friday, part of Presque Isle will be temporarily closed for the annual deer hunt.

The purpose of the three day hunt is to control the deer population on the peninsula.

85 hunters a day are allowed to hunt, with rifles and crossbows.

Rangers said there are about 50 deer currently making Presque Isle their home, and they want to get that number down to about 30.

Keeping numbers low means a more balanced natural environment at the state park.

"It's really because of the ecosystem of the park and the sustainability of the deer herd," said Assistant Park Manager Jason Heasley. "If the population of deer rises too high, there's not enough food for them to survive."

There are still some spots available to hunt during the next two days. To sign up, stop by the Stull Interpretive Center on Presque Isle.