Deer Over-Population Issues

Upper Dublin Township is densely populated with deer resulting in various types of property and environmental damage, and more importantly injury to the public. The Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners (BOC), Administration, and Police Department (UDPD) recognize deer over-population within Upper Dublin Township as a major problem and seek to control it in the most cost effective manner.

Highlight of Deer Over-Population Issues that Affect the Entire Upper Dublin Township Community

• Public Health & Safety
• White-tailed deer serve as a host for the deer tick which is a carrier of the often disabling Lyme Disease.
• Vehicle accidents involving deer have increased over the years and have resulted in vehicles being damaged and more importantly the occupants being injured.
• On most occasions when a deer has been struck by a vehicle it is suffering from severe injuries and the responding officer has to discharge their firearm in order to “put-down” the deer. This type of necessary response by the police presents major safety issues and is avoided when possible.
• Property Damage
• Many of the residents of Upper Dublin Township have experienced deer venturing onto their properties and browsing on their gardens and landscape ornamentals. Damage to residential properties landscaping is frustrating and expensive.
• The deer over-browsing within the Upper Dublin Township Park system is expansive. New vegetative growth within the park system is unable to take place due to the deer over-browsing. This leads to the loss of native trees and shrubs, which in turn causes soil erosion and invasive plants to take over.
• Police and Other Staff Response Time
• The Upper Dublin Township Police Department has responded to over 680 calls for service in the past 6.5 years for deer related issues. The average amount of time an officer dedicates to this type of call is approximately 30 minutes.
• Add occurrences that the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments respond to and the time and costs associated to handle this problem becomes considerable.

Deer Management Program

2009 Pilot Program

In 2009 the Upper Dublin Township Police Department was commissioned by the Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners to create and supervise a “Community Managed Deer Hunt.” Chief of Police Terrence Thompson directed Patrol Commander Darren Nyce, a member of the police department for 15 years and who holds a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fishery Science from the Pennsylvania State University, with this assignment. Patrol Commander Nyce, with assistance from the department’s Professional Standards Officer David Madrak, created the Upper Dublin Township Deer Management Program.

Deer Management Program

After a thorough evaluation it was determined that the Upper Dublin Township Deer Management Program would be the most practical, cost effective, and proven control option available.

Listed below are just some of the rules and regulations put in place to govern those who participate in the program.

Hunter Selection

1. All hunters are required to attend and successfully complete the Upper Dublin Township Deer Management Program Orientation course.
2. All hunters must pass a proficiency test using the bow they plan to hunt with. Shooting from an elevated position, the archer must hit the vital area in each of the three separate 3-D deer targets, which are placed at unknown distances out to 30 yards; the archer has only 5 arrows to complete the course.
3. Hunters must posses a current Pennsylvania Game Commission resident hunting license.
4. Hunters must have at least one antlerless deer license for wildlife management unit 5D.
5. Hunters must have no record of game law violations.

Hunting Locations

1. All hunting will take place in designated open space areas that are at least 20 acres or more.
2. Each location has signs posted to alert the public that a controlled deer hunt is in progress.
3. Deer Management Program Approved Hunting Locations (Download a PDF)

Hunter Rules

1. Firearms are not permitted to be used by anyone participating in the program; this is an archery hunt only.
2. All hunters are required to wear an issued orange arm band, which contains their authorization card, and an orange hat when traveling to and from hunting location.
3. It is the duty of the hunter to report their activity to the Upper Dublin Township Police Department’s Communication Center.

Questions and More Information

Questions

For questions concerning the Upper Dublin Township Deer Management Program or to be placed on the wait list to become a program participant contact the following:

• Officer David Madrak, (215) 646-2101 or email madrakd@upperdublin.net

Information on deer hunting within Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Game Commission
• 2011-2012 Hunting & Trapping Digest - Deer Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits (PDF)
• 2011-2012 Hunting & Trapping Digest - Deer Hunting Hours Table (PDF)

Links on deer management and conflicts within suburbia

• Urban Deer Guide
• Managing White-tailed Deer in the Suburbs
• Community Based Deer Management
• Human-Wildlife Conflict Management