Shhhh, don't tell Hayden Panettiere, but a legal deer hunt is set to begin Tuesday in New Jersey. Organizers of the 10-day hunt say the South Mountain Reservation, located in the state, is experiencing a problem of deer overpopulation. These problems - specifically vegetation being destroyed, motorist hazards and the threat of Lyme disease - led to the decision to reduce the number of deer in the area. The reservation can sustainably hold 60 deer; currently an esimated 300 to 400 of the animals populate it.

Every Tuesday and Thursday until February 28, a team of 15 volunteer hunters will hunt the deer from perches in trees. The hunters have completed a safety course and must follow certain instructions including remaining at least 450 feet from any homes and shooting downward so missed shots hit the ground.

Meanwhile activists are criticizing the movie, saying they prefer to call the animals "Bambi," and claiming non-lethal methods should be used as opposed to shooting. However a representative for the area claims this is the best option available.

"What we're doing on Tuesday is not something that I want to do. It is something that we have to do," said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., speaking to reporters and protesters Friday. "We just have too many deer on our property."

Several areas in North America that are heavily populated with deer and allow organized hunts to help control the population. If deers are becoming problematic by destroying lawns and gardens and are likely to die from lack of food simply because there are too many, is this more humane than death from starvation?

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