Why Is Pittsburgh Looking to Expand Bow Hunting of Deer to 3 More Parks?

[FakeNoose]

Deemed a ‘tremendous success,’ the deer management pilot program could include Schenley, Emerald View and Highland Parks in September.

Pittsburgh Magazine link: https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/why-is-pittsburgh-looking-to-expand-bow-hunting-of-deer-to-3-more-parks/

UPDATED: City Council on June 4 agreed to expand bow hunting to all five city parks this year to cull the deer population, as well as to consider adding sharpshooters for Frick and Riverview parks for night hunting only. Council approved a $99,000 contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to manage the program, which would recruit and test 50 archers and another 50 as backups.

The City of Pittsburgh’s bow-hunting deer management program in Frick and Riverview parks has been deemed a “tremendous success” by Mayor Ed Gainey and may be expanded to Schenley, Emerald View and Highland parks in September. Despite some initial pushback by the public about the pilot program, the city said there were no public safety incidents related to the hunting that took place between Sept. 30 to Jan. 27.

The aim of the controlled archery program was to stem the unchecked and unmanaged white-tail deer population that has caused increased vehicle-deer collisions, over-eating of native plant species and spread of lyme disease. According to a city report released Wednesday, during that time, 30 bow hunters killed 108 deer in Frick and Riverview parks, 59 of which were donated to local food banks, creating 9,440 meals.

“I’ve heard from residents from all across the city about their concerns with the growing number of deer and the impact they are having in our parks,” Gainey said in a press release. “Thanks to the hard work of our park rangers, and the collaboration with the USDA, this program was a tremendous success.”

The program was a partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and the United States Department of Agriculture. The city recruited 30 archers for the hunt who had to meet strict guidelines and pass accuracy tests. According to a timeline in the report, hunting zones for all five parks — Schenley, Emerald View on Mount Washington, Highland, Frick and Riverview — are being created or revised. Lottery sign ups for hunters would begin May 1 and the archery program would begin September 2024.

- more at link -

I live on the Northside, only a few blocks from Riverview Park, and I can assure you that the deer population is out of control here. I support this deer culling program that began last year because they carefully specified that it was "bowhunting only." Now they might add sharpshooting, and I'm a little leery of that. The city parks are closed at dark, and they will need to be sure that all park visitors are out of the park before any sharpshooting takes place.

[Abnredleg]

1. It'll be Fine if they use tree stands

shooting downwards is pretty safe. And if they are smart they will use shotguns since the range of slugs is significantly less than rifle bullets.

[Think. Again.]

2. What's with media headlines asking questions that aren't questions lately?

When did we switch from headlines doing the job of encapsulating the story to pretending there is some kind of mystery involved when there isnt'?

"Pittsburgh Looking to Expand Bow Hunting of Deer to 3 More Parks in Culling Effort"

Works just fine.

[LeonidPlanck]

3. Having a background in ecology

There may be plenty of compound reasons for this. I’m not really interested in learning Pitt’s argument because it’s an argument made all over the country. Unfortunately, it often becomes political when usually it’s highly scientific. Historically, we’ve culled the populations large predators like wolves and bears (except bears tend to he highly opportunistic rather than overt predators). Read A Sand County Almanac or Never Cry Wolf. The result is significant overpopulation and proliferation of disease (I.e. Chronic Wasting Disease) in prey species. I suspect the hunting, likely suggested by the state department of ecology who has been studying the problem for years, is because the local deer population is growing out of control with no mitigating megafauna.

We are the megafauna because we drove-off or hunted all the native varieties. So, venison anyone?

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Yes, the deer populations across the Country have all exploded. In MO, at one of the state parks (and I'm sure

that this is true for all of our forested state parks), the deer population has exploded. For some reason, deer know that state park lands are not allowed to have hunting on these lands so they seem to know that they will have safe refuge. I do have to cut through one of these parks enroute to my place, and my Mom and Dad's place behind the state park, and man, the number of deer that I have to be on the watch for is incredible. I wouldn't be surprised if there are at least 100 or so deer in the park itself (and there are no street lights through most of the park, so it is pitch dark). You have to drive at a crawl in order to not hit a deer.

Hitting a deer also is pretty devastating to your vehicle too, let alone the deer. Usually, when someone hits a deer, we report it to the state Conservation Agent (in the park too), and then they'll give the aok to get the deer off the road, and processed (my neighbors actually will go and get the deer, and process it etc.), so at least it's not going to waste.

[FakeNoose]

5. I hit a deer once, and I was driving on a city street

Luckily I wasn't going very fast, but I can say there was no way to see that deer 2 seconds before he jumped in front of my car. So many people have told me similar stories and I believe them.

Every year Pennsylvania drivers have serious or even fatal collisions with deer, and the fall mating season seems to be the worst time. That's when the deer tend to leave their own safe areas and venture out onto roads and highways.

[Karadeniz]

6. I understand the need for culling, but i dont like turning culling into a blood

sport. Killing creatures with souls for enjoyment is detrimental to the killer's soul. Let officials whose minds are focused on the greater good do the culling. Please don't respond with criticisms.

[FakeNoose]

7. That's what is happening in this culling program

I've posted about it before in this Pennsylvania thread.

I live in a state where we have a lot of deer hunters, however I'm not one. But we also live in metro areas where deer are a problem. Please read the story on the OP link and realize that this culling program is how Pittsburgh is dealing with our deer overpopulation.

[Karadeniz]

8. I live in an area teeming with white tails...we have three grown bottlebabies

outside! I understand the need for culling. I don't trust bow and arrow killing to be swift and painless. Really against blood sports....