County Planning Deer Hunt for Norristown Farm Park

The Montgomery County Department of Parks and Heritage Services will conduct a one day, controlled deer hunt at the on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 from 7am to 3 pm. 

According to a release issued by the county, the hunt is intended to reduce the effects of too many deer, including reducing the number of deer/vehicle accidents, damage to the park’s varied ecosystems, neighboring landscapes and agricultural commodities as well as the transport of Lyme Disease carrying ticks.

Hunters will be required to use a 12-gauge shotgun containing slug ammunition only (no buckshot). All hunters will be required to hunt from self-provided, self-climbing tree stands with a safety harness. No ladder stands, screw in pegs or any other device which could affect the tree’s health will be permitted.

All hunters selected in the lottery will scout their respective hunting area and choose (with park approval) a tree where they will set up their portable climber on the day of the hunt. Special accommodations will be made for those with documented physical limitations/restrictions. Such documentation must be be presented.

This is an antlerless deer hunt. No antlered deer may be harvested. All interested candidates must posses a minimum of one antlerless deer tag for Wildlife Management Unit 5C in order to participate.

Hunters 21 years of age and older (18 years of age or older for active duty/full-time military personnel) interested in participating in this year’s hunt should mail or drop-off a 3” x 5” card containing the following information:

• Name
• Legal address
• Telephone number
• Driver’s license number
• Pa. hunting license number
• WMU Area 5C antlerless tag number(s). 

In addition, each applicant is asked to submit a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope for return correspondence. Applications can be mailed to: Norristown Farm Park, 2500 Upper Farm Road, Norristown, PA 19403. Please write “Deer Hunt” in the lower left corner. Internet or e-mail applications will not be accepted. 

All applications must be post marked and received by the close of business on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Only one application per candidate will be accepted.  Illegible or incomplete applications (those not containing all of the information listed above) will be rejected. 

A public lottery will be held at the Farm Park Headquarters on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10am. Hunters may be present on the day of the drawing but are not required to be. A total of 38 qualified hunters will be selected.

Successful applicants, drawn in the lottery will be issued a permit and will be required to attend a mandatory safety meeting prior to the hunt. Failure to attend the mandatory safety meeting will result in your being disqualified from the hunt.

All Pennsylvania Game Commission laws will be in effect on the day of the hunt and the hunt will be closely monitored for safety and compliance by officials from various law enforcement agencies. 

Please note that the Farm Park will be closed to the general public as well as all other passive recreational activities on the day of the hunt.

For additional information concerning this year’s controlled deer hunt, call the Farm Park office at 610-270-0215, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7am and 4:15pm.  Additional information is also available online at www.parks.montcopa.org.