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Ardentown committee recommends two-day archery hunt pilot to address deer overpopulation
Summary
An ad-hoc Deer Management Committee recommended a two-day archery hunt in the Sunnyside Tract, citing overabundant deer, vehicle collisions, forest damage and disease; the plan follows DNREC guidance and includes venison donation and resident notification.
An ad-hoc Deer Management Committee representing the Ardens recommended a pilot archery hunt to reduce deer overpopulation and protect forest regeneration.
Committee members told the Sept. 8 meeting that deer overabundance has increased malnutrition and disease among deer, contributed to vehicle collisions, spread ticks (including Lyme disease risk), and damaged forest regeneration. The committee recommended a two-day archery hunt in the Sunnyside Tract to occur during the regular hunting season, with hunters hand-selected, licensed and supervised by local Arden hunters.
The plan calls for the Sunnyside area to be closed to visitors during the hunt, for harvesting to be conducted ethically without baiting, and for venison to be donated to Delaware Hunters Against Hunger. Committee materials and the presentation noted that the pilot is to be evaluated before any future hunts are scheduled.
Residents raised concerns about how hunters would be vetted and supervised, whether does or bucks would be targeted, and whether non-lethal alternatives such as sterilization had been adequately considered. The committee said it was following DNREC guidance and that deer activity monitoring (including camera monitoring) will inform assessment of the pilot.
A show of hands during the meeting indicated a majority of attendees present supported the deer-management recommendation. The committee’s supporting materials and the Deer Management Plan and fact sheet were made available on the Ardentown website.
