CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The sprawling Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian reservation in the western part of North Carolina has been trying for years to revive a cultural symbol: white-tailed deer.

Now the American Indian tribe is partnering with state wildlife agencies in a long term project it hopes will replenish the deer population on the 56,000-acre reservation.

During the next three years, between 25 and 50 white-tailed deer - mostly females in small family groups - will be relocated from Morrow Mountain State Park to the reservation, known as the Qualla Boundary.

The Cherokees will place the animals in a special habitat improved for browsing and off-limits to hunting. The program will begin this month, with biologists using darts to tranquilize the animals, collecting data on age and health, and fitting each with a tag and a radio collar.

The deer will be kept in a large pen on the reservation and closely monitored for about four weeks before being released, said Charlie Peek, spokesman for the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, one of the agencies involved in the deer relocation project.

“They asked for our help, and this is a good way to do it,” Peek said. He added that the Cherokees are paying for the cost of the project.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 01/12/2014