Deer culling in Will County will get a little more time as public opposition to the issue forced the forest preserve board to rethink the matter.

The forest preserve board planned to vote on how to manage deer habiting on forest preserve property as deer numbers have increased over the last decade and are beginning to have a negative impact on vegetation.

However, the board took the public hunting item off the table and send the entire matter back to the operations committee where it originated for further discussion.

The decision to postpone the issue all seemed to come about because a group of residents spoke out strongly against both allowing recreational hunting and killing the deer, also known as “culling” to reduce their numbers.

Some members of the district’s operations committee had previous supported the use of sharp-shooting and public hunting as options to manage the deer. But it seems more members on the full board disagreed than agreed.

“We would be the only forest preserve district doing hunting,” said Board Commissioner Kathleen Konicki, “I would like to see hunting off the table.”

Forest Preserve District President Cory Singer, R-Frankfort said that he believed a public hunting program was possible.

“We have a lot of responsible hunters,” said Singer, “There is no reason why we couldn’t implement a program here. There are people who have a moral problem with killing deer. I respect that, but we need to have a culling program.”

As the meeting progressed it became difficult to determine if the real issue was deer management or if the issue was about allowing recreational hunting to take place on forest preserve property.

Many of the residents who spoke out against killing the deer didn’t seem to want either.

“I moved out there because of the wildlife,” said Bob Kut, a resident of Homer Glen. “I haven’t seen a change in the population. I say leave them alone. They got there by themselves and they will leave by themselves.”

While others spoke about the dangers of hunters with firearms in the forest preserve.

“Rifle bullets will not stop at a subdivision where people live,” said Water Krzak, of New Lenox, who is also a member of the National Rifle Association. “If you allow this, someone is going to get killed. You say never, you said never to an oil spill, never to 911. It’s going to happen,” he said.

Several proponents to public hunting also brought their side of the issue before the board.

“Public hunting is a tradition and a foundation, not only in our communities, but across the nation,” said Joe Cook, of Channahon, “Hunters are environmentalist,” he added meaning that they help to manage their hunting areas by keeping them clean and balanced, he said.

And Todd Lane, a resident of New Lenox said that people were afraid of the unknown.

“People don’t like change. When change comes, it’s hard to accept,” said Lane. “People don’t like guns. People don’t like hunting, but we have a deer issue and we have to manage the deer.”

There was also talk of managing the dear using immunal contraceptives. However, Forest Preserve Executive Director Marcy DeMauro said the procedure was not allowed by the state.

“It’s not a method that’s available legally to us,” she said.

The preserve is looking for a solution to manage a high-density levels of white-tailed deer who are living in the preserves and damaging preserve health. Their over browsing over the last decade has become noticeable, according to district officials. And if left unmanaged the preserve will see a dramatic change in the woodland areas. The deer are also consuming food sources for other wildlife, officials added.

This year the forest preserve hosted four public meetings to discuss its proposed plan to manage the population of deer. About 450 people attended meetings in Plainfield, Channahon, New Lenox, and Beecher.

The next meeting of the operations committee will be held on at 9:30 a.m. on June 30, at the Sugar Creek Administration Center, in Joliet.