Montgomery County, PA

Contact: Ken Shellenberger,
Norristown Farm Park Supervisor
610-270-0215
kshellen@montcopa.org

 

NORRISTOWN  — The Montgomery County Department of Parks and Heritage Services will conduct a one day controlled deer hunt at the Norristown Farm Park on Wednesday January 21, 2009 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

 

The department is hoping to build on past success and bring the herd, estimated at nearly 400, into alignment with the 690-acre park’s available resources. It’s also hoped that a reduction in the number of deer will decrease deer/vehicle accidents on roadways surrounding the park and lessen the spread of Lyme disease.

 

Hunters will be required to use a 12-gauge shotgun containing slug ammunition only, (no buckshot).  Additionally, all hunters will be required to hunt from self-provided, self-climbing tree stands with a safety harness. No ladder stands, screw in pegs or any other device which could affect the tree’s health will be permitted.

 

All hunters selected in the lottery will scout their respective hunting area and choose (with park approval) a tree where they will set up their portable climber on the day of the hunt.  Special accommodations will be made for those with physical limitations/restrictions.
 
Please note that this is an antlerless deer hunt, no antlered deer may be harvested.  All interested candidates must posses a minimum of one antlerless deer tag for Wildlife Management Unit 5C in order to participate.

 

Hunters, 21 years of age and older (18 years of age or older for active duty/full time military personnel) interested in participating in this year’s hunt should mail, or drop-off a 3” x 5” card containing the following information:  name, legal address, telephone number, driver’s license number, PA hunting license number and WMU Area 5C antlerless tag number.  In addition, each applicant is asked to submit a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope for return correspondence.  Applications are to be mailed to: Norristown Farm Park, 2500 Upper Farm Road, Norristown, PA. 19403.  Please mark “Deer Hunt” in the lower left corner.  Internet and/or e-mail applications will not be accepted. 

 

All applications must be post marked and/or received by the close of business on Friday, November 28, 2008.  Only one application per candidate will be accepted.  Illegible and/or incomplete applications (those not containing the information listed/requested above), will be rejected. 

 

A public lottery will be held at the Farm Park Headquarters on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 10:00 am.  Hunters may, but need not, be present on the day of the drawing.  A total of 45 qualified hunters will be selected, (40 first-round and 5 stand-by).

 

Successful applicants, drawn in the lottery will be issued a permit and will be required to attend a mandatory safety meeting prior to the hunt.  Failure to attend the mandatory safety meeting will result in your being disqualified from the hunt. 

 

All Pennsylvania Game Commission laws including, but not limited to, the use of blaze orange and the tagging of harvested deer will be in effect on the day of the hunt.  The hunt itself will be closely monitored for safety and compliance by officials from various law enforcement agencies.

 

Please note that the Farm Park will be closed to the general public, as well as all other passive recreational activities on the day of the hunt.

 

For additional information concerning this year’s controlled deer hunt, please call the Farm Park office at 610-270-0215, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  Additional information related to the hunt may be posted on the web at www.parks.montcopa.org.

 

Norristown Farm Park is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is operated by the Montgomery County Department of Parks and Heritage Services.  The park is located at the intersection of Germantown Pike and North Wales Road.  The park is typically open for passive recreation seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.

 

Montgomery County is dedicated to preserving this unique and valuable open space, providing passive recreation for the region, as well as the continuance of “normal” farming operations on the agricultural lands.