Deer hunt at Norristown Farm Park

NORRISTOWN Norristown Farm Park is to be closed Jan. 20 for a controlled deer hunt.

Park supervisor Kenneth W. Shellenberger said the once-a-year culling over the last decade has kept the deer population "at a manageable level."

"If they're overrun here, you see a lot of car-deer collisions," he said. Their grazing also cuts down on "a lot of the underbrush that would be used by ground-nesting birds and other animals."

In addition to trails and open space, the state-owned and county-run park also houses a working farm. Deer have been known to get into the agricultural fields and "cut the farmers' yields down considerably."

Hunters with a Unit 5D deer tag from the state may apply for a county permit to take part in the hunt. They must provide their own tree stand, shotgun, and 12-gauge ammunition. Only antlerless deer may be killed, and buckshot is prohibited.

A lottery is to be held Dec. 5 to select the 38 hunters who will be allowed to participate.

For more information, call the Norristown Farm Park at 610-270-0215 or go to www.parks.montcopa.org. - Jessica Parks