St. John’s Abbey Arboretum to Allow in Bow Hunters

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) - St. John's Abbey Arboretum is soon allowing in bow hunters in an effort to control the deer population.

According to reports, 105 hunters will be out from Oct. 26 through Dec. 31 or until 55 deer are killed. It's the 12th since hunting was allowed in the 1990s. It'll be the first archery hunt.

Officials hope to reduce the population to nine per acre, instead of 15 per acre. They hope it will allow young trees and other plants the deer have been eating to flourish.

They also hope for a drop in car-deer crashes on the St. John's University entrance road.

The rules require hunting parties to shoot three antlerless deer before taking a buck. The abbey will keep track of those numbers.