PITTSBURGH — The city of Pittsburgh announced Thursday that its controlled archery hunt for white-tailed deer in city parks netted 199 deer, almost double last year's take.

The city rolled out a controlled archery hunt in 2023-24 after the deer population skyrocketed, causing more vehicle-deer collisions and overeating of native plant species.

In the 2023-24 managed archery hunt, 108 deer were taken in Frick and Riverview parks.

Three parks were added for the 2024-25 archery hunt — Schenley, Highland and Emerald View.

According to the city, of the 199 deer taken at all five parks, 92 were donated to local food banks in a move that produced 3,680 pounds of venison and 14,720 meals for residents.

There were zero public safety incidents during both seasons, the city said.

Although the archery deer management program has controlled deer herds, the city said, it's not enough to reduce the population.

Sharpshooters contracted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will take part in a pilot targeted-harvesting program in Frick and Riverview parks at night, after the parks close at 11 p.m.

Sharpshooter hunting will start in the coming week and conclude by the end of March, the city said. All harvested deer from the sharpshooters will be donated to local food pantries.

The marksmen can hit a one-inch target at 100 yards multiple times, according to the city, which also indicated they use infrared and night vision technology to target deer in the innermost park sections in areas with a clear line of sight and a backstop.

Other municipalities that use the USDA sharpshooter program for deer management include Syracuse, N.Y., which reported success in increasing harvests in the last two years.

"In consultation with our partners at the USDA, we have decided to introduce a pilot targeted harvesting program in the hopes of shrinking our deer population," said Lee Schmidt, Director of Pittsburgh Public Safety in a news release.

"We are grateful to the USDA for their continued expertise and guidance as we expand our program to ensure a healthy deer population in Pittsburgh."

Targeted harvesting is often only initially needed to control the overabundance of deer, the city said.

It can take between five to 10 years or longer to see results from deer management programs, according to Jeannine Fleegle, a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The city has studied and discussed deer overpopulation for more than a decade.

After resident complaints in 2010, City Council commissioned the USDA to study deer density.

The study found that Pittsburgh city parks could not support more than 10 deer per square mile, while the agency estimated the parks held 51 deer per square mile.

Pittsburgh's Animal Care and Control reports picking up about 50% more deer carcasses between 2018 and 2021.

With no natural predators and plenty of food, deer populations can double every two years, according to wildlife agencies.

Although residents complain about deer collisions and environmental damage, not everyone supports the city's culling program.

In urban areas, regular hunting is typically limited because of the necessary safety zones for archery and shotguns to protect residents in their homes and businesses.

Community groups like Friends of Pittsburgh Deer, and Humane Action Pittsburgh want to see more humane efforts to control the deer population implemented and raise questions about long-term, viable herd control options.

For more information on Pittsburgh's deer management program, visit its website.

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