Tomorrow, Oct. 5, will mark Pennsylvania’s first regular-season Sunday archery hunt under the expanded hunting law. Along the Route 228 corridor, where deer are a frequent sighting — and often a roadway hazard — officials and residents will be watching to see whether the extra day has any measurable impact on herd management.
Since January 2024, Middlesex Township has recorded nearly 100 deer-related incidents, and neighboring municipalities in Adams and Cranberry have seen similar trends.
One Mars business owner said the deer are adapting to development, noting, “The deer are learning to live between the houses.”
When Governor Josh Shapiro signed legislation in July, expanding Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania, it was hailed by sportsmen as a long-awaited change. But in places like Adams Township, where deer sightings are more frequent than ever, the question remains: will an extra day in the woods make a dent in a population many say is out of control?
Residents from Treesdale to Myoma Road have reported more frequent deer encounters, whether it’s spotting a fawn in the backyard or finding landscaping stripped bare. While some appreciate the charm of these sightings, others voice concern over safety — especially car-deer collisions, which spike during the fall breeding season.
Mike Vogel, president of the Mars Rod and Gun Club, has seen the change firsthand. “There’s a tremendous number of deer around here,” Vogel said. “It’s nothing to go out there in the evening — dusk or after dark — and see 50 or 60 deer grazing. We’re taking their habitat away. They want to eat, and you’ve got nice shrubs in your yards. You can’t plant a hosta — they’re gone. They’re even eating my tomato plants.”
For Adams Township farmer John Cashdollar Jr., the issue is both personal and generational. His family farm has been in operation since the late 1880s, but he says the growing deer herd has forced him to make difficult decisions. “The deer are eating the crops, eating the hay, destroying the pasture fences,” Cashdollar said. “The population is getting worse every year. There are certain crops I don’t even grow anymore, like corn.”
Cashdollar supports the recent expansion of Sunday hunting. “I’m all for it. Some guys can’t afford to take off work to hunt, so Sunday gives them a chance.”
The new law expands on legislation passed in 2019 that allowed limited Sunday hunting, with three Sundays per season now approved for archery and firearms. Advocates argue that the change helps manage the deer population more effectively, provides greater access for working individuals, and supports rural economies. But others worry about encroachment in suburban communities like Adams Township.
“A lot of us moved here for the balance between nature and peace,” said a Cranberry-area resident and avid hiker. “It’s unsettling to know that on Sundays now, there could be active hunting near public trails or residential boundaries.”
According to the game commission, Pennsylvania has one of the largest white-tailed deer populations in the country. While the state doesn’t publish a single official statewide count each year, wildlife agencies and conservation groups commonly estimate the herd at well over a million deer. That puts Pennsylvania in the top tier nationally—alongside states like Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, and North Carolina—with only Texas supporting a significantly larger herd, estimated over 5 million.
Statewide, hunters harvest roughly 400,000 deer annually, yet Pennsylvania ranks number one in the nation for deer-vehicle collisions. From July 2023 to June 2024, more than 150,000 deer-related collision claims were reported across the state.
Insurance experts say the risks are only growing. “As of 2024, Pennsylvania ranked number one in the nation for deer-related claims,” said Stephanie Style, an agent with Dunn & Dimond Insurance Agency. “The average property damage loss is around $4,700, and injuries tied to these claims have risen by nearly 9%.” She added that distracted driving is making the situation even worse.
For those living and farming in Adams Township, the statistics aren’t abstract — they’re daily life.
For Cashdollar, Sunday hunting is a welcome step, but he questions whether it will be enough. “I’m all for it. I hope it helps,” he said. “There are lots of deer accidents… Something has to be done.”
Both Vogel and Cashdollar agreed that one or two hunters in the woods on a Sunday won’t make a difference. For many along Route 228, the law represents another step in managing a growing herd. Still, drivers will need to stay alert as the rut peaks later this month and deer collisions spike.
