Deer Hunt In Union Co. Parks Is On This Year Without Firearm Component

UNION COUNTY, NJ — In an effort to minimize the local white-tailed deer population, the Board of County Commissioners approved the 2022-2023 deer hunt in Union County Parks.

The goal of the deer hunt is to prevent overbrowsing of native vegetation, minimize browsing of residential landscaping surrounding park properties, as well as minimize the incident of deer-related motor vehicle accidents.

Additional benefits also include a reduction in the spread of Lyme disease and an increased opportunity for homeowners to use and enjoy their yards from recreation and gardening, according to the county's website.

Up to 60 people, who are experienced, licensed hunters, will be selected by the county with the goal of removing 50 deer from Watchung Reservation, 53 from Lenape and Nomahegan Parks, 70 from Ash Brook Reservation and Oak Ridge Park, 12 from the Passaic River Park in Summit, New Providence and Berkeley Heights, 10 from the Hawk Rise Sanctuary and 39 from the Hillside and Union sections of Elizabeth River Park and Galloping Hill Golf Course.

This program will be conducted as an archery hunt online, utilizing volunteer hunters with crossbow archery equipment. Firearm hunting has been suspended for the past two years due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, according to County Parks Director Ronald Zuber, and it will not take place in the upcoming hunt.

The county emphasizes that this hunt is designed to address a problem of population control. It is not intended to provide "sport or recreational opportunities."

Shooting will occur only during daylight hours, which are defined as a half hour before sunrise or a half hour after sunset. Hunters are allowed in the park before and after those hours to set up their tree stands, which they will be shooting from, or to remove deer carcasses.

The schedule for the 2022-2023 deer hunts are as follows:

Fall Bow and Permit Bow Seasons (65 days)

October 3 – December 30, 2022; Monday through Friday at:

• Lenape Park
• Ash Brook Reservation
• Oak Ridge Park
• Passaic River Park
• Hawk Rise Sanctuary and Linden Municipal Landfill
• Watchung Reservation (26 days: Tuesdays and Thursdays, only)
• Elizabeth River Park
• Galloping Hill Golf Course
• Hidden Valley Park
• Linden Airport
• Rahway River Park
• Clark County properties

Winter Bow Season (35 days)

January 2 – February 17, 2023; Monday through Friday at:

• Lenape Park
• Ash Brook Reservation
• Oak Ridge Park
• Passaic River Park
• Hawk Rise Sanctuary and Linden Municipal Landfill
• Watchung Reservation – (21 days: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, only)
• Elizabeth River Park
• Nomahegan Park
• Galloping Hill Golf Course
• Reeves Reed Arboretum
• Hidden Valley & Bryant Parks
• Linden Airport
• Rahway River Park
• Westfield County & Municipal properties
• Clark County & Municipal properties
• Plainfield County & Municipal properties

More information ca be found on the Union County website.

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