SAFETY STATEMENT

Hunting within the boundaries of North Coventry Township Open Space Property is a privilege granted by the North Coventry Township Board of Supervisors through the suspension of the North Coventry Township Ordinance 254-14 as it pertains to the “Hunting Activities”. North Coventry Township conducts these hunts in an effort to scientifically manage wildlife populations within the Township and in an effort to preserve a balanced ecosystem while providing ongoing viewing opportunities for the general public. The future success of these hunts depends on the ethical and safe conduct of all those who participate in these hunting programs. If these programs are to continue, each participant must make their safety and the safety of the public, the first and foremost priority.

Management Goals and Objectives:

Whitetail deer is an important big game species in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the overpopulation of which can generate public health and safety concerns related to traffic accidents, Lyme disease density, depletion of the understory of woodlands, and damage to private landscaping. It is the responsibility of the Township to recommend and enact means of deer population controls that meet these objectives, such as varieties of regulated hunting. Regulated hunting has been the tool employed and shall follow the guidelines established by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Through a regulated whitetail deer hunting program on the Township’s Open Space Property, North Coventry Township seeks to better manage the whitetail deer population by permitting the harvesting of whitetail deer populations on such property consistent with current seasons, bag limits, and objectives established by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The regulated hunting on the Township’s Open Space property will be permitted in limited areas, as depicted on the attached Deer Management Program Map, and will only be authorized by a permit issued by the Township to qualified archery hunters.

All applications must be completed and returned to North Coventry Township by August 1, 2024.

1. APPLICANT SELECTION PROCESS

   1. North Coventry Township residents who submit an application, who pay the requisite processing fee, and who satisfy all requirements herein will be issued a hunting permit unless the total number of applicants outnumbers the total number of permits to be issued as established by the Township. Under those circumstances, applicant permits will be issued by random drawing conducted by the Township. The Township has authorized a total of 30 permits, 16 acres per hunter. Non-Residents of North Coventry Township may also submit an application with residents receiving preference over non-residents. When more than the maximum permits are received for a zone, the second choice zone will be used. If there are more than the maximum in the second choice, then the 3rd, until space is found in a zone. If space is not available in the applicant’s selection, they will be contacted for another choice.
   2. Applicants seeking to obtain a permit to participate in the Regulated Deer Hunting program must submit a completed application, the form of which is attached hereto, together with information regarding the applicant’s archery experience, personal vitae, game law compliance record, and criminal record. Information will be submitted to the North Coventry Police Department and the PA Game Commission for review before any permits are issued. Applicants shall also submit an executed copy of the Participant Acknowledgment Form.
   3. Applicants who are chosen by the Township to become participants in the Regulated Deer Hunting Program shall complete and execute the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto. The failure of an applicant to submit an executed Indemnification Agreement shall disqualify the applicant from obtaining a permit.
   4. Applicants who are chosen by the Township on the permit date of August 1, 2023, must demonstrate proficiency with the archery tackle to be used (while hunting) in order to qualify for an open space hunting permit.
   5. Proficiency testing shall be conducted by the Township at:

      Frontier Archers Association

      2950 Chestnut Hill Road
      Pottstown Pa 19465

      On the following dates:

      Wednesday, August 14 from 6-8 pm,

      Saturday, August 17 from 8-11 am

      Wednesday, August 21 from 6-8 pm

      Saturday, August 24 from 8-11 am.

   6. Only those individuals selected as the result of the permit assignment on August 1, 2024, may participate in the proficiency process. Each individual must pass the proficiency testing to participate in the open space archery program.
   7. The proficiency test shall require individuals using compound, recurve, or longbow to place three (3) of four (4) arrows in an area of a target at twenty (20) yards equivalent in size to the vital area of medium-size whitetail deer. Individuals using crossbows shall be required to place 4 of 5 bolts in an area of a target at 30 yards equivalent in size to the vital area of medium size whitetail deer. The bow and arrows to be used for hunting shall be used for the proficiency testing, with the exception that arrows shall be equipped with field points during the proficiency testing. This same rule applies to crossbows and crossbow bolts.
   8. All participants are required to attend the monthly deer management meeting in September to receive their permits. This meeting is scheduled for the second meeting in September at 7:30 pm at the township building.

      845 S. Hanover St
      Pottstown, PA, 19465

2. RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR HUNTING

   1. Hunting on North Coventry Township property is restricted to archery only. Longbow, recurve bow, compound bow, and crossbow hunting are permitted. The use of any type of firearm is strictly prohibited.
   2. BAG LIMITS — Each participant, with appropriate licenses, may harvest one (1) antlerless deer per season for each legal antlerless license they possess and one (1) antlered deer per hunting license year.
   3. Baiting — It is the policy of North Coventry Township that baiting shall not be permitted on North Coventry Township’s open space property.
   4. Each participant must endeavor to harvest an antlerless female deer before a participant may harvest an antlered deer. This requirement will be exempt for this season.
   5. GENERAL PROCEDURES – Participants must sign in at the Township Kiosk next to the parking area before each hunting event and must sign out following each hunting event. Each participant will log any deer observed or harvested during the session. Forms for this purpose shall be placed in a weatherproof box at the predetermined parking locations. When in the field, participants must display the township-issued hunting permit at all times.
   6. PARKING — Participants must park their vehicles in the area designated for the assigned hunting area and must display a Township parking permit.
   7. ARCHERY TACKLE – Must conform to that which is specified by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for use during the season.
   8. Participants must wear a blaze orange hat and vest/coat that meet the minimum square inch requirements specified by the PA Game Commission during the overlapping muzzleloader/shotgun seasons.
   9. Participants must hunt a minimum of 10 hours during the early 2023 season from September 17th to November 19 to be considered for future archery programs as they may occur. Failure to do so may result in revocation of hunting privileges at the discretion of the Township.
   10. HUNTING ZONES — Archery-only hunting zones have been established for the whitetail deer management program at each Township site. The archery hunting zones are identified on the respective Deer Management Program Map, which is forwarded to all participants with their hunting permits. Additionally, the Township will post outwardly facing signs to inform residents: that a particular area is part of the White Tail Deer Archery Hunting Program: that archery hunting will be occurring from the start date of the program to the end date; and that residents shall wear brightly colored clothing to ensure visibility. In the event that a Participant observes that his/her designated archery hunting zone is not so posted, the Participant shall immediately notify the Township and shall not hunt in the said area unless and until such signs are erected.
   11. Participants may hunt in the assigned areas only. Safety zone boundaries may exceed the 50-yard minimum, as is established statewide by the PA Game Commission for a variety of reasons including safety and respect for adjacent landowners. It is imperative that all hunters adhere to their area boundaries and safety zones accordingly. Deer Management Program Maps illustrating all archery hunting areas will be issued to participants. There will be a 100 Yard safety zone with Penns Walk Way and surrounding the 3 residences at the end of Penns Walk Way.
   12. All participants, other than handicapped individuals and those certified by a physician as unable, must hunt from an elevated platform commonly known as a tree stand and must use a fall restraint system commonly known as a safety harness. Zone 6 is reserved for any handicapped individual who is participating in the Deer Management Program and will only be assigned to another individual that cannot hunt on an elevated platform.
   13. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate handicapped participants. Individuals with physical impairments will be able to apply for participation in Zone 6. This zone will be set aside to handle those hunters who are not able to hunt from an elevated platform.
   14. TREE STANDS — Participants may use portable tree stands; the self-climbing type of tree stand is preferred. Fixed-position stands will be considered, but the type of stand and the proposed location(s) of stands must be approved by the Township and access to climbing devices by others must be restricted by removal or other approved means following each hunting event. Steps or other devices that pierce the outer and inner bark of trees are not permitted. Participants must supply their own tree stands and must remove the tree stands at the expiration of their hunting permit or the end of the hunting season established by the Township Board of Supervisors, whichever is earlier. Tree stands must be greater than 25 yards from any established blazed trail. Tree stands may be left in place during the season only at the participant’s risk. Participants must label tree stands with their name and permit number that may be seen from ground level.
   15. The Pennsylvania Game Law and the North Coventry Township Ordinances and Regulations shall apply. Hunters shall abide by all of the Pennsylvania Game Laws. The Township DOES NOT allow hunting on Sundays.
   16. The Township reserves the right to discontinue the program at any time.
   17. Permits are not transferable.
   18. The Township reserves the right to revoke a permit holder’s permit at any time.
   19. Permit holders who cannot participate in the management program are asked to call the Township to allow staff to make timely adjustments.
   20. Participants are permitted to field dress a harvested deer on the Township’s Open Space property provided that such is generally out of sight of residents. Remains may be left behind but must be concealed and placed away from likely human access.
   21. Participants shall not make any attempt to harvest a deer while any non-archer is within sixty (60) yards of the targeted deer.
   22. Participants shall not make any attempt to harvest a deer within fifty (50) yards of a residence or right of way for access to a residence.
   23. Hunting will be for whitetail deer only. Trapping for furbearers and hunting and/or trapping of any other mammal or bird is strictly prohibited.
   24. Participants may be checked by law enforcement officers from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and North Coventry Township Police Department. Each participant must carry and if requested, provide photo identification, hunting licenses, and Township permits.
   25. Participants who observe individuals hunting on Township property without a Township-issued permit displayed are requested to notify the North Coventry Township Police Department.
   26. All participants must attend a mandatory meeting scheduled by the North Coventry Parks and Recreation and Police Department prior to the start of the township hunting season. This meeting is scheduled for the second Wednesday in September at the township building.
   27. Participants shall not be permitted to bring onto the premises, possess or consume any alcoholic beverage or illegal drugs of any kind; no participant shall enter the Township Open Space Property for the purpose of hunting in an intoxicated state or otherwise be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
   28. Participants must remove all material brought into the hunting area, with the exception of tree stands as provided in item 14 above.
   29. Hunting is only permitted as published by the Pennsylvania Game
       Commission, Monday through Saturday.

3. VIOLATIONS

   1. PARTICIPANT VIOLATION OF OR DEVIATION FROM THE NORTH COVENTRY TOWNSHIP HUNTING PROGRAM RULES AND REGULATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS BOOKLET, AND/OR The PENNSYLVANIA GAME LAW AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REGULATIONS SHALL NOT BE TOLERATED. SUCH CONDUCT, WHETHER WITNESSED BY OR REPORTED TO THE TOWNSHIP STAFF, MAY BE CONSIDERED GROUNDS FOR PERMANENT EXPULSION FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE NORTH COVENTRY TOWNSHIP HUNTING PROGRAM.
   2. The North Coventry Township Police Department is authorized to enforce the Rules and Regulations set forth herein.
   3. Penalty. Appropriate citations and fines will be issued for violation of these Rules and
      Regulations, as set forth in the Ordinance authorizing the White Tail Deer Regulated Archery Hunting Program. In addition, the Township may revoke or suspend a Participants permit for any violation of the Rules and Regulations.