Cheltenham Township’s Deer Management Program to begin on Sept 21, Coventry Park added this season

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September 19th, 2024 | By Ryan Genova

Cheltenham Township’s Deer Management Program for the 2024-25 season will begin 30 minutes before sunrise on Saturday, September 21.

The township’s commissioners authorized the program in July due to concerns of damage to vegetation, cases of Lyme disease reported by residents, and car accidents, officials said.

50 deer were harvested in 2023-24, according to the township’s season end report.

This year’s hunting season runs through January 31, with a pause from December 15-26. Signs will be posted to notify anyone attempting to enter the passive open space properties (Deer Hunting Maps), and hunters are mandated to carry identification badges while hunting on township property and display placards in their vehicles denoting their part in program, officials said.


Each of hunting properties listed below are owned by the township:

  1. Boyer Road Open Space
  2. Carroll Brooke Park
  3. Island by Chelten Hills Dr between Washington Lane and Church Rd.
  4. George A Perley Bird Sanctuary
  5. Glenwood Open Space
  6. Green Valley Open Space
  7. Rock Lane between Dell Lane and Washington Lane on the south side of the EP homes
  8. Tookany Open Space around the perimeter of Ashbourne Meadows
  9. Tookany Creek Parkway behind the Cheltenham Presbyterian Church
  10. Waverly Road Compost Facility 
  11. Open Space bordering Wyngate Property
  12. Coventry Park (added this season)

This year marks the eighth consecutive controlled deer hunt on some of these properties, the township said. 

“The deer management program is performed by archers who are competent, experienced, careful, and cautiously safe. No guns of any kind are used in this program. The safety of our residents is of the highest priority,” the township said in a statement.

Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise through 30 minutes after sunset, with 30 minutes before and after hunting hours to enter and vacate a site. Hunting is not permitted between 9:30am and 2:30pm, and there is no hunting on Sunday. 

The roster is currently complete, but the program will accept contact information for a waiting list. Many of the deer culled will be shared through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program for families in need through distribution to local food pantries. 

Deer vs. Auto Numbers

YearDeer culled Deer vs. Auto
2015 N/A 62
2016 34 58
2017 48 19
2018 53 23
2019 45 24
2020 52 46
2021 51 51
2022 20 40
2023 50 41

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