Southold to address overabundance of roaming deer

Southold Town is set to hold a meeting Wednesday to address the deer problem in the area.
The deer forum aims to educate the public about the overabundance of deer roaming the town.
Farmers can get what's called a nuisance permit that allows them to hunt deer on their property.  Additionally, there's also hunting on public lands like parks and preserves.
Town officials say the only way to attack the problem is to expand hunting.
"Ideally, what we are looking for is landowners to maybe open up their land, their properties to hunting. That way we can move out of the preserves and into those fringe areas where the deer like it," says Southhold Town Supervisor Scott Russell.
Some residents told News 12 that they don’t like the idea of hunting on their property and called it dangerous.
But town officials believe most residents will support the move. They cite not only the economic cost to farmers and homeowners, but an increase in car accidents involving deer and the fear over tick-related diseases.
Officials say the hunting is done by bow and arrow and the meat from the deer is given to food pantries.