Little Chute deer cull starts Monday

LITTLE CHUTE - Heesakker Park in Little Chute will close until Dec. 20 as hunters try to thin the number of deer in the park.

The DNR estimates roughly 50 deer live in the park. Village leaders say six hunters will participate each week. The hunters had to pass tests and background checks.

Rick Sanderfoot lives across the street from Heesakker Park says the number of deer has just gotten too high.

"I think the neighbors that are in this area - and I'm talking five, six blocks around this area - they're all for it for the most part, from what I've heard," he said.

Not Lee Hietpas, who says he built his house near the park because of the animals.

"They sleep back here,” Hietpas said. “I love the deer."

Residents say they sometimes see up to 35 deer at a time running through these woods.

"I have deer through my yard all the time. As a matter of fact, we always joke in the winter they'll be a path right through here in the snow,” Sanderfoot said. “We've seen five or six deer coming through here at a time."

Earlier this year, controversy erupted in Oshkosh over a deer cull. Some residents in Little Chute we talked to think the village should just leave the deer alone. However, even Hietpas says maybe the herd has gotten too large.

"It's gotten to the point where maybe some should be culled out,” said Hietpas. “Hopefully they don't take too many."

There is no word yet on how many deer the village hopes to hunt.