Robert Rosenberger said he wanted to gather more information before any serious consideration is given to a hunt. Ben Casole said although he s an avid hunter, he has misgivings about killing deer that haven t seen predators for years. No one is sure how many deer live there. From his days on the county board that has been working to redevelop the Navy base, board Chairman Bernie O Neill recalls an informal count one that found more than 200. But that was four years ago, shortly after the base closed.
Chances are the numbers have risen significantly since then.
Dee Young, a former worker at the base and a regular at township meetings, said Navy personnel used to hold a one-day hunt every year. With military maintenance gone, officials say, the deer have proliferated. William Dingman, the Game Commission s conservation officer for Bucks County, said he still has to visit the area before he can recommend any action. Until deer contraceptives become reliable, hunting is the only viable option. And some people would prefer not to see that.