Deer Hunting Season Underway In Monmouth County Parks

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Yes, you may not be aware of it, but Monmouth County allows for deer hunting in its county parks. Bow-and-arrow hunters are allowed in many Monmouth County parks every day except Sundays through Feb. 16, and there are two shotgun dates left in January.

"There is one day remaining for (shotgun hunting) in Thompson Park and Hartshorne Woods Park," said Tom Fobes, the superintendent of Monmouth County parks.

The last dates for deer hunting using a shotgun or muzzleloader in Hartshorne Woods Park is Jan. 8. The last date for hunting at Thompson Park is Jan. 10. Those two parks shut down entirely on those days. Hunters must be out of the parks by noon.

However, all Monmouth County parks remain open during bow-and-arrow hunting. Surprised to hear that? Monmouth County is woodsy and beautiful — but it's still located in densely-populated Central New Jersey.

The park system has never had an incident of someone getting accidentally hit, said Andrew Spears, the assistant director of county parks.

"We have really implemented a number of different safety regulations," said Spears. "First of all, you will see signs by the entrance of the park and at trail head kiosks that it's hunting season. Secondly, hunters are only allowed to hunt from fixed positions in tree stands. So they have good visibility. The tree stands are away from buildings and parking lots. The hunters are usually there early in the morning or in the late afternoon, and the chances are that a regular park visitor is not going to see them."

Also, thirty days prior to hunting, a post card is sent to all neighbors adjacent to the park, or who live within 200 feet of the park, said park director Fobes.

However, Spears added: "The reality, is yes: If you were to go into any of these parks where we allow hunting, you may see a hunter going to his tree stand."

In last year's 2017/2018 season, 604 deer were reported as harvested, according to this final report from the county. The 2018/2019 season is still underway, so final numbers are not available.

You need to obtain a permit to hunt in Monmouth County parks. Last year the county gave out 889 hunting permits. At a cost of $25 a permit, the hunt brought in $22,225 for the county park system. That sum is nominal: The primary purpose for a hunt is to keep the area's "explosive" deer population in check, said Spears.

"Anybody who travels the roads in Monmouth County knows we have a deer problem, and state wildlife officials say a hunt is the best way to control it," said Spears. "Right now the deer population is exponentially too high. Certainly anybody who's been to Dorbrook (in Colts Neck) or Thompson Park (in Lincroft) can see that. You can see dozens of deer there at a time. The vegetation has been affected, and the secondary concern is the impact of deer on roadways and neighboring farmlands."

The annual deer hunts have "certainly had some impact, but we're nowhere near a healthy balance in the forest," Spears said. "We're just trying to keep the deer population growth in check. The whole point of this hunt is to bring the deer down to a healthy level."

According to Spears, there has been an increase in the number of coyotes in Monmouth County, and they are a natural predator to the deer.

"There are more coyotes in the parks now than there have ever been," said Spears. "They may have had some impact on thinning the herd, but it's not to the level where it's going to have a long-term impact. A hunt is the best way."

Here are the remaining dates for deer hunting in Monmouth County parks this winter: (Hunting is prohibited in all county parks on Sundays.)

Big Brook Park Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Charleston Springs Golf Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Clayton Park Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Crosswicks Creek Park Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Dorbrook Recreation Dec. 15, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Freneau Woods Park Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Holmdel Park - Ramanessin Section Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Hominy Hill Golf Course Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Carry-in/out - Archery only
Howell Park Golf Course Oct. 1, 2018 – Jan. 31, 2019 Archery only
Huber Woods Park West Section Nov. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Manasquan Reservoir Oct. 1, 2018 – Jan. 31, 2019 Archery only
Manasquan River Greenway Oct. 1, 2018 – Jan. 31, 2019 Archery only
Metedeconk River Greenway Oct. 1, 2018 – Jan. 31, 2019 Archery only
Perrineville Lake Park Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Shark River Park Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Tatum Park Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Archery only
Turkey Swamp Park Oct. 1, 2018 – Jan. 31, 2019 Archery only

Wickatunk Recreation Area Oct. 1, 2018 – Feb. 16, 2019 Carry-in/out - Archery only
Yellow Brook Tract Oct. 1, 2018 – Jan 31, 2019 Archery only

Shotgun hunting:

Hartshorne Woods Park Until 11 a.m. December 4, 6, 12, 14, 2018 and January 8, 2019
Thompson Park Until 11 a.m. December 3, 5, 7, 13, 2018 and January 10, 2019

Here is the full list from the county park system: https://www.monmouthcountypark... (under Dates & Maps)

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