Archery deer hunt planned for Neshaminy, Benjamin Rush state parks

Avid outdoor sportspeople can take to archery deer hunting when the season opens Saturday, Oct 1.

Registration will be required to hunt deer in the Neshaminy and Benjamin Rush State Parks, and only 30 permits will be issued for Neshaminy State Park and 25 for Benjamin Rush State Park, and permits will be distributed through a random drawing of all eligible applicants.

That is about half the number of applications received, said Park Manager Kaitlyn Gundersen-Thorpe.

"It’s hard to gauge interest because we don’t really see or talk to many hunters throughout the non-hunting seasons, (but) we never get hundreds of applicants," Gundersen-Thorpe said. "Each year the number of applicants has been declining slightly. We used to get around 90 applicants; in 2020 we got 77 and in 2021 we only had 67."

Coming to Bucks:Mochinuts, BBQ, Eggmania in Bensalem and a Bristol throwback

The 339-acre Neshaminy park runs along the Delaware River in Lower Bucks County, while Benjamin Rush State Park is off Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia.

Both parks will be open to the public during the hunt. Participating hunters are encouraged to where orange signal clothing.

Related:60 permits available for archery deer hunting in Neshaminy State Park. What you need to know

To participate in either session, hunters must register at the Neshaminy State Park Office between before Friday, Sept. 9, and must bring a self-addressed stamped envelope, their Pennsylvania hunting license, archery license, proof of identification and vehicle registration.

And the penalties for illegal hunting can be severe, Gundersen-Thorpe said.

Hunters would be "hunting illegally and would be charged by our Rangers/Game Commission" with multiple game violations related to poaching, weapons violations, and/or hunting in a restricted area.

For subscribers:The forgotten story of Alice, who captained Dunk's Ferry with George Washington as passenger

The 30 Neshaminy Park hunters will be assigned two weeks of the hunting season, beginning the Saturday when archery deer hunting season opens. However, hunters using Benjamin Rush State Park will have to wait until the state's late archery deer season, which begins on Monday, Dec.r 28.

The random drawing for all 55 permits will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Neshaminy State Park’s Pavilion #1.

Antler science:When do deer shed their antlers and what's the best way to find them?

Prior to the hunt and well before lining up a six-point buck, hunters will be required to attend a mandatory safety meeting where the hunt rules and regulations will be reviewed, and permits will be distributed.

Others technicalities include archers being allowed take antlered deer as well as antlerless deer if the hunter possesses a valid antlerless deer license for Wildlife Management Unit 5D.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Archery deer hunt planned to return to Neshaminy, Benjamin Rush state parks in PA