Montgomery Parks 2023- 2024 annual deer population management operations and seasonal park closures

Two new park locations added to ongoing efforts.  

WHEATON, Md.—Montgomery Parks’ annual deer population management program will take place from September 2023 into March 2024, across 48 parks. Two new park locations are being added to the deer management efforts this year. Montgomery Parks will notify residents adjacent to newly added/adjusted park locations by mail, signage, and other electronic forms of communication such as email and social media posts. A complete schedule of program dates and locations is available online.   

This year, archery-managed hunts are being added to the following park locations:  

• Great Seneca Stream Valley Park Units 3-4 (including Goshen Branch Stream Valley Park) 
• Lois Y. Green Conservation Park (including Cabin Branch Stream Valley Park and Hunters Woods Local Park) 

In addition to these expansions, one deer population management park location (3 park units) will also see an adjustment to the strategy. North Germantown Greenway Stream Valley Park (Brink Rd. & Wildcat Rd. southeast)/Great Seneca Stream Valley Park Unit 2/Blunt Rd. Local Park will transition from firearms-managed hunting to archery-managed hunting.  

Initiated 27 years ago, the program addresses deer populations in many areas of the county that result in deer-automobile accidents, excessive damage to the environment, private landscapes, and agriculture and concerns over disease. Once programming is implemented and established in these areas, routine maintenance is required to balance deer with available habitat and human land uses.   

All deer meat is utilized and/or donated by managed hunting participants or, in the case of Park Police-based sharpshooting, donated to the Capital Area Food Bank—more than 384,000 pounds to date.  

“Montgomery County is comprised of urban, suburban, agricultural, and rural lands, which provide excellent habitat, rich in food and cover, where deer thrive. Due to limited hunting and a lack of other predators, deer populations are high and result in impacts to the environment and public safety,” said David Petersen, Montgomery Parks wildlife ecologist. “Our deer population management efforts are intended to balance matters of public safety, natural resources protection, and other concerns of county residents as well as benefit the remaining deer population.”  

The deer management program includes archery and firearms-managed deer hunting, and Park Police-based sharpshooting operations. Approximately 60% of Montgomery Parks’ total land area is included in deer population management programming. 

Archery and Firearms-Managed Hunting:  
Hunting is conducted by qualified, pre-screened participants, under the direction and oversight of Montgomery Parks staff and occurs from September through January. Archery-managed deer hunting takes place in 28 parks and these parks remain open to the public.  Firearms-managed deer hunting takes place in nine parks which are closed to the public for a 24-hour period including while operations are underway.  

Park Police-based Sharpshooting Operations:  
Park Police-based sharpshooting operations are conducted at night by highly trained and certified Park Police sharpshooters, in cooperation with Parks Wildlife Ecologists, under stringent guidelines, from mid-January – March 31. Twelve parks are included in this year’s operations. These parks, and their trails, are closed during the operations from sunset – sunrise.  

For questions or comments regarding deer management programming, contact our customer service office info@montgomeryparks.org or 2425 Reedie Drive, 2nd Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902 ATTN: Customer Service Office.  Please include your full name and address to allow for record-keeping and response as appropriate.    

About the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Montgomery Parks  
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 420 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. The M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. MontgomeryParks.org  

Accessibility: 
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.  

 
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