County to Hold Deer Hunt at Lorimer Park, Get Your Lottery Ticket

The Montgomery County Parks and Heritage Services division will hold a deer hunt at Lorimer Park in Abington on Monday, Nov. 5. 

Who’s going to shoot the deer? It could be you … if you win the lottery.

Montgomery County Communications Assistant Jessica Willingham said yesterday that those interested in participating in the hunt may apply by sending their information to Lorimer Park. An interested hunter must have his or her Pennsylvania hunting license and his or her antlerless tag for Wildlife Management Unit 5D.

Click here for more information on Pennsylvania hunting licenses. 

Fifty-five people will be chosen by lottery, which will take place Oct. 1. All applicants will receive a letter following the lottery informing them whether or not they have been picked. Those who are chosen must attend a pre-hunt safety meeting later in October. 

Buck and antlerless deer may be harvested; the hunt is limited to conventional archery equipment and crossbows.

“The hunt started in 2002 at the strong request of local neighbors who were tired of too many deer, the traffic crashes associated with them and the transport of ticks,” Willingham said. “The neighbors petitioned the Abington Commissioners ... and the county commissioners directed the Parks and Heritage Services division to hold the hunt.”

That Monday, the park will be closed to non-hunters. Signs will be posted throughout the park about a week prior to the hunt, and a letter will be distributed to all residents who live adjacent to the park, according to Willingham. 

“On hunt day all major access points will be manned with park staff and/or police officers,” Willingham said. “There is also constant patrolling. Non-hunter access hasn’t really been an issue.”

Hunters may harvest as many deer as they have legal tags for, Willingham said.

“If they are fortunate enough to take a deer, most will keep it for personal consumption,” she said. “If they decide they do not want their deer, the game commission officer on duty has a list of needy families and food banks who will take it. None get wasted.”

As for the opposition to the hunt, Willingham said, “Almost every year there is a group of about eight people who show up to protest. They carry signs and voice their opinion. They are permitted access to the main parking lot and they are monitored by police. Hunters and staff do not park in that area.”

Those interested in participating should mail or drop off a 3-by-5 card with their contact information, Pennsylvania hunting license number and WMU 5D antlerless tag number, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to Lorimer Park:

183 Moredon Road,
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.

Applications must be received by Sunday, Sept. 30. No emailed applications will be accepted.