18 October 2025

As I mentioned last month, deer in the City of Pittsburgh moved out of city parks and into the neighborhoods when archery season began on 20 September. Now that the hunt has been going for four weeks I’ve noticed two things.

This week I learned from a bow hunter that the few deer I see resting in Schenley Park are too young to hunt. Restrictions on antler size and “plumage” (coat indications) prohibit taking the ones I’ve seen. Apparently these individuals somehow know they are safe.

After four weeks of browsing neighborhood yards the pickings must be slim over in Shadyside. On Saturday 11 October a doe visited the Oakland highrise district to browse on the landscaping, slideshow above.

Since I don’t often look outside my window before dawn I’ve only seen this once before in March 2024. I’ll be watching for the next visit.