Nolde Forest deer hunt soon accepting applications

Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

Jul. 11—Applications for the annual Nolde Forest Permit-Only Archery Deer Hunt will be available at the Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center Office from July 17 through Aug. 4.

Office hours at the Cumru Township park are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Calling ahead is advisable due to limited staff.

The hunt is scheduled to take place Sept. 18 to Nov. 22 and Dec. 26 to Jan. 26.

Nolde Forest is located at 3025 New Holland Road.

Prospective hunters have until 4 p.m. on Aug. 4 to return their applications and signed/dated hunter agreement with a self-addressed stamped envelope to be considered for the hunt.

Hunters will be selected by lottery on Aug. 7. Successful applicants will be notified by mail. All hunters who are selected through the drawing will be required to attend the mandatory, in-person orientation in late August or early September. Those who do not attend will be replaced by individuals on the waiting list.

Participating hunters must have a current Pennsylvania hunting license, Pennsylvania Archery stamp and Wildlife Management Unit 5C antlerless deer license.

Nolde Forest is within Disease Management Area #4 for Chronic Wasting Disease and accepts DMAP tags. An average of 15 deer have been harvested each year over the past four seasons.

Selected hunters will be assigned one of four hunt periods: Sept. 18-Oct. 6; Oct. 10-27; Oct. 30-Nov. 22; or Dec. 26-Jan. 26. Sixteen permitted hunters each day of the first three periods and 22 each day of the fourth period will be allowed in open hunt areas from prevailing start time to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to prevailing closing time on weekdays only.

No hunting is allowed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or at any time on weekends and the following holidays: Oct. 9 (Columbus/Indigenous People's Day); Nov. 10 (Veteran's Day observed); Nov. 23-24 (Thanksgiving); Dec. 25 (Christmas); Jan. 1 (New Year's); and Jan. 15 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day).

For more information, call 610-796-3699 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays.