Photo: James MacKay/WBZ NewsRadio
MILTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Bow hunting season is underway this month in certain parts of the Blue Hills Reservation.
According to the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), bow hunting is allowed Monday through Thursdays during the month of November except on Thanksgiving.
Officials licensed bow hunters can help reduce the overpopulation of deer and the overconsumption of vegetation in the area.
Mike, a licensed hunter from Milton, said controlling the deer population is good for the environment. "People complain that the deer run out into the road, and they are hitting them with their cars," he said.
But Leslie, who walks the reservation trails, said she has concerns about the use of bows and arrows. "You think that's a good fit for a neighborhood with children and handicapped people?" she asked.
State wildlife officials say a forested area can sustain about 20 deer per square mile, while the goal for the Blue Hills Reservation is between six and 18 deer per square mile.
Officials estimated about 26 deer per square mile in the reservation last year.
The reservation covers about 11 square miles with a cap on licensed hunters set at 250.
Archery hunting for deer is allowed on a little more than half of that area.
WBZ NewsRadio's James MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.
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