The City of Pittsburgh has kickstarted its Deer Management Program again, aiming to trim down the numbers of white-tailed deer frolicking across several city parks. Reviving last year's initiative, the program has now spread its wings to encompass Schenley, Highland, and Emerald View Parks along with the earlier included Frick and Riverview parks. As detailed by WTAE, the expanded initiative is a joint venture with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, crafted to address deer overpopulation that could lead to ecological imbalances.
The deer management march begins September 21 and will run through December 14. It will take a brief holiday hiatus before resuming from December 26 to January 25, avoiding Sundays altogether. This orchestrated archery has guidelines for park-goers, admonishing them to adhere to established trails, keep their canine companions leashed, and give a wide berth to the hunters approved to bow-hunt within park perimeters. Signage has gone up across all five parks, serving as a heads-up to visitors regarding the ongoing culling operations.
Reactions to the program have been a mixed bag. One local, Mark DeGonish, didn't seem fazed by the presence of archers in the park, asserting their conduct has been professional and safe. "I've walked with him – six feet away from a buck – the buck wouldn't move!" DeGonish stated, per CBS Pittsburgh. He suggested that when compared to other control methods, archery might be a sound choice, elaborating, "I don't think that birth control for deer is the answer," he said. "And hunting with rifles? You can't stop a bullet once it goes, but an arrow only goes so far."
However, not all echo DeGonish's sentiments. Dan McKosky, a regular at Frick Park, expressed his discomfort with the concept of hunters being active while others enjoy the peaceful park environment. As CBS Pittsburgh detailed, McKosky shared his concerns: "It's hard for me to rationalize that when you see how beautiful a deer is in person, and they get to be so close to you here in the park." Amidst such divided opinions, the city contends that the issue at hand is the excessive deer population, which necessitated the resumption of this management measure.
The city has designated specific zones in the parks where only 50 approved archers can hunt. If you see any violations of hunting rules, you can easily report them to the PA Game Commission. This initiative aims to protect the environment while allowing residents to enjoy the parks.
