Deer Hunting at Schooley's Mountain Park Underway

For nearly a month, deer hunting has been underway at Schooley’s Mountain Park in Washington Township, as part of a five-month long deer management program put together by the county.

The program, spanning 21 weeks from September to February, allows hunting in both the northern and southern portions of the county-run park on specific days.

The schedule for hunting through Feb. 21 is as follows:

Schooley’s Mountain Park north will have open hunting from Sept. 13 to Oct. 31; Nov. 1 to Dec. 24; Dec. 26 to Dec. 31; Jan. 1 to Feb. 21; and is permitted on Saturdays.

Schooley’s Mountain Park south will have open hunting from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31; Nov. 3 to Dec. 24; Dec. 26 to Dec. 31; Jan. 1 to Feb. 20; and will allow permit shotgun, 6-day firearm, permit muzzleloader hunting on Dec. 3, 10, 13, 17; Jan. 7, 14, 17, 21, 26, 28; and Feb. 4 and 11. Park and trails will be closed on those specific days, according to the county.

Sunday hunting is prohibited by state law. Hunters are required to apply for a permit, which will enable them to access a specific park on the dates specified, and are limited to one bow permit and one firearm permit each season.

The Morris County Park Commission oversees 18,000 acres of land and says a “controlled hunting program is the most efficient and effective way available to minimize the severe threats posed to the biodiversity of native flora and fauna by overabundant white-tailed deer populations.”

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