A South Carolina golfing destination will allow night shooting with suppressed rifles in an attempt to cull more than 30% of its out-of-control white-tailed deer herd.

Last week, officials in Kiawah Island, SC, voted to hire wildlife biologists to cull a significant portion of its deer herd. The barrier island is located on the Atlantic coast about 25 miles southwest of Charleston in Charleston County. It is primarily a private beach and golf resort.

According to published reports, the 8,320-acre island is home to a deer herd of about 1,500 whitetails. Officials hope the first year cull effort will reduce the herd by 400. The culling program will likely be in place for several years for the herd to be trimmed to a level that is in line with the land’s carrying capacity.

At its current level, the Kiawah deer population is estimated to be 111 deer per square mile. That is almost four times the population density that’s recommended throughout North America. Hunting is not allowed on Kiawah Island.

The deer will be culled by hired wildlife biologists, who will be allowed to use rifles with suppressors, and they will also be allowed to hunt at night. It has not been reported whether or not the biologists will be shooting the deer over bait stations, although this practice is very common for such operations.