Council OKs Deer Hunt

The mayor and council approved an agreement with East Orange and the East Orange Water Reserve at Monday night's meeting to use the property for a planned deer hunt that could take place in late October.

Last year, the township ran a similar hunt on the property.

But the difference between last year's and this year's hunt is that the township will now run the hunt as opposed to having an outside organization do so, as had been the case.  Local hunters will cull the deer.

While there have been critics of the township and other governmental bodies holding deer hunts, there was no expressed opposition at Monday's meeting.

In response to critics' calls in the past, Mayor Arlene Johnson said that the hunt is needed to preserve the environment and for the benefit of the deer.

"I'm an animal lover, but it is not humane for deer to starve," said Johnson. "There is not enough food for the number of deer."

She added that township area near the East Orange Water Reserve is "over-browsed" and that the vegetation has been so destroyed that it cannot support the deer population in the area.

Last year, more than 30 deer were killed and approximately the same number were processed and given to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Hillside.

Deputy Township Manager Russ Jones added that he believes the hunt will take place in the next couple of weeks and that residents bordering the reserve will be notified of the dates. He added that applications from local hunters have already been submitted and that the township will go through them with a thorough background check.