MARSHALL — Approving archery deer hunting for Garvin Park wasn’t controversial for Lyon County commissioners earlier this week. However, in discussion of deer hunting in the park, commissioners did weigh in on comments made by area residents at a meeting with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources last week.

Commissioner Rick Anderson disagreed with comments that deer were getting harder to find in Lyon County.

Anderson said based on his observations, “We do have deer,” in the southern part of Lyon County.

The meeting, held in Minneota, was one of several held across Minnesota to discuss the new deer plan finalized this year. The plan called for a slight increase in the deer harvest this year, to 200,000. However, members of the public had voiced concerns about deer being overharvested.

At Tuesday’s county board meeting, Lyon County Commissioners approved archery deer hunting from September 15 to December 31in Garvin Park, with a $5 permit registration fee. However, Anderson told Lyon County Environmental Administrator Roger Schroeder that there needed to be staff at the park to register permits.

Commissioners asked Schroeder how many archery permits are usually issued for deer at Garvin Park.

“The numbers have been climbing,” Schroeder said.