County's Annual Deer Management Program Begins Next Week
Hunters will target white-tailed at Ash Brook Reservation in Scotch Plains from Jan. 5 to Feb. 9.
The following information was provided by the County of Union.
The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of an Ash Brook Reservation Deer Management Program, which will begin on Jan. 5 and continue through Feb. 9.
This program is intended to reduce the white-tailed deer population at the Ash Brook Reservation and Golf Course in Scotch Plains to minimize overbrowsing of the forested parkland, reduce browse damage on the landscape plantings of surrounding homes, reduce the incidence of deer-related motor vehicle accidents, and lessen the occurrence of Lyme disease.
Seven members of the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association have been authorized to participate in this program and they have completed a marksmanship test. Those hunters, using shotguns at baited sites, will remove deer from various areas of the park, including the Golf Course. The venison that is processed from some of the harvested deer will be distributed to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Weather permitting, hunters may be in the Ash Brook Reservation every day except Sunday. Shooting may only occur during daylight hours.
Participation in this program is limited to the seven members of the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association. Anyone else found hunting on this County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any illegal activity at any time are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.
The public should note that the Ash Brook Reservation and the Ash Brook Golf Course will not be closed during the deer management program. Park users and neighbors are encouraged to stay out of the wooded areas during that time period, and to keep pets restrained on a leash. For further information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 789-3682 or visit the County website at http://ucnj.org/community/parks-community-renewal/wildlife-management/deer/.
Tyler D
8:51 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
Crony program from a hunting perspective. Only 7 select hunters are permitted and are members of a private club. The only value of this article is that it warns us that this particular area will have hunting during this time.
waterproof
9:44 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
Every time I see something like this I think of this comic.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__gudhYalgCc/SNbbqmP4-3I/AAAAAAAABtw/TKoi-oCu4AU/s400/jon5.GIF
Donald
10:47 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
Whenever I see a piece about wildlife overpopulation in Union County, I think of the sign I posted above.
Mike30
11:27 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
Parkway north between 135 and 136 didn't get rid of enough deer this season.
Toniann Antonelli
1:04 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Mike - I've seen deer in that area as well...there are often deer grazing along the side of the parkway in the Clark/Cranford vicinity. Does anyone have a problem with deer on local streets? I often see them on the long, tree-lined stretch of Martine Avenue in Scotch Plains and near Nomahegan Park in Cranford.
Ira Kraemer
1:35 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
I think that we need to manage the deer hunters rather than the deer. The reasons for this hunt are absurd, Very inhumane . If drivers would slow down, we would see considerably fewer collisions with deer.
c
3:24 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
I'd rather hunt them feed the homeless than hit them get hurt and ruin the car.
c
3:29 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
There are more deer in NJ than during colonial times. Culling them according to state wildlife management biologists is sound science.
Pete
5:05 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
There are more people in NJ too. If the supposed sound science could be applied equally across the board the deer wouldn't have an issue. Clue: people are the problem, not the wildlife.
Lenapee Tree
7:52 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
I will need to see the data on that statement. And saying you read it on the internet so it has to be true will be enough for me.
Please keep in mind that state wildlfe management biologists are funded through hunting programs. The same programs that re-introduced the bear and turkey populations in north Jersey 20 years ago. Remember when the DEP official drove that poor bear in a station wagon to the turnpike four years ago to prove they were on the prowl?
c
6:09 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
NJ Fish and Wildlife regulate the deer, the democrats regulate the people, contact them and get them to help.
GGG
1:18 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
I am very glad that the county is doing this. I just hope they cull enough deer to make a difference.
Luke
7:14 pm on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Are those of you that are against this hunt vegetarians? Or do you wear leather or better yet have leather interiors of your cars?
If do then you have absolutely no right to say that this is wrong. Are there other ways to manage the deer? There are but are pricy and when we have volunteers who will do this for free. I certainly dont want any more of my tax dollars to go for what I think is a no brainer. In the end who benfits? Everyone the risk of death by hitting a deer is reduced, the needy will get fed with meat for pennises on the dollar of what beef would cost.
Pete
11:37 am on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Cows are not wild animals and everyone has a right to their opinion, even including you.
Much more likely to die by being hit by another car than by a deer. There's too many people and too many cars, not too many deer.