COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A South Carolina agency says an online forum on outdoor issues it started 10 years ago has grown so popular the state agency can't afford to keep it.

The State reported the Department of Natural Resources plans to end the forum Monday.

The agency's technology staff has been trimmed by state budget cuts and no longer thinks it can monitor the discussions properly.

Employees monitor the comments to make sure nothing extremely objectionable is posted.

The forum has nearly 8,000 registered members who cover a wide variety of topics, with hunting and fishing discussions sometimes becoming heated.

Forum members have called and written to DNR board members and the state Legislature to try to keep the computer service.

DNR spokesman Brett Witt says the forum has become bigger than the agency can handle.

Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com

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