Resident Asks Committee, 'Why Can't I Hunt Here?'

Objecting to the township's deer management plan with Warren Blue Ridge Sportsman's Club at the June 23 Township Committee meeting, Mountainview Road resident John Merklinger asked the Township Committee why he can't hunt in the township.

After noting the township made the club solely responsible for its deer management and deer hunting on township property, Merklinger said, "Incredibly, Warren residents are not granted this same permission."

"It is my opinion that the need or concerns to reduce deer herds, whether legitimate or not, was used as an opportunity to use this private hunting club to hunt Warren's public land," he said.

Merklinger charged the club has built tree stands for hunting too close to township trails and residences, as well as cut down branches and trees. He also said the club's hunters use cameras illegally when hunting.

"The residents are being led to believe the land around them is not being hunted due to the 'no hunting' signs posted all over the town," he said. "This is extremely deceiving as most of the land...(is) being hunted by residents of South Plainfield, Piscataway, Middlesex, Dunellen and who knows where else."

Merlinger also questioned the $1 million liability against hunting accidents he said the club maintains, which he said could cause a problem for the township since such accidents can result is far higher awards.

The committee members didn't respond to most of Merklinger's comments, only asking him to submit his recommendations, except when he challenged the members on why and how the club was granted the agreement. At one point, Merklinger said the only connection the club had to Warren was through member Ralph Garafola, husband of Deputy Mayor Carolann Garafola.

But both Mayor Gary DiNardo and Committeeman Mal Plager shot back the club was the only group to come forward when the township was discussing it's deer management plan.

"How did they even know to come forward?" Merklinger said.

"We're on TV every week," Plager immediately replied. "I will tell you, if somebody else had come forward, we would have been very happy to let them."

As Merklinger continued to press members on the deer management plan and the club's participation in it, Township Attorney Jeffrey Lehrer interjected that he was putting an end to Merklinger's challenges to the committee.

"I will go through this and give him (referring to Township Administrator Mark Krane) the answers, but this is not a deposition and I'm not going to have the members interrogated the way you're doing it," Lehrer said.

Merklinger thanked the committee after agreeing to send his recommendations to Krane.