A new court ruling has cleared the way for a deer cull at the William Floyd Estate in Mastic Beach.

A federal judge rejected a legal challenge from activists who tried to stop federal efforts to control the exploding deer population.

Employees with the National Park Service and other agencies were supposed to start thinning the deer population at the estate last week. But three "out-of-state" animal rights groups were granted a temporary restraining order to suspend the deer hunt.

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Local wildlife advocates are furious about the ruling, saying humans should not intervene. The National Park Service says deer are destroying the landscape and endangering other wildlife.

The deer cull will last until March 31. All venison from the hunt will be donated.