A judge will decide whether or not Binghamton University can move forward with a plan to reduce its deer population on Thursday. It's a plan that included the use of sharp-shooters and it's one that was met with some opposition among community members. Our Melissa Kakareka tells us where things stand on both sides of the argument.

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VESTAL, N.Y. -- Binghamton University is trying to control an overpopulation of deer on its Nature Preserve.

"We want to see to see probably 80 to 90 percent culling of the deer. We don't want to obliterate them completely by any means, but we want to bring the population way down," said BU Associate Professor of Biology Julian Shepherd.

The university had originally planned to hire professional sharpshooters to thin the herd over winter break. But a judge ordered a temporary restraining order on the plan last week after a resident living nearby expressed concern.

"There is a safety issue. The nature preserve is only 200 to 300 acres in size. There are houses that directly near the preserve, one owned by my client, Charles Carpenter. If rifles are fired in this small area, there is a possibility that bullets will strike homes, children, neighbor," said David Bernheim, Plaintiff's Lawyer.

Members of the community have also organized a petition of more than a thousand signatures to present to university officials.

"Whatever the issue is that they want to solve with slaughter, it's our position that there are non-lethal ways and non-violent ways of solving whatever problems exist," said petition organizer William Houston.

In response, Binghamton University officials have said they have considered other options such as relocation of the deer and sterilization, but they say none of those options will work. They maintain that the deer population must be reduced or there will be a devastating impact on the ecosystem of the nature preserve.

"They are preventing forest regeneration. There haven't been any new saplings coming up because they chew them. We also lost forest floor plants. They have become much sparser," said Shepherd.

The case will be heard at the State Supreme Court in Binghamton on Thursday morning. Culling may begin within days if Binghamton University wins the case.

Some opponents say they plan to camp out in the Nature Preserve and disrupt the culling if Binghamton University wins the case.