Deer Management Hunting Happening In Chester Parks

CHESTER, NJ — As part of its efforts to control the white-tailed deer population in its 700 acres of parkland, the “controlled deer hunting program” in Chester Township has begun in its parks, according to the township.

The township cautioned hikers in a social media post over the past weekend, to wear bright colors and stay on the trails while visiting the parks.

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The program, the township explained in a news release on its website, helps to lower the chances of car accidents with deer, with AAA recently citing Morris County among the top five counties statewide for deer crashes. The program’s goal, to additionally “reduce agricultural crop damage,” and “improve forest health,” helps thin the deer herd to “an average of 20 deer per square mile,” the township stated, which aligns with state regulations.

The schedule may vary per park, depending on whether it’s run by the township, county or state, Chester Township says. All hunting schedules are the same for Chester Township parks, with all hunters needing a permit from the township. Township Parks include: Evans Family Forest Preserve, Tiger Brook Park, MacGregor Preserve, Highlands Ridge Park, Parker Rd. Preserve, and Tannersbrook Preserve.

The schedule is below for parks in the township, with no hunting allowed on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day:

Permit bow – November 1–December 31, 2021

Permit muzzleloader – November 29, 2021 to February 12, 2022; Days set per Regulation Set

Six day firearm – December 6-11, 2021

Permit shotgun – December 15, 2021 to February 12, 2022 – Days set per Regulation Set

Winter bow – January 3 to February 19, 2022

New Jersey's state parks in Chester are the Black River Wildlife Management Area and Hacklebarney State Park, with limited bow hunting and no firearms hunting on Sundays; and no hunting at all on Christmas Day.

See more information here about the State of New Jersey’s hunting programs.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.