WHEATON, Md.—Montgomery Parks’ annual deer population management program will occur from September 2025 to March 2026. The program includes two new parks this year—Oak Ridge Conservation Park in Damascus and Little Bennett Creek Stream Valley Park in Clarksburg.
In all, 75 parks, approximately 60 percent of Montgomery Parks’ land, are included in the program, which manages deer populations through archery, firearms, and Park Police-based sharpshooting. A complete schedule of program dates and locations is available online.
Montgomery Parks started the deer management program 29 years ago to address deer overpopulation that can cause deer-automobile accidents, excessive damage to the environment, private landscapes and agriculture, and increased incidence of disease.
“Our deer management initiative seeks to restore a healthy relationship between deer, people, and the environment,” said David Petersen, Montgomery Parks wildlife ecologist. “We’re working to promote public safety, preserve natural habitats, and address the concerns of our community—all while supporting a healthy deer population. The safety and well-being of our residents remains our top priority.”
Montgomery County features urban, suburban, agricultural, and rural areas. This combination of developed and natural spaces, along with farmlands, creates “edge” habitats, abundant in food and cover, where deer populations flourish. The combination of favorable conditions, limited hunting, and a lack of other natural predators contributes to excessive local deer populations.
Deer meat from the managed hunting programs is used or donated by managed hunting participants, while the meat from Park Police-based sharpshooting operations is donated to the Capital Area Food Bank – more than 411,500 pounds to date.
Managed deer hunting is conducted by pre-screened and qualified program participants only, while sharpshooting operations are conducted at night by highly trained and certified Park Police sharpshooters under authority granted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Signs are posted in advance of annual program implementation at park entrances, parking lots, trails, and in communities surrounding the affected parks.
More details are online within the Department’s Deer Management Frequently Asked Questions. Comments or questions regarding deer management programming may be directed to Info@montgomeryparks.org or Montgomery Parks, Attn: Public Information Office, 2425 Reedie Drive, 2nd Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902. Please include your full name and address to allow for record-keeping and responses as appropriate.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 414 parks. Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship, especially in diverse and urbanizing areas, with an emphasis on teens, working-age adults, and seniors. 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. 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.
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/TTY), 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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