It's archery deer hunting season at Cooperstown Country Club in Cooperstown, N.D.
And it's open to anyone with an archery deer license, including youths.
The community is trying bow hunting as a way to thin the growing deer herd at the local golf course, which is located adjacent to a residential area on the northwest edge of this Griggs County town of 1,000 about 85 miles southwest of Grand Forks.
"Deer are really becoming a problem," said golf course superintendent Ryan Hardy, who estimates the golf course deer population at 100. Ten deer carcasses were removed from the course this past spring. The deer died naturally.
"We've been having trouble on the greens," he said. Deer urine and feces cause problems for greens keepers. "We're starting to see paw marks on the greens. They run in the early morning or early evening."
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Originally, the program was designed only for youths, but organizers decided there might not be enough interest. So, it was opened up to youths and adults, Hardy said.
Jay Grover, another local resident, runs a youth archery club. He's hoping to attract in-creased interest in youth archery hunting.
Three youths have signed up this week, but Hardy said he doesn't think hunting has begun yet. The hunters will have some specific rules.
Land directly to the west is posted for no hunting. Land to the north is owned by the city.
Areas to the east and south are residential neighborhoods in the city.
No guns, including muzzleloaders.
They must have archery deer licenses and hunt during the legal archery season, which runs until early January.
And they can't hunt on holes 1, 4 or others that are within 300 feet of the residential neighborhoods.
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"We want to keep it on the back of the course, holes 7, 8 and 9," Hardy said.
Reach Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 110; or send e-mail to kbonham@gfherald.com .
