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.”
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.
