Deer Hunts Approved At 2 Westfield Parks

WESTFIELD, NJ — Deer hunts at two Westfield parks were unanimously approved by the Town Council to address the overpopulation of white-tailed deer.

This will be Westfield's fifth year participating in the Union County Deer Management Program. Mayor Shelley Brindle said the program was successful over the past four years.

The Westfield Town Council approved the resolution authorizing the hunt at its Tuesday night meeting.

This year's program starts on or about Dec. 1 and goes through mid-February 2024, within the approved areas of Brightwood Park and a small section of Tamaques Park wooded area along Lamberts Mill Road as identified by Union County.

The hunt is due to "the overpopulation of white-tailed deer in Brightwood Park and a small section of Tamaques Park identified by Union County has resulted in over browsing of native vegetation in this area, damage to greens and ornamental vegetation and created safety hazards for the public," according to the resolution.

The program is designed to address a problem of population control. Union County's objective is to bring deer population densities down to levels that are "more in balance with the ecosystems," with a specific goal density of 20 deer per square mile or less.

Hunters are able to keep deer for personal consumption or to donate to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of NJ. A total of 3,081 pounds of processed venison was donated by the agent hunters during the 2022/23 season, which provided around 12,300 meals to the needy in the Union County community, according to the county.

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