Senior Communities To Vote On Deer Hunt In Berkeley

BERKELEY, NJ — Following controversies in recent months regarding the allowance of deer hunts in Berkeley's senior communities, a conclusion has been made. Individual homeowners associations will vote on the matter, officials told Patch.

Rumors have been shared dating back to June that deer would be "rounded up" and shot with bows and arrows. At the time, these rumors were denied by officials. Read More: Deer Round-Up Rumors Addressed By Berkeley Officials

However, officials have said that the deer population is a problem in Berkeley's numerous senior communities like Holiday City and Silver Ridge, and have tried to figure out a way to deal with it.

At the end of September, a meeting was held to address the topic of deer hunting.

The conclusion was that the HOAs would vote whether to allow deer hunting in the communities for the 2023 hunting season, Berkeley Township Administrator John Camera told Patch.

Each HOA will make their own decisions about whether to open any of their community property and what the restrictions would be, Camera said.

Camera had previously told Patch in June that the deer population was an issue and that "enhanced hunting" had been discussed.

Read More: Deer Hunt Addressed Again In Berkeley Senior Communities

Berkeley Councilman Michael Signorile, a frequent advocate for senior communities, previously told Patch that the deer population in the area poses a risk to residents.

"There are health issues, property damage and an increasing number of automobile accidents within the Holiday City borders. The rise in these incidents can be funneled to the fact that there are no natural predators in the area, opening the deer population to a steady and unnatural rise," Signorile said. "Add to that the residents that feed the deer illegally and we have created a perfect environment for them increase in numbers."

State regulations would not permit shotgun or bow hunting within specific distances of residences. Only a few associations that have a common area would qualify for a hunt if one were to occur, Signorile said.