Union County Deer Hunt To Begin Jan. 8

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The annual 2018 Union County Deer Hunt will begin on Monday, Jan. 8 at six County parks and one municipal park.

The program will operate in the Watchung Reservation, the Summit portion of Passaic River Park, Ash Brook Reservation, Lenape Park, Nomahegan Park, Oak Ridge Park and the Hawk Rise Sanctuary.

Last year's hunt had a total of 137 deer killed for the season.

"Browsing for food by large numbers of deer has caused a loss of forest understory in park areas throughout the northeastern United States. The overpopulation of deer threatens the survival of the plant and animal communities that are important to the ecology of these parks," the county stated.

Forest ecologists recommend a density of 20 per square mile in a healthy hardwood forest and as low as 5 per square mile in a forest that has been heavily damaged by browsing.

Spotlight counts conducted by the County in April, 2017 suggested 2017-2018 overwintering densities of about 58 deer per square mile in the Watchung Reservation, 84 per square mile in and around Ash Brook Reservation and Oak Ridge Park, 87 deer per square mile in the Hawk Rise Sanctuary, and 150 per square mile in and around Lenape and Nomahegan Park, according to Union County.

Additionally, roads bordering Lenape and Nomahegan Parks had some of the highest numbers of deer-car collisions in the county, according to an analysis done in 2011.

And in Hawk Rise Sanctuary in Linden, overbrowsing by deer is threatening the survival of hundreds of native plants that were planted in conjunction with the construction of a boardwalk, the county stated.

The Union County Deer Management Program will operate on Mondays from Jan. 8 to Feb. 5. When there is a holiday on a Monday (Dr. M.L. King Day), the program moves to Wednesday.

In the event of inclement weather on any other Monday, the hunting activity will be moved to Wednesday that week. If Wednesday brings inclement weather, the hunting will be moved to Friday. Hunters will be in the parks from 5:30 a.m. until after dark, but shooting may occur only during daylight hours.

40 marksmen have been chosen by the County from among experienced, licensed hunters. 85 percent of the hunters have previously participated in Union County’s program, and all are serving on a voluntary basis. The hunters will be wearing orange hats or vests and will hunt the deer from elevated positions, at least 20 feet up in the trees, over baited sites.

The hunters may keep any deer carcasses that they harvest. Many of the deer will be processed at a State-approved butcher and the venison will be donated to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

The deer management program will be supervised by the Union County Police and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Anyone found hunting on any County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any such illegal activity are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

The public should note that these parks will not be closed during the deer management program; however, portions of some roadways inside the park may be closed for short periods if necessary. Park patrons are urged to stay on the marked hiking, walking and bridle trails. Park users also are urged to adhere to the County ordinance that requires that pets be restrained on a leash.

For further information, go to the County’s website at here or contact the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4900. Hunters interested in joining this program in a future year can get onto a mailing list for applications through the website.

(Image by xandert via Morguefile)

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