Annual Deer Hunt Scheduled Throughout Morris Co. Parks

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — In an effort to help reduce and maintain the local white-tailed deer population, the Morris County Parks Commission approved the 2022-2023 deer hunt in Morris County Parks.

The goal of the deer hunt is to keep deer populations low enough to allow for the restoration of native plant communities within the parks. According to the commission, studies have found that at high densities, deer browsing can have a negative impact on forest communities. Overbrowsing can eliminate understory herbaceous plants, shrubs, and saplings, leaving only adult canopy trees in the forest.

"In selected parks of this nature, the MCPC continues to work towards reducing populations to levels that will allow for successful habitat restoration, both natural and assisted. Other parks exhibit little damage from deer and contain lower density populations. In these parks, the goal is to maintain the deer population at levels that allow healthy habitats to continue to thrive," MCPC said.

There will be two lotteries to distribute hunting permits for the 2022-23 hunting season. The first lottery is only open to returning hunters who have followed all MCPC rules and regulations and demonstrated satisfactory participation and attendance.

The second lottery will be open to all new hunters, according to MCPC. All new hunters will be asked to attend a mandatory orientation session before picking up their permit.

Hunting in an MCPC facility is only permitted with an access permit issued by the MCPC. Anyone caught hunting in an MCPC facility without an access permit will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This year's hunt program will include only five firearm sessions held in Black River facilities during the months of Dec. and Jan., MCPC said.

The full hunt schedule can be found here.

The county emphasizes that this hunt is intended to address a population control issue. It is not intended to provide opportunities for sport or recreation. "While the MCPC understands that hunting is a polarizing issue, it is currently the most efficient and cost-effective method available for managing deer populations. We have experimented with a number of non-lethal control methods without success," MCPC said.

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.

More information can be found on the Morris County Parks Commission website.