New Castle County Department of Special Services will conduct a unique managed deer hunt in North Wilmington in an attempt to control the local deer population.
Due to an overpopulation of deer in northern Delaware, the New Castle County Department of Special Services, along with the Delaware Master Hunters Certification Program, will send registered hunters into the park near the Sharpley and Edenridge neighborhoods in an attempt to lower the deer population.
This particular hunt will be archery only, so no firearms will be used, and the hunters will target female, or antlerless, deer.
Overabundant deer can damage other wildlife and increase the of risk in getting diseases such as Lyme disease. They also pose the risk of car collisions when they run out onto the road.
Jonathan Husband, the engineering and environmental services manager at New Castle County, says that many have called to complain about the deer.
"North of I-95 it’s extremely bad," said Husband. "Anyone can drive these roads and see that the deer all over out in the fields. They’re concentrated in the woods. We are constantly getting calls to control the deer population.
In 2005, the State Division of Wildlife showed that a deer management zone in New Castle County, north of the C&D canal, had the highest deer density in the state: 145.4 deer per square mile.
Certified master hunters will use archery to hunt deer in Woodley Park near the Sharpley and Edenridge neighborhoods on April 8th and 9th. The park will be closed during that time.
"It’s a large problem and we’re taking little bites out of it each time," said Husband. "Deer are very prolific and they multiply very quickly and what we’re trying to do is keep it under control."
Female deer harvested will be donated to the Delaware Sportsmen Against Hunger program, which donates venison to Delawareans in need.
