SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Federal wildlife officials will begin work this week to thin Syracuse’s out-of-control deer population.

The deer management program involves bringing in professional sharpshooters to kill deer at night in predetermined, remote parts of the city.

A special task force appointed by Mayor Ben Walsh developed the plan earlier this year. The Common Council authorized the shooters and approved $55,000 to pay them in October.

Walsh’s office released an informational sheet today outlining basic details of the deer program.

Trained professionals from the United States Department of Agriculture will establish bait traps for deer. After several weeks, sharpshooters will be deployed to take out deer feeding at those traps.

Sharpshooters will work only at night.

The sharpshooters will use noise suppressors and will remove the deer carcasses before dawn. The deer will be butchered and the meat donated to local homeless shelters.

All culling sites are at least 300 feet from a road and 500 feet from a residence. The city has identified sites on the east, west and south sides of the city. Those sites are on either city property or private land where the owner has given permission.

City officials won’t disclose the sites, since they hope to avoid culling opponents arriving to interfere with the sharpshooters’ work. Syracuse police are aware of the sites and the cull times. All sites are closed to the public at night.

The culling will continue through March of 2020.