Deer Management Program To Be Discussed In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — In an effort to help reduce and maintain the local white-tailed deer population, the Washington Township Committee will be discussing a resolution on Aug. 15 authorizing a renewed agreement for the deer management program.

If the resolution is passed, the township will receive applications for permits to participate in the deer management program and to hunt in sections of township-owned property as designated by the township committee resolution.

The Washington Township Land Trust will oversee both the permitting process and the deer management program.

The goal of the deer hunt, according to the Morris County Parks Commission (MCPC), is to keep deer populations low enough to allow for the restoration of native plant communities within the parks.

All participants are expected to hunt in a manner that protects the natural environment, promotes a diverse ecosystem, and ensures that the land they enjoy today will be available to future generations, officials said.

The resolution states that hunting will be permitted on 29 properties throughout Washington Township, but no firearms will be permitted on any of the selected properties.

Only vertical bow hunting is permitted unless otherwise indicated on the program property list adopted by the Washington Township Committee. Horizontal bow or crossbow hunting is restricted to specific properties and within 150 feet of any property line.

Two lotteries will be held to distribute hunting permits for the 2022-23 hunting season. Only returning hunters who have followed all MCPC rules and regulations and demonstrated satisfactory participation and attendance are eligible for the first lottery.

According to MCPC, the second lottery will be open to all new hunters. Before picking up their permit, all new hunters will be required to attend a mandatory orientation session.

Although Township-owned property is normally closed to the public from sunset to sunrise, hunters have the right to enter the property as early as needed during the deer management period as long as their activities are directly related to the deer management program.

Similarly, if their activities are directly related to deer management, they may remain on the property for as long as necessary, according to the resolution.

The white-tailed deer is a species with a high rate of population growth. Females can reach reproductive maturity as young as one-year-old and can give birth to up to three fawns per year. The lack of natural predators in this area, combined with supplemental feeding by well-meaning homeowners, contributes to a constantly expanding population.

In order to limit the rapid population growth that deer are capable of, the MCPC applies continuous pressure on the deer population by allowing for limited hunting on an annual basis.

The county emphasizes that this hunt is designed to address the problem of population control. It is not intended to provide "sport or recreational opportunities."

Members of the Washington Township Committee intend to discuss this matter at the Aug. 15 Committee Meeting, which is set to begin at 7 p.m. Click here to view the full agenda.