Deer Hunt Starts Today in Clark

Clark, NJ -- The annual Union County deer hunt kicked off this morning in six county parks and one municipal park.

The annual Deer Management Program, by Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, will operate through Feb. 12.

The program will operate in:

• Watchung Reservation (Berkeley Heights, Mountainside Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit),
• Passaic River Park (Summit portion),
• Ash Brook Reservation (Clark, Scotch Plains),
• Lenape Park and Nomahegan Park (Cranford, Kenliworth, Springfield, Union, Westfield),
• Oak Ridge Park (Clark),
• and the Hawk Rise Sanctuary (Linden).

These parks will not be closed during the deer management program; however, portions of some roadways inside the park may be closed for short periods if necessary. Park patrons are urged to stay on the marked hiking, walking and bridle trails. Park users also are urged to adhere to the county ordinance that requires that pets be restrained on a leash.

“Browsing for food by large numbers of deer has caused a loss of forest understory in park areas throughout the northeastern United States, according to a press release from Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. “The overpopulation of deer threatens the survival of the plant and animal communities that are important to the ecology of these parks.”

The Union County Deer Management Program will operate on Mondays from Jan. 4 to Feb. 12. Hunters will be in the parks from 5:30 a.m. until after dark, but shooting may occur only during daylight hours.

Forty marksmen have been chosen by the county from among experienced, licensed hunters. Eighty-five percent of the hunters have previously participated in Union County’s program, and all are serving on a voluntary basis. The hunters will be wearing orange hats or vests and will hunt the deer from elevated positions, at least 20 feet up in the trees, over baited sites.

The deer management program will be supervised by the Union County Police and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Anyone found hunting on any County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any such illegal activity are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.

For further information, go to the County’s website at http://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/wildlife-management/deer/ or contact the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at (908) 527-4900. Hunters interested in joining this program in a future year can get onto a mailing list for applications through the website.