Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
How long has DelChester Wildlife Conservation Group been doing this?
We have been actively running wildlife management programs for more than 30 years.
What does it cost?
A first conversation and site visit cost nothing.
Do I need a permit?
Usually. Deer management beyond regular seasons runs through the landowner’s state permits, such as Pennsylvania’s DMAP, Ag Tags and agricultural depredation permits, New Jersey farm depredation permits, Delaware’s Deer Damage Assistance Program or a Maryland Deer Management Permit. Goose nest and egg work needs the landowner’s free annual federal registration. We prepare the paperwork.
Who will be on my property?
Only team members you approve, on a schedule you approve, with one team leader as your contact.
Is it safe near homes?
Near homes we rely on controlled archery with mapped safety zones, elevated stands and approved shooting lanes, and we follow each state’s safety zone rules.
Do you use drones?
Yes, to count deer, never to hunt. Survey flights are flown by an FAA-certified remote pilot and kept separate from any hunting, as Pennsylvania law requires.
Do you remove geese?
We start with habitat changes, hazing and registered nest and egg control. Any taking of geese happens only under the permits and seasons that apply.
What happens to the deer?
Every deer is used, kept where the permit allows or donated to food banks. Pennsylvania hunters donated 261,672 pounds of venison in the 2023-24 season through Hunters Sharing the Harvest.
How long before I see results?
Most landowners see less fresh damage in the first season. Lasting results take several seasons of steady management.
What area do you serve?
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, with our home base in Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania.
Can you shoot deer at night for crop damage?
In some states, yes, under the landowner’s permit. Pennsylvania’s agricultural depredation permit and New Jersey’s farm depredation permit allow shooting day or night under their conditions. Maryland allows night work only with county approval in an approved plan.
Does deer birth control work?
In small, closed herds it can, but slowly. On Fire Island, New York, deer density fell about 58% over roughly a decade of PZP treatment. It does not reduce crop damage on open farmland.
Can I lease my land to you for hunting?
Yes. We lease hunting rights directly, with a written lease, a vetted team and no brokers or sub-leasing. See our hunting lease page.
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