Norristown Farm Park To Cull Deer Population In March, April

NORRISTOWN, PA — A cull of the deer herd at Norristown Farm Park will be held throughout March and April, Montgomery County officials announced.

The cull comes as the deer population continues to grow beyond a sustainable level for both the ecosystem and the surrounding community, leading to a significant number of collisions with vehicles in the area and negatively impacting other species.

A dozen deer were killed in crashes in 2025.

Officials estimate a total of 103 deer on the 690 acre, one square mile property as of early March. That's down from 133 in 2023. However, the amount recommended by biologists for a space of land this size is about 20 to 30.

The 2025 hunt produced 1,1782 pounds of venison, all of which was donated to local food banks. Hunters separately removed 17 deer during the latest archery season.

The 2026 cull will take place after hours and will be conducted by USDA wildlife experts.

"Deer culls serve to reduce deer populations with the goal of balancing the size of the herd with the available resources," Montgomery County officials said in a statement. "Culls reduce crop damage, lessen deer collisions with cars, and decrease damage to the park’s vegetation and residential landscapes."

The county and federal partners have conducted some form of a cull every year in the park since 2005. Such close management also helps prevent the spread of wildlife borne illnesses, officials said, including Lyme disease, epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), and chronic wasting disease (CWD), while also keeping the remaining members of the herd healthy.