Archery hunters targeting deer in Ross Township woods in controlled hunt

A team of about a dozen archery hunters will take to the woods in Ross Township early Saturday morning for the first day an organized effort to trim the deer population.

But one of the owners of the company coordinating the hunt says it is unlikely residents will even know the hunters are out there.

“I think most people going about their business on Saturday won’t see or hear a thing,” said Luke Leonard, co-owner of Wexford-based Suburban Whitetail Management. “It’s an archery hunt, so they won’t be hearing any gunfire.”

The quiet nature of bowhunting also prevents herds of deer from scattering.

Members of the organized hunt are required to carry permission slips and have agreed to show them to residents, police or game officers upon request, Leonard said.

To ensure the safety of the hunt, people involved in the program are required to hunt from a tree stand to prevent stray arrows from traveling too far.

“We want the arrows being fired toward the ground,” he said, noting that most archery shots are taken from between 20 and 30 yards.

Even if residents spot hunters in the woods, they may not necessarily be part of the organized hunt, Leonard said.

“It’s the start of archery season, so there will likely be a number of hunters out on their own,” he said.

Archery season runs from Sept. 19 through Nov. 27, and Dec. 26 through Jan. 23, according to the state Game Commission.

Township commissioners in June approved the organized bow hunt on public land — excluding parks — and on private property with the permission of the owners.

The state Game Commission recommended the hunt as a second step in the township’s effort to trim the deer population.

Township officials cited numerous complaints from residents about vehicle accidents and near misses involving deer, the loss of expensive landscaping that has been chewed away by deer and concerns about Lyme Disease, which is transmitted from the ticks that deer carry.

Ross approved the commission’s first suggestion, a ban on feeding deer, in 2018.

Township properties where the hunt will occur include vacant spots along Sunderland Drive, Amethyst Street, Dolphin Drive, near the power substation along Thompson Run Road, below the public works property along Cemetery Lane, and lots along Rochester Road, Doulton Drive and Reis Run Road.

Commissioner Dan DeMarco, who has taken the lead in pushing for measures to control the deer population said there’s a “tremendous feeling of accomplishment” that comes from being able to come up with concrete solutions to a problem.

“It’s a controversial issue, but we were able to come together and address a problem with one of the most effective solutions available to try and manage the deer population,” he said. “This won’t be a quick fix, we’ll have to continue for it to have an impact, but it’s a good start.”

There is no cost to the township or property owners to conduct the hunt — Suburban Whitetail Management’s revenue is generated by membership dues.

Property owners who want to participate in the program can apply to Suburban Whitetail Management, which will collect information on the size of the property, access to the area, the availability of parking and any safety concerns.

Hunters who apply must undergo a criminal background check, have a face-to-face interview with a committee from the organization, pass a shooting skills test and agree to adhere to the group’s bylaws, ethics and responsibilities.

Some of the venison harvested from the hunt will be donated to the charity Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

Property owners and potential hunters can contact Leonard or co-founder Mike Clinebell by email at suburbanwhitetailpa@gmail.com for more information about participating.