For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2021
Media Contacts:
Angel Waldron, 301-446-3311
2021 Deer Population Management Operations Announced by
M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County
Riverdale, MD - The Department of Parks and Recreation for Prince George’s County, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), will launch its annual managed deer hunting operations for the winter season, resulting in several intermittent park and natural area closures spanning through early March. Managed deer hunts will take place in 12 locations within the Department’s parks system in Prince George’s County.
The deer population management program was formed in response to residents’ concerns about the increasingly adverse impacts of the expanding deer population on local parks and neighborhoods. Deer population reduction, through managed deer hunting, is conducted by qualified, pre-screened hunters, under the direction and oversight of the Department’s Park Ranger staff. Details about the Prince George’s County deer population management program are available at http://www.pgparks.com/529/Deer-Management.
“The patchwork of fragmented habitat in Prince George’s County has proven to be a high-volume environment for deer population growth,” said the Department’s Senior Park Ranger, Paolo Abellera. “The result has been an increase in deer-human conflicts including deer-related automobile accidents, damage to park ecosystems, agricultural crops and residential gardens, and concerns about Lyme and other diseases.”
In advance of the hunts, closure signs will be posted throughout and surrounding affected sites, at all entrances and in communities surrounding the affected area.
Dates for this season’s deer population management operations are:
- February 1 - 4
- February 8 - 11
- February 22 - 25
- March 1 - 4
Locations affected by this season’s deer population management are:
- Enterprise Golf Course
- Henson Creek Trail and Henson Creek Golf Course
- Randall Farm Maintenance Yard
- Chelsea Farm (Watkins Regional Park)
- Walker Mill Regional Park (Undeveloped Side)
- Compton-Bassett Property
- Dyson Road Farm Complex
- Governor's Bridge Natural Area/Green Branch Complex
- Marlton Community Park
- Old Marbury Farm (Cosca Regional Park)
- Brandywine-North Keys Park
- Oxon Hill Manor
All harvested deer will be collected each night, processed by a butcher, and donated to a local food bank. For more information, visit www.pgparks.com/530/sharpshooting.
About the Department
The Department of Parks and Recreation delivers an award-winning park system through progressive, innovative leadership and a commitment to the community and the environment in Prince George’s County. For more on the Department of Parks and Recreation, visit www.pgparks.com and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Instagram. The M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities in all programs and services.
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