Pittsburgh Poised To Launch Deer Culling Program

PITTSBURGH, PA — City Council could act as early as next week on legislation submitted by Mayor Ed Gainey's administration that would create a controlled bowhunting program in two city parks.

Gainey wants to establish the program to control and out-of-control deer population that is harming the parks and aggravating nearby residents whose gardens and yards are being damaged by the animals.

If approved, the program will be in place as early as September in Frick Park in the city's East End and Riverview Park on the North Side.

Qualified hunters would apply to be permitted to participate in the culling effort. For this year the program would max out with 30 hunters.

Under the legislation, hunters would be required to shoot a doe first and then donate that meat to a local food bank.

The city would partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in coordinating the program.