RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – In an effort to both cut down on property damage and make a donation to those in need, Rapid City will be culling the local deer population.

The harvest will be a total of 250 deer starting next month. City Parks Division manager Scott Anderson said.

Hunters will use firearms to harvest the deer, and Anderson said because of that, safety is a focus.

The deer harvest program has donated thousands of pounds of high quality venison to Feeding South Dakota with their previous donations.

The effort will take place over a few weeks in January, and City Parks Department personnel will be the ones pulling the trigger for the duration of the project.