By Matthew Fleishman, Yardley News Editor

A deer hunt in Five Mile Woods is underway, and could continue in two-week cycles for the next three months, depending on both the success of the archery hunters from the Big Oak Whitetail Management Group and the whim of the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission (PGC).

Before White Buffalo, Inc., can perform the sharpshoot, which was approved by the Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors in April, the PGC is requiring that a local archery hunt be done within the township.

At this point, township officials are unsure how many deer need to be harvested by Big Oak Whitetail Management Group, but the local archers will be allowed to hunt in Five Mile Woods for up to 52 days, or until the PGC says that enough deer have been killed by recreational means.

"[The township will] do what the Game Commission requires, and nothing more," said Matt Maloney, chairman of the board of supervisors. "As soon as we meet that threshold, we will move on to the sharpshoot."

Before the hunt began on Saturday, Sept. 19, Lower Makefield Township Manager Terry Fedorchak sent letters to more than 250 residents who live near Five Mile Woods, telling them about the reasoning behind the archery hunt, along with the planned dates that the preserve would be closed for hunting.

The letter states: "Implementation of a sharp-shooting program require Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) authorization. The PGC requires that such an effort be preceded by an opportunity for the public to hunt the property. To satisfy this requirement, the Township has proposed a managed archery hunt..."

Big Oak Whitetail Management Group, which is made up of local archery hunters, was one of the groups that submitted a proposal to perform the entire deer management plan, will do this recreational hunt at no cost to the township.

In addition to all passing all required tests and receiving proper licensing, all of the archery hunters have gone through background checks by the Lower Makefield Township Police Department.

Currently, it is planned that Five Mile Woods will be closed for hunting through Oct. 3, and then from Oct. 19 to Oct. 31, Nov. 16 to Nov. 28, and Dec. 14 to Dec. 25.

Maloney said that the township would be in touch with the PGC every two weeks, asking if the total number of deer harvested is sufficient to cut short the archery hunt, and begin the sharpshoot.

In addition to the letters, Fedorchak said that notices have been placed around the perimeter of the preserve to warn people about the hunt.

"The postings are quite obvious," said Fedorchak.

The idea of a deer hunt had been discussed publicly at board of supervisors meetings for more than two years. Back in April, the deer management plan was approved by a 3-2 margin, with supervisors Maloney and Ron Smith dissenting to the idea of a sharpshoot, but not to the idea of a deer hunt.

In 2008, there were 72 reported deer/car collisions in the township, and more than 110 deer had been collected from roads within the township.

In addition to the negative impact on humans, Five Mile Woods Preserve Manager John Heilferty and the "Friends of Five Mile Woods" both agree that the population needs to be curtailed.

The township's letter speaks to this, saying: "In the case of Five Mile Woods, the Township's Preserve Manager, the 'Friends of Five Mile Woods" and a professional deer management expert contracted by the Township have all independently established that white tailed deer, while an important and desirable part of the Preserve ecosystem, are having an adverse impact upon many other resident flora and fauna due to their overabundance."

At the board of supervisors meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, several residents spoke out against the archery hunt during the public comment portion of the meeting, but the supervisors said the issue had been approved months ago, and the archery hunt is being forced upon them by the PGC.

"I live with a person - who is texting me - that is not happy about it," said Supervisor Jason Simon. "I understand your frustration...We are doing everything possible to do this in a controlled environment. We are boxing this in as much as we can box it in."

Maloney added to Simon's comments, saying, "We're trying to do this in as limited scope as possible."

While the archery hunt is taking place, all hunting will be done within the 235 acres of Five Mile Woods. Residents have been advised that they should call the police if they spot any hunter leaving the preserve to hunt, or if a wounded deer wanders out of the preserve.

For more information or any questions about the hunt, residents are asked to call Heilferty at 215-493-6652 or e-mail fivemilewoods@yahoo.com.