WARSAW — For the first time in many years, any interested archer can apply to participate in the Warsaw Deer Task Force’s reduction effort for 2017.

State and local officials have determined that deer overpopulation inside the city limits of Warsaw has become a public nuisance.  Reported traffic accidents, observation, citizen complaints, property damage and survey results all support this conclusion.  It has also been determined that not attempting to reduce the deer population will be a greater threat to the health and safety of residents living in our area.

While other population control options such as fencing, repellents, trap and transfer, fertility agents, sharp shooting and controlled public shotgun hunts have been studied and restudied, local and state officials have agreed that bow hunting consistently proves to be the safest, most cost efficient and effective option for deer management in urban and suburban areas.

For 2017, an archer applying for this reduction effort must be a resident of Indiana, and must harvest a female deer first. Archers participating in the reduction effort will do so using their own State deer tags. Also new for 2017, there is a limit of two private properties per archer.

Any person interested in participating must apply and complete the mandatory training. This year there will be two training sessions held at the Warsaw Police Department. The sessions will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Sept. 16.

More information, forms and applications can be found online.