Deer hunts deemed a success

INDIANAPOLIS (AP/WANE) -- - Hunters bagged more than 1,300 deer during controlled hunts at 17 state parks during the past month.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says hunters killed more than 200 deer at Versailles State Park in southeastern Indiana. They took more than 100 at Potato Creek and Tippecanoe River state parks in northern Indiana and at Charlestown and Harmonie state parks in the south.  40 deer were taken at Pokagon State Park.

The controlled hunts took place Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

DNR biologists each year evaluate which parks require deer reductions.

They base their decisions on how well vegetation recovers after being eaten by deer and how many deer hunters culled at a park previously.