From the early Edo period, the antlers of the deer have been cut to prevent harm to people. This originally started at Kofukuji temple, and was done by Nara Officers, who chased the deer into blind alleys in Naramachi. Beginning in 1891, there were seats along the Kasuga Omotesando for watching the event, but after 1929, when the deer park was finished, one part of the park was reserved for the antler-cutting event. Three or four deer are allowed in at a time, and shrine attendants cut the antlers with a saw.