Wardens at the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve between Almere and Lelystad on Monday began a mass cull aimed at reducing the red deer population by 1,800.

The final legal obstacle to the cull was lifted on Friday, paving the way for wardens to shoot some 20 animals a day until the population has been cut back to around 490. Hunting can take place 19 hours a day but the court said it should start as early in the morning as possible. The licence runs until April 1.

As yet it is unclear what will happen to the dead animals. One option is to leave them to decompose on the reserve, another is to sell them as meat. However, in order to do this, the meat needs to be approved as healthy and no deal has yet been agreed with game butchers, broadcaster NOS said.

This weekend it emerged that the ministry of defence has imposed a temporary flight ban over the reserve which local broadcaster Omroep Flevoland says targets small plans, helicopters and drones.

A police spokesman said the ban is one of several measures being taken to ensure public order during the cull.

Local officials have said earlier they expected protests about the shooting, following several demonstrations last winter.