New Hanover has a deer problem. Later this year, the municipality expects to hold three separate archery hunts in an attempt to control the population.

            Last week, the board of supervisors discussed the details of a three-year pilot program for the hunting of white-tail doe. According to Rusty Oister, chair of the township's ad-hoc Deer Management Committee, safety will be stressed during the preparation. He claimed that a study was unnecessary to understand the extent of the issue.

            According to Oister, the goal is to deal with a severe overpopulation problem in the township that can create public health and safety concerns related to traffic accidents, Lyme disease density, chronic wasting disease, depletion of the understory of woodlands and damage to private landscaping. He wrote in an email that the township seeks to better manage the white-tail doe population consistent with current seasons, bag limits and objectives established by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The program will be incorporated into the normal hunting seasons and utilize antlerless tags.  

            All townships in southeastern Pennsylvania and beyond have a well-documented problem of deer overpopulation, according to Oister's email. It states that any studies conducted by the township would have wasted time and money.

            During the April 3 public meeting, Manager Jamie Gwynn announced the schedule for the hunts on seven publicly owned properties. He said they will occur Nov. 1, Nov. 13 and Dec. 26.

            According to Oister, spots for 32 hunters are available. Applications to hunt more than 107 acres on seven township properties are open to the public. The supervisors agreed to allow any of the six committee members to secure one of the spots. The others will be filled through an Aug. 4 lottery, with township residents receiving preference over non-residents.

            "The committee members can be our eyes and ears," board Chair Marie Livelsberger said.

            Municipal officials have not identified a target number of doe to kill, according to Oister. The hunts will occur on the 53-acre Wassmer Tract, the 33-acre New Hanover Township Authority property, 9.7 acres on the north and south sides of Moyer Road, a 7.4-acre property on Deep Creek Road, Parestis Open Space and Hickory Park (both covering 4.7 acres), according to information provided by Gwynn.

In an email message received the day after the meeting, Oister claimed the committee relied on one data point: vehicle crashes in the township. According to Marie Livelsberger, the township's police department responded to 121 deer-related crashes last year, 48 more than in 2023. The committee chairman estimated a $500,000 financial impact on municipal residents.

            The collisions have impacted the township's police department. In February, Chief Jay Ciarlello told the board that an electric police vehicle was involved in a deer collision on Swamp Pike in December.

            The committee, created in January by the supervisors, has consulted with the game commission, New Hanover police and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to Oister.

            The supervisors voted to direct the manager to submit a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program. The township hopes to utilize the $250,000 award to offset the trail construction costs for the 342 East Moyer Road project.

            The board met in executive session immediately prior to the public portion of the meeting to discuss a matter of litigation and a potential land acquisition, according to Solicitor Patrick McKenna.