Deer Management FAQ

The upcoming archery season for deer hunting, as set by the PA Game Commission, will occur from September 19, 2026 through November 27, 2026, and again from December 26, 2026 through January 24, 2027. 

Please note, however, that the start-date for the archery hunting phase of the Borough’s deer management program has not yet been selected, as the Borough is in the beginning stages of the implementation of its program.  The Borough will provide advance notice to the public of the date on which the archery hunting phase will begin, via the Borough’s website, its Facebook page, and by announcement at a public meeting of the Oakmont Borough Council.

The sharpshooting phase of the Borough’s deer management program is not considered hunting by the PA Game Commission.  Rather, it is considered nuisance animal control.  If the Borough receives a permit from the PA Game Commission to conduct a sharpshooting program in its first year of the deer management program, the sharpshooting phase will run from February to March 2027.

Yes.  After a political subdivision attempts to address the deer population and/or damage problem through a public hunt, the political subdivision may apply to the Game Commission for a deer control permit. 

If a deer control permit is issued, the PA Game Commission allows certain firearms to be used as a means to address the deer population and/or damage problem.  Specifically, Title 58 of the Pennsylvania Code allows deer to be taken with “any lawful firearm for big game as described in Section 2322(a) of the Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code,” as well as any other device authorized by the Executive Director of the PA Game Commission and listed on the permit.  

However, only those individuals holding a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Permit issued by the PA Game Commission may participate in this phase of the deer management program.  The SWM representatives who would participate in this phase of the deer management program hold Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Permits and have passed the required nuisance wildlife control operator examination conducted by the PA Game Commission.

Generally, PA Game Commission permits issued to the Borough, or issued to a person or entity who applied for a permit on behalf of the Borough, are public records under the Right-to-Know Law, subject to the redaction of any exempt information. 

At this time, the Borough has retained SWM to coordinate and implement a two-phase deer management program.  The first phase will be a deer archery hunting program.  The second phase, if permitted by the PA Game Commission, will be a sharpshooting program.

For the deer archery hunting phase, SWM will:

• Assess and determine which Borough properties will be open to deer archery hunting.
• Assess and determine whether any private properties volunteered by property owners will be open to deer archery hunting.
• Conduct an application process for volunteer archers, to determine which volunteer archery hunters will be selected for participating in the archery phase.
• Determine the start date of the deer archery hunting program (the date will be within the deer archery hunting season established by the PA Game Commission).

As more detailed information on the Borough’s archery hunting phase becomes available, the Borough will post it on the Borough’s website.

Following the deer archery hunting phase, SWM will prepare and submit an application to the PA Game Commission, on behalf of the Borough, for a deer control permit allowing the sharpshooting phase.  If the PA Game Commission issues a deer control permit, SWM will:

• Assess and determine which areas in the Borough will be utilized for sharpshooting.
• Provide SWM representatives having nuisance wildlife control operator permits issued by the PA Game Commission to act as sharpshooters.
• Work with the Borough to determine the most appropriate times to conduct sharpshooting operations, based on citizen concerns and deer activity.

As more detailed information on the Borough’s sharpshooting phase becomes available, the Borough will post it on the Borough’s website.

If the PA Game Commission does not issue a sharpshooting permit, the Borough may evaluate whether to retain SWM for a deer archery hunting program in the Fall of 2027.

Only those volunteer archers who successfully complete the SWM application process and are selected by SWM will have permission from the Borough to participate in the archery phase of the Borough’s deer management program.  The SWM application process includes, but is not limited to, a criminal history record check, the successful completion of the PA Game Commission’s bowhunting training course, and an archer proficiency examination conducted by SWM. 

Those volunteer archers who successfully complete the SWM application process and are selected for participation in the Borough’s deer management program will be provided with documentation indicating that they are permitted to archery hunt as part of the program.  The volunteer archers will be required to carry this documentation with them, while hunting.

Residents and/or park users who suspect someone may be hunting on Borough property without the proper authorization are directed to contact the Oakmont Borough Police Department’s non-emergency number at (412) 826-1578 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. and 911 during non-office hours.

If the Borough and/or SWM learns of incidents involving unauthorized hunters on Borough property, those cases will be referred to the PA Game Commission and Oakmont Borough Police Department for investigation. 

No.  At this time, SWM and the Borough have not selected or approved any volunteer archers or private properties, to be part of the Borough’s deer management program. 

Yes.  The Borough will provide advance notice to the public of the date on which the archery hunting phase will begin.  The Borough will provide this notice on its website, on its Facebook page, and by announcement at a public meeting of the Oakmont Borough Council.

Please note that, at this time, the start-date for the archery hunting phase has not been selected, as the Borough is in the beginning stage of the implementation of its deer management program. 

Yes.  The Borough will make a map available to the public that identifies the Borough-owned properties that will be open for hunting as part of the Borough’s deer management program. 

However, the specific locations of private properties that have been volunteered and approved for hunting as part of the program will not be made publicly available, as this information is not public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, et seq. 

Note: It is a crime to intentionally obstruct or interfere with a lawful hunter in Pennsylvania.

Those volunteer hunters who are approved to participate in the Borough’s deer management program will be provided with documentation indicating that they are permitted to archery hunt as part of the program.  You may ask to see this paperwork. 

If the hunter is not willing to show this documentation, contact the Borough Police at (412) 826-1578 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. and 911 during non-office hours, or wildlifemanagementsolutions@gmail.com.

During the archery phase of the program, the following steps are taken, in order to maximize the shooting angles and greatly minimize the risk of stray and/or ricocheting arrows: 

• Require hunters to clear shooting lanes prior to hunting.
• Require hunters to hunt from an elevated tree stand.
• Strictly prohibit all ground-level and/or low-angle shots.
• Require hunters to take all shots from a vantage point that is within 20-25 yards of the deer.
• Require hunters to inspect all equipment, for the purpose of confirming it is functional and free of defects.
• Ensure all arrows and broadheads being utilized are the most current technology.

During the sharpshooting phase of the program, program participants are required to clear the area of all debris, prior to sharpshooting, so that all shots are absorbed by a solid earthen backdrop.  

Contact SWM immediately at wildlifemanagementsolutions@gmail.com or report the incident to the Borough at (412) 828-3232 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you believe the hunter is behaving in a dangerous manner, contact 911.

Do not approach the deer, as the deer may react in a way that causes physical harm or injury to you. 

The hunter is responsible for retrieving the deer.  However, before they may do so, the hunter will need your permission to enter onto your property and retrieve the deer.  Do not be surprised if the hunter knocks on your door, or calls to you if you are outside, in order to obtain your permission. 

No.  The Borough does not regulate hunting on non-Borough property.  Hunting on non-Borough property is regulated by the PA Game Commission. 

Accordingly, people may hunt in the Borough, outside of the Borough’s deer management program, so long as they comply with all Pennsylvania laws and regulations that apply to hunting.

If a property owner legally hunts on their property within the Borough, but not as part of the Borough’s deer management program, the person’s deer harvest totals will not be included in the harvest totals for the Borough’s program.

However, a property owner may choose to go through the Borough’s volunteer archer application process, for the purpose of having any deer harvested by that person on their property counted towards the Borough’s deer management program harvest total.  The person must successfully complete the application process, in order for the deer harvested by this person to count towards the Borough’s total.

This arrangement is beneficial to the Borough, as it will increase the program’s harvest totals and help SWM more accurately track harvest locations.

If the property owner would like to archery hunt on their property, as part of the Borough deer management program, SWM would be required to first inspect the property to ensure it meets SWM’s safety standards.

Yes.  If the Borough receives a deer control permit from the PA Game Commission, baiting will be used by the SWM nuisance wildlife control operators during the sharpshooting phase, which is permitted by the Game Commission.  However, baiting will not be used during the deer archery hunting phase.

No.  At this time, the Borough’s deer management program includes deer archery hunting, which will only occur during deer archery hunting season (September 19, 2026 – November 27, 2026; December 26, 2026 – January 24, 2027), and a sharpshooting phase, if permitted by the PA Game Commission, which will only occur from February to March 2027. 

Please note that, while the deer archery season commenced on September 19, 2026, the Borough’s deer archery hunting phase has not yet begun.  The Borough will provide the public with advance notice, via posting on its website, Facebook page, and announcement at a public Borough Council meeting, of the date on which the archery hunting phase will start.

Volunteer archery hunters who are participating in the Borough’s deer management program will only be permitted to hunt during the deer archery season. 

If the Borough obtains a deer control permit from the PA Game Commission, SWM will be conducting the sharpshooting phase of the Borough’s deer management program from February to March 2027.  The PA Game Commission does not consider sharpshooting authorized under a deer control permit to be “hunting.”  Rather, it is considered nuisance animal control and may take place during months outside of the archery hunting season.

Borough Council has authorized, via ordinance, hunting in Dark Hollow Woods by those individuals authorized to participate in the Borough’s deer management program archery phase.  SWM will evaluate Dark Hollow Woods, using the rules and regulations adopted by the PA Game Commission, in order to determine whether any part or parts of Dark Hollow Woods is suitable for conducting an archery hunt. 

The SWM representatives are nuisance wildlife control operators subject to permits issued by the PA Game Commission.  Additionally, SWM has been safely operating deer management programs in Western Pennsylvania for over 10 years, and has the relevant experience and knowledge to assess Dark Hollow Woods, as well as other properties within the Borough, for hunting suitability.

The Borough Solicitor reviewed the current deeds for the 5 properties comprising Dark Hollow Woods.  None of the deeds contain any restriction that would prohibit the Borough from allowing hunting on the properties.  

No.  The Borough does not have a minimum number of deer that it hopes to remove from the Borough.  Rather, the Borough hopes to remove as many deer as possible throughout the archery and sharpshooting phases, with the understanding that these phases are not designed, nor intended, to eliminate the entire deer population in the Borough.  While the Borough seeks to reduce its deer population, it is not attempting to remove all deer from the Borough.

The Borough hopes that, by implementing the deer management program, there will be less vehicular accidents involving deer, and fewer negative human-deer interactions.

Fewer deer in our community will hopefully create a safer environment for pedestrians, dogs, and vehicle traffic.  Additionally, the Borough anticipates a regeneration of native plant species (which are typically eaten by deer), including a vigorous regeneration of native species in Dark Hollow Woods, which is consistent with the Dark Hollow Woods Master Plan.  Further, over-browsing by deer negatively impacts bird populations by reducing bird habitat.  Accordingly, we expect to see an increase in bird habitat.

Because the deer are browsing the native vegetation and eating understory plants, invasive plant species (which deer do not eat eat) take hold.  Dark Hollow Woods should be healthier with vigorous regeneration of native species, following the Borough’s deer management program.

Over-browsing by deer also negatively impacts bird populations by reducing bird habitat.  We should see an increase in bird habitat as a result of hunting in Dark Hollow Woods.

Deer harvest totals may fluctuate from year-to-year based on a variety of factors, including:

• Deer accidents and/or deer conflict statistics;
• Locations of properties available for hunting;
• Number of properties available for hunting (if more properties are available, the number of deer harvested tends to increase);
• Number of archers participating (if more archery hunters participate, the number of deer harvested tends to increase);
• Natural population increases of deer (deer populations double every year, which may account for an increase in harvest numbers).
• Budget constraints of the participating municipality.

Accordingly, it is possible that the number of deer harvested in the Borough may increase from year-to-year, after the deer management program is implemented.  However, an increase in the harvest number does not necessarily indicate that the program was unsuccessful, as there are numerous reasons why the number may increase that are not directly related to the success or failure of the program.

Indicators of a successful program are as follows:

• Reduction in the number of reports of negative human-deer interactions;
• Fewer deer observed in the Borough;
• Less damage to vegetation typically targeted by deer; and
• Resurgence of native vegetation and increased bird habitat.

No.  It is difficult to determine the actual number of deer in a municipality.  However, Borough employees and officials have received an increase in complaints of incidents involving deer, over the past few years, which prompted the Borough to consider implementing a deer management program. 

The following are indicators of a successful deer management program:

• Reduction in the number of reports of negative human-deer interactions;
• Fewer deer observed in the Borough;
• Less damage to vegetation typically targeted by deer; and

Resurgence of native vegetation and increased bird habitat.

Yes.  Before retaining SWM, the Borough met with a wildlife biologist with the United States Department of Agriculture to discuss the control of deer populations.  Significantly, the deer management program offered by the USDA closely resembles that offered by SWM. 

The Borough was advised by the three deer management entities interviewed by the Borough, including the United States Department of Agriculture, that deer contraceptives (oral or administered by dart) are experimental and illegal in Pennsylvania.

To SWM’s knowledge, the other municipalities it serves did not conduct deer population surveys prior to, or after, a deer cull was conducted by SWM.  However, based on SWM’s experience, it is difficult to determine the actual number of deer in a municipality, which may explain why such surveys were not conducted.