County set to cull deer

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007

County set to cull deer

by Margie Hyslop | Staff Writer

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Nine county parks will close for several days over the next few months for limited hunts aimed at decreasing the deer population.

Also, sharpshooters will hunt deer in six more parks early next year, at night when parks are closed.

The parks department began the deer hunts in 1996 at a handful of parks.

Managed hunts, limited to qualified hunters already selected by the parks department in a lottery last month, will be conducted at parks in the county’s rural northern crescent for a few days from October through January.

Park Police will deploy sharpshooters for night-time hunts at downcounty parks in January, February and March.

About 850 deer were killed last season, and roughly the same number is expected to be killed this time, said Rob Gibbs, a wildlife ecologist for the county parks.

A report from the county’s Deer Management Work Group this summer shows that deer-car collisions have declined around parks where deer have been hunted.

The group has recommended adding Rock Creek Stream Valley Park (between Route 28 and Viers Mill Road) in Aspen Hill to locations where sharpshooters are used to kill deer. Public comments on that proposal are being accepted through Oct. 31 by e-mail to MCP-deermanagement@mncppc-mc.org or by mail to Department of Parks, Wildlife Ecology Unit, 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, MD 20902. Comments must include a name and address.

Park closings

Parks will be closed from sunrise to sunset.

Hoyles Mill Conservation Park, Boyds: Oct. 26; Nov. 3, 10,16; Dec. 1, 7,15, 21; Jan. 5, 18, 26

Woodstock Equestrian Park, Beallsville: Oct. 27; Nov. 2, 9, 17, 30; Dec. 8, 22; Jan. 4, 19, 25

Rachel Carson Conservation Park, Brookeville: Nov. 5, Dec. 17

Blockhouse Point Conservation Park, Darnestown: Nov. 6; Dec.18

Great Seneca Stream Valley Park, Goshen: Nov. 7, 14, 21; Dec. 12; Jan. 2

North Germantown Greenway Park, Goshen: Nov. 7, 14, 21; Dec. 12; Jan. 2

Bucklodge Forest Conservation Park, Barnesville: Nov. 9, 30; Jan. 4

Little Seneca Stream Valley Park, Boyds: Nov. 10; Dec. 1; Jan. 5

Little Bennett Regional Park, Clarksburg: Dec. 3 through Dec. 7

Closed for sharpshooting from sunset to sunrise Jan. 1 through March 31 are: