Deerly beloved (if you’re a Pa. resident)

Philadelphia, like most of Pennsylvania, is overrun by deer. (Not quite as much — pollution’ll do that — but for growing up in a city, I saw a fair amount of deer.) When I was little, a deer ran right down Academy Road and put a dent in Archbishop Ryan High School’s fence that was there until they put up a new one years later.

But, of course, Philadelphians aren’t quite the hunters the rest of the state is, and a release from the Pennsylvania Game Commission I received today taught me a lot. Not that the release has to do with hunting, but, you know, it dealt with things I had never thought of: Did you know if you hit a deer you can claim the carcas? (You just need to make a phone call.) And if you don’t want it, another Pennsylvania resident (and only a Pennsylvania resident) can claim the dead deer.

Presumably, you can claim any old random dead deer on the side of the highway, too. As long as you live in Pennsylvania. And call the Game Commission within 24 hours. (But you can’t keep the antlers; they have to be turned in to the Game Commission.)

I’ve never hunted. I would never take a deer home if I hit it. But I must say that this is fucking awesome. It’s like Pennsylvania summed up in one little anecdote.

This quote from Wildlife Conservation Officer Jerrold W. Czech Jr. also sums Pennsylvania up pretty well, too: “It’s also a shame to see whitetails killed on highways in the weeks before our biggest deer seasons.”

Full release after the jump. It came via fax and I scanned it in, so if there are any typos, it’s the optical character recognition’s fault, not mine.

From: Jerrold W. Czech, Jr.

Philadelphia County
Pennsylvania Game Commission

GAME COMMISSION ADVISES MOTORISTS TO WATCH FOR DEER

PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Jerrold Czech advised motorists to slow down after sundown and before sunrise if they don’t want to risk having a close encounter with a white-tailed deer.

Deer collision calls have picked up recently at the Game Commission’s regional offices. It’s an annual occurrence that will continue through Thanksgiving week and begin to slow down In mid-December. For the sake of public safety, the Game Commission is urging motorists to drive cautiously after dark fox the next several weeks.

“It’s also a shame to see whitetails killed on highways in the weeks before our biggest deer seasons. Obviously, many of these accidents are unavoidable because deer do step into the path of fast-moving vehicles. But driving defensively, or, at the very least, alertly, can give a motorist an edge in many instances.”

Officer Czech noted that being knowledgeable about deer can help Pennsylvanians stay out of harm’s way. He said that some deer aren’t paying close attention to what’s going on around them during the fall breeding season, commonly referred to as the “rut.”

Officer Czech also noted that drivers shouldn’t assume trouble has passed completely when a deer successfully crosses the road. “Deer frequently travel in family groups and single file,” Czech said. “Just because one has crossed, doesn’t mean the threat is over. Its crossing could be a signal that others may follow, which they sometimes do blindly.”

Bucks currently are chasing does. Sometimes these bucks follow closely; other times they pursue with their heads to the ground nosing a scent trail.

Drivers who hit a deer with a vehicle are not required to report the accident to the Game Commission. if the deer dies, only Pennsylvania residents may claim the carcass. To do so, they must call the Game Commission region office representing the county where the accident occurred and an agency dispatcher will collect the information needed to issue a free permit, which is mailed. A driver must call within 24 hours of taking possession of the deer.

A passing Pennsylvania motorist also may claim the deer, if the person whose vehicle hit it doesn’t want it. Again, the motorist must report taking possession of the deer within 24 hours to the Game Commission.

Antlers from bucks killed in Vehicle collisions must be turned over to the Game Commission.
If a deer is struck by a vehicle, but not killed, drivers are urged to stay their distance because some deer may recover and move on. However, if a deer does not move on, or poses a public safety risk, drivers are encouraged to report the incident to a Game Commission regional office or other local law enforcement agency. If the deer must be put down, the Game Commission will direct the proper person to do so.

Other tips for motorists include:
- Don’t count on deer whistles or deer fences to deter deer from crossing roads in front of you. Stay alert.

- Watch for the reflection of deer eyes and for deer silhouettes on the shoulder of the road. If anything looks slightly suspicious, slow down.

- Slow down in areas known to have a large deer population; where deer crossing signs are posted; places where deer commonly cross roads; areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland; and whenever in forested areas between dusk and dawn.

- Deer do unpredictable things. Sometimes they stop in the middle of the road when crossing. Sometimes they cross and quickly re-cross back from where they came. Sometimes they move toward an approaching vehicle. Assume nothing. Slow down, blow your horn to urge the deer to leave the road. stop if the deer stays on the road; don’t try to go around it.