Pittsburgh Deer Management Program

[elliottw]

Deer Management Program

The City of Pittsburgh has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cooperatively manage the wildlife damage from white-tailed deer.

engage.pittsburghpa.gov

Looks like you can now take deer in city parks with a bow. Anyone have experience with this type of program? Looks like 142 deer taken this last season and 10,000 meals provided (first deer has to be donated).

What do y'all think?

 

[Will_m]

This looks a lot like the guy with avatar that had the bald dude and glasses.

You seem sus sir

 

[elliottw]

Sorry, I'm new here, I don't wear glasses. I decided to sign up because a lot of google results ended up here. I'm not sure what's sus. I thought I'd bring up a topic about city programs for hunting in parks since I found one where I live and am interested in applying and wanted to hear other people's experiences.

 

[2531usmc]

Rough crowd….

 

[RS3579]

I know a couple of people involved with this program. The general public has no clue when/where the archers are. Good way to provide those meals.

 

[elliottw]

Thanks. I’m pretty interested in the program but not sure how the volunteers are doing now that they’d got paid USDA sharpshooters.

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Sorry, I'm new here, I don't wear glasses. I decided to sign up because a lot of google results ended up here. I'm not sure what's sus. I thought I'd bring up a topic about city programs for hunting in parks since I found one where I live and am interested in applying and wanted to hear other people's experiences.

Don’t sweat it, there has been a rash of spammers and bots on the site lately, they usually come in and first post is a very weird ethical question, or something about the evolution of hunting. Now anybody new that shows up gets razzed. I think we’re supposed to ask you if a hot dog is a sandwich? Unfortunately I know nothing about hunting deer in the city of Pittsburgh. Probably won’t find a lot of info about it here as this crowd, myself included, tends to be more western hunting focused. Good luck and I hope you do get involved in that program as it sounds like a fun opportunity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ResearchinStuff]

If you live there, you have nothing to lose by trying it out.

 

[ArrowForester]

I don’t have any knowledge or experience with their current program but if I still lived in the area I would certainly look into it and participate/support the program. There are several similar efforts in urban areas around the country and they can be successful. A friend of mine has taken at least one doe in the Pittsburgh program.
It takes more of a “resource management” mindset and a dialed in bowhunting skill set to hunt downtown compared to a “disconnect from the world and commune with nature” backcountry hunt.
Look up ‘Street Smart Bucks’ by Paul Bruner and Stoney Wolf Productions for some vintage urban bowhunting. Filmed in Fox Chapel I believe.

 

[markXshooter]

I looked into the program near me a couple years ago. You have to apply, interview, and pass a (relatively easy) shooting test. You get assigned an area and a stand. No wandering around other than walking in and out or tracking. I thought it was a good program but didn’t go through with it only because I got the feeling they didn’t really want you hunting elsewhere. Wanted you putting the time in to the program which is fine, but as others mentioned it’s definitely not “getting away” in nature. Between camp and a few other spots, I couldn’t fully commit and didn’t want to take a spot from another hunter.

 

[elliottw]

Thanks for this. They don't say much on the site and this is the kind of information I was looking for. I didn't know you have a designated area you have to be in. It's definitely not getting away in nature, but I figured it's something to do for a few hours. I was also a little worried about "authorized meat processors" requirement, but I’ll give it a go.

 

[IsThisHeaven]

Thanks for this. They don't say much on the site and this is the kind of information I was looking for. I didn't know you have a designated area you have to be in. It's definitely not getting away in nature, but I figured it's something to do for a few hours. I was also a little worried about "authorized meat processors" requirement, but I’ll give it a go.

Good for you. Give it a go. Let us here know how it goes.

 

[JustABritCrazy]

Several different programs in the metro Pittsburgh area. You need to be really dialed in as deer have a bad habit of dying next to back decks and air conditioning units if you make less than sure shots. I’m a Northcentral public land guy so I’ve never participated. Check out the Archery Forum on Hunt PA