Photo by Mike Speaks.

The culling of deer in Rock Creek Park is now underway.

The National Park Service said the deer reduction, achieved through sharpshooting, will take place on unannounced evenings through March 31, 2015, between 5 p.m. and 4 a.m. Hunting is not allowed in the park. Here are the roads that may be closed when these activities are underway:

Ross Drive; Ridge Road south of Grant Road; Glover Road south of the Rock Creek Park Horse Center; and Horse Stable Road NW. Road closures may also be in effect from 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.: Beach Drive; Wise Road; the entire length of Glover Road; the entire length of Ridge Road; Grant Road; Sherrill Drive; Joyce Road; Morrow Drive; West Beach Drive at Parkside Drive; Stage Road; Piney Branch Parkway; and Bingham Drive, NW.

The controversial method of reducing the deer population is necessary, NPS says, to allow the forest to regenerate. Ideally, NPS says there should be between 15 and 20 deer per square mile in the park. As of fall 2013, a density survey determined that number at 77 deer per square mile. Numbers for 2014 are not currently available.

During the last deer shooting season, 106 deer were killed, with 3,300 pounds of venison donated to the D.C. Central Kitchen.

“The target density could be achieved by the spring of 2015,” NPS said in an FAQ about the deer culling. “It may take six or more years from the start of deer management operations for vegetation growth to recover to the point where forest regeneration is sustainable.”