Deer Management Program
Important Deer Management Reminders
With the fall archery hunting season starting on September 17. 2011, it is important that everyone in Franklin Township be aware of the following key points:
- The Township's deer management group, known as Franklin Township Deer Management Association (FDMA) [also known as Franklin Deer Management Group] must strictly adhere to PA Game Commission hunting regulations.
-
Deer management authorized by Franklin Township is only allowed
on four Township-owned preserves:
Banffshire, Franklin, Goodwin, and White Clay Crescent.
As has always been the case, deer management will NOT be permitted in Crossan Park. -
The Game Commission has set the dates for
archery deer
management in most of Chester County, including Southern Chester County, to
Sep 17, 2011 through Nov 26, 2011 and
Dec 26, 1011 through Jan 28, 2012.
The one exception to PA Game Commission rules is that archery deer management in the four Township-owned preserves listed above will NOT be permitted during the hours of 10am–2pm each day. -
There will be gun
deer management in Banffshire and Franklin Preserves for the
two weeks following Thanksgiving
(Nov 28–Dec 10).
Both Banffshire and Franklin preserves will be closed, except for authorized deer management, for these two weeks.
- Under PA Game Laws, there is no hunting on any Sunday.
– August 18, 2011
In the fall of 2010, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution allowing a newly formed group, Franklin Township Deer Management Association (FDMA), to conduct deer management activities on four Township-owned properties: Banffshire Preserve, Franklin Preserve, Goodwin Preserve, and White Clay Crescent Preserve.
Deer Management Using Archery
Archery will be permitted by the FDMA on Banffshire Preserve, Franklin Preserve, Goodwin Preserve, and White Clay Crescent Preserve.
The "season" for archery will follow the hunting seasons set forth by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Generally, there are deer archery seasons in PA from mid-September through late January. (See Pennsylvania Game Commission: Hunting Seasons for specific dates.)
The FDMA will be allowed to hunt during the times allowed by state game law (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, every day except Sunday), with the following major exception:
Deer management using archery, to be conducted by the FDMA on the four approved Township preserves—Banffshire, Franklin, Goodwin, and White Clay Crescent Preserves—will not be permitted from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
All archery by the FDMA must be conducted from portable tree stands. Use of mandatory tree stands is safety-related—by definition, the trajectory of the arrow will be downward. Portable tree stands offer another advantage: permanent stands will not be available for illegal use by unauthorized persons.
Deer Management Using Guns
The FDMA will be permitted to use guns for deer management on Banffshire Preserve and Franklin Preserve. Pennsylvania game laws govern the types of weapons that are permitted.
In Pennsylvania, deer hunting with guns is permitted during the two weeks following Thanksgiving. (See Pennsylvania Game Commission: Hunting Seasons for specific dates.)
The FDMA will be allowed to hunt during the times allowed by state game law (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, every day except Sunday).
Banffshire Preserve and Franklin Preserve will be marked and advertised as "closed" for the two weeks after Thanksgiving.
Additional Information
-
The FDMA has a number of items to which it is committed, incuding marking
and observing all state-mandated safety zones. (A summary of
safety zone regulations is included in the Pennsylvania Game Commission's
General Hunting Regulations
.)
- One of the goals for the FDMA is to eventually become a trusted resource for private property owners who would like a point of contact to arrange for deer management on their property. Property owners do not necessarily need to reside in Franklin Township. The larger the number of properties, the larger the size the FDMA can be.
- The FDMA is to be limited in size, based on a reasonable number for the acreage available. There will be a waiting list if all slots are filled.
- The Pennsylvania game laws allow citizen volunteers to assist state employees. Numerous individuals in the FDMA serve in citizen volunteer roles.
- The FDMA is to assist with certain maintenance and construction activities on Township-owned properties, such as trash collection, invasive species control, and trail building.
- The FDMA will carry insurance. The insurance premiums will be paid for from "dues" that the FDMA members will pay.
- Archery and gun hunting is permitted in the Pennsylvania portion of the White Clay Creek Preserve (WCCP). For more information, please see WCCP: Hunting and Firearms.
- Archery is also allowed at the Fair Hill Natural Management Area, generally in an area south of Rt 273.
If you have questions, please call the Township office at 610-255-5212.
* * *
- Banffshire Preserve is located north of Chesterville Rd and west of Creek Rd.
- Franklin Preserve is located north of Parsons Rd and west of Crossan Park.
- Goodwin Preserve is located west of SR 841 and north of Pennocks Bridge Rd.
- White Clay Crescent Preserve is located south of Chesterville Rd and east of the intersection with Creek Rd.
– Last updated November 26, 2011