170 Deer Harvested In Hillsborough During 2024-25 Hunting Season

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The 2024-25 hunting season has come to a close in Hillsborough, and the Township is already gearing up for this coming season.

The Township Committee passed a resolution at its Tuesday night meeting approving the Township's Deer Management Advisory Committee's plan for the 2025-26 season.

Tom Ross, with the Hillsborough Township Wildlife Management Commission, presented the totals from this past season and plans for the upcoming season at the meeting.

The presentation revealed that 170 deer were killed during the 2024-25 hunting season, which is the highest number the Township has seen since its inception in 1997. There were 146 deer harvested during the 2023-24 hunting season in the township, which is the second highest amount, according to Ross.

Breakdown of the deer harvested in 2024-25:

• 47 were killed by firearms
• 123 killed by archery
• 57 bucks harvested
• 113 does harvested
• 1 turkey harvested
• 1 coyote harvested

Looking at the impact on car crashes, Ross said the number of vehicle crashes involving deer since 2004 has trended down, mostly.

In 2004, the township saw 333 crashes, and in 2024, 119 were reported. Over the 20 year span, the Township had a total of 4,757 crashes.

From the deer harvested, 24 were donated and processed. About 900 punds were donated to Hunters Helping the Hungry Food Program.

Since the Township's deer management inception in 1997, hunters have donated more than 255 tons of venison to participating food banks. This equals to more than 2 million meals, according to the presentation.

The program will continue for the 2025-26 hunting season with the cancellation of the fall turkey hunting season.

Ross said this is due to the state terminating its own program.

"Due to the low number of female turkeys, the population has come down so they want to put a damper on that until the population comes up," said Ross.

The plan for the upcoming hunting season proposes:

• Continue to plot all road-killed deer from motor vehicle accidents on a map of the Township to locate where additional signage may be needed
• Continue the replacement of worn deer crossing road signs and/or an increase of signs at key points around the Township
• Continue the trimming of brush on public properties further back from the road to allow motorists improved vision of deer at the roadside
• Provide “Wildlife Tips” throughout the year on the Township’s website on such topics relating to deer such as deer-resistant plants, leaving wildlife alone in the wild, driving tips during peak times when deer are most active and the negative issues of feeding deer and other wildlife issues
• Make available a detailed list that can be obtained at the Townships Clerk’s office on landscape plants rated by deer resistance.

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