Valley Forge Park Hunt Culls over 300 Deer

A team of marksmen armed with special non-lead ammunition and working under tightly controlled conditions shot and killed 377 white tailed deer in Valley Forge National Historical Park over a four month span.

The deer reduction program ran from November 2011 through March of this yeat and will be repeated next winter and on until the deer population is reduced to 31-35 deer per square miles (approximately 165-185 deer).

Back in 2009 the deer population density was much higher.  According to the Park's website, "the estimated deer density (pre-fawning) after the second year of operations is 71 deer per square mile (374 deer). This represents a significant population reduction from the estimated 241 deer per square mile (1,277 deer) present in 2009."

The increased deer population presents a threat to foliage and vegetation in the park. Deer can consume up to nine pounds of food every day.

Tightly Controlled Deer Hunts

Safety during deer hunts near residential areas in the park is a prime concern, according to the National Park Service.

The Valley Forge National Historical Park website descirbes the precautions that are taken during the hunt:

"This action included extensive measures to ensure a safe, humane, and successful operation, such as using highly qualified and experienced marksmen familiar with the park's geography and with conducting reduction activities in a highly suburbanized environment, conducting population reduction actions only when the park is closed, observing safety zones, using bait to attract deer to safe removal locations, shooting from an elevated position with an adequate backdrop, and utilizing special, non-lead ammunition that is safe for use in urban areas and in the environment.

The NPS closely coordinated all activities with township and state law enforcement officials and with the Pennsylvania Game Commission."

A total of 233 deer were tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal, neurological disease that has been detected approximately 200 miles from the park boundary. All of the deer killed tested negative for the diseas.

The National Park Service reports that the deer reduction effort may already be helping restore plant life destroyed by hungry deer.

"Forest monitoring conducted by the National Park Service Mid-Atlantic Inventory and Monitoring Program suggests that after four years of monitoring, there is an indication that tree seedling regeneration is beginning to occur. This is particularly important for those species that can reach the forest canopy, thus ensuring the long-term survival of forests at Valley Forge.

Though levels are still well below those needed to ensure adequate regeneration, we are now documenting species previously not found as seedlings at the same locations in 2007, including white ash, blackgum, black cherry, sassafras, and oak species."

Click here to read more about the deer reduction program on Philly.com.