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White-tailed deer management

In shortDeer management means reducing the number of deer on a property to a level the land can support, using Pennsylvania Game Commission programs such as DMAP and Agricultural Deer Control, regular and extended seasons, and controlled archery. We count the deer, prepare the permits in your name and supply a trained team to carry out the plan.

White-tailed buck in the woods. Photo: Glacier National Park Service, public domain.

How do you know you have too many deer?

Crop losses in soybeans, corn, vegetables, orchards or nursery stock
A “browse line” in your woods, with little or no young growth below about five feet
Landscaping and ornamental plantings eaten to the ground
Deer seen regularly in daylight, in groups, close to buildings
Deer-vehicle collisions on nearby roads

White-tailed buck in a field. Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, public domain.

White-tailed doe portrait. Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, public domain.

White-tailed deer grazing. Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, public domain.

What tools do we use?

DMAP

Extra antlerless permits for your property from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Ag Tags

Agricultural deer control permits for farms with crop damage, valid during an extended control season.

Thermal drone surveys

A night count of the deer on your property before and after management.

Controlled archery

Quiet, short-range management for parks, campuses and land near homes.

Crop damage sharpshooting

Qualified shooters under your state crop damage permit in PA, NJ, DE and MD.

Fertility control (PZP)

What the Fire Island research shows, and where deer contraception does and does not work.

What seasons apply in Chester and Delaware Counties?

Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties form a Special Regulations Area with their own rules on the sporting arms allowed, and Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D have an extended antlerless deer season that runs after Christmas into late January. We plan around those seasons so management continues when it matters most.

What does a deer management plan include?

A site visit and map of access points, safety zones and neighbors
A thermal drone count of the deer, where the site allows
Recommended permits and an application timeline
A team roster, stand plan and schedule you approve
Harvest records and an end-of-season report

Do fences and repellents work?

Fencing, repellents and plant selection help in small gardens and high-value plantings. On farms, campuses and parks they rarely keep up with a growing herd, and we will tell you honestly when that is the case.

Last updated October 18, 2026. Reviewed by DelChester Wildlife Conservation Group.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to reduce deer damage on a farm?

Enroll in the Agricultural Deer Control Program, and DMAP for larger farms, then have a reliable team use the permits during the control season. Fencing helps only on small, high-value plots.

How many deer per square mile is healthy?

Researchers often cite about 10 deer per square mile as a level where forests and other wildlife can recover, with browse damage starting somewhere above 8 to 11. Suburban and farm areas often have many times that.

Put our team to work on your land

Tell us about your property and the damage you are seeing. A first conversation and site visit cost nothing.

Enroll Your Property

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