Hunting for County Employees Only?
04/05/09 07:49
Two good reasons to come to Monmouth County on Monday
night - 1. To support the deer hunt for ALL
hunters (not just county employees for Tatum Park) 2.
To prove that Ms. Doris Lin, attorney for NJARA
(animal extremist group) does not represent the view
of the majority.
Ant
Monmouth County may limit Tatum Park deer hunt to park workers
By Bob Jordan • FREEHOLD BUREAU • May 6, 2009
The Monmouth County Park System's annual deer hunt may feature a new twist, with officials hoping to conduct employee-only "culling" hunts at Tatum Park in Middletown for at least five days in the fall.
Ant
Monmouth County may limit Tatum Park deer hunt to park workers
By Bob Jordan • FREEHOLD BUREAU • May 6, 2009
The Monmouth County Park System's annual deer hunt may feature a new twist, with officials hoping to conduct employee-only "culling" hunts at Tatum Park in Middletown for at least five days in the fall.
The park system report issued Wednesday claims that
having rangers and other workers who are licensed
hunters take aim on deer exclusively would be safer
for Tatum Park, which is densely populated with deer.
Tatum Park is near the Garden State Parkway and is bordered by suburban housing developments on three sides.
Animal rights attorney Doris Lin of Freehold Township said the change "will turn Tatum Park into a private hunting ground for park system employees. It's supposed to be a public park."
Otherwise, the annual hunt held in parks throughout the county system should be open to licensed public hunters, the report recommended.
The event resulted in 421 kills this past season. In the coming season, it should remain contained to the same presently hunted 15 park areas for the coming year, according to administrators' recommendations.
If so, hunting would take place beginning in October and for the next 4 1/2 months in other parks in Middletown and parks in Marlboro, Millstone Township, Upper Freehold, Howell, Roosevelt, Holmdel, Wall, Tinton Falls, Neptune and Freehold Township.
The recreation commissioners are scheduled to listen to public comments at their meeting 7 p.m. Monday at the Tatum Park Red Hill Activity Center, 251 Red Hill Road, Middletown.They are expected to take action on the report June 8.
The commissioners recognize hunting "as an efficient and effective means of controlling the population of deer that threaten forest health within the county parks," park system spokeswoman Susan Walsh said.
She also said the county would continue to pursue ways of controlling the deer herd besides killing deer.
The park system had its first deer hunt in 2004. There were 23 fewer deer harvested last year than in 2007.
Hazlet resident Robert Wavro, a hunter, said he is happy the hunt program doesn't appear likely to be scaled back.
"I haven't read the whole 57-page report, but it looks like they're maintaining the program, which they should. They've been doing a real good job with it," Wavro said.
But others aren't as pleased, including Lin, an attorney who last September began court action on behalf of residents of a Wall household in an attempt to stop the hunting in a section of Shark River Park on the ground that a local ordinance prohibited the discharge of firearms. The action failed but the decision is being appealed.
Of the 421 kills last season, 77 percent were harvested by bow and arrow, 21 percent by shotgun and 2 percent by muzzleloader firearms.
Three parks — Thompson Park and Hartshorne Woods, both in Middletown, and Clayton Park in Upper Freehold — have the only designated areas where shotguns and muzzleloaders can be used. But use of those weapons is restricted to no more than six days at each location.
Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township was the site of the most hunting activity over the past year. The site was used by 200 hunters who took 74 deer, including 52 doe.
Other sites that registered at least 50 deer kills were Big Brook Park in Marlboro and Shark River Park, which has sections in Wall, Tinton Falls and Neptune.
Anthony P. Mauro, Sr.
Chairman,
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance: "We've got your back!"
www.njoutdooralliance.org
NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA
Tatum Park is near the Garden State Parkway and is bordered by suburban housing developments on three sides.
Animal rights attorney Doris Lin of Freehold Township said the change "will turn Tatum Park into a private hunting ground for park system employees. It's supposed to be a public park."
Otherwise, the annual hunt held in parks throughout the county system should be open to licensed public hunters, the report recommended.
The event resulted in 421 kills this past season. In the coming season, it should remain contained to the same presently hunted 15 park areas for the coming year, according to administrators' recommendations.
If so, hunting would take place beginning in October and for the next 4 1/2 months in other parks in Middletown and parks in Marlboro, Millstone Township, Upper Freehold, Howell, Roosevelt, Holmdel, Wall, Tinton Falls, Neptune and Freehold Township.
The recreation commissioners are scheduled to listen to public comments at their meeting 7 p.m. Monday at the Tatum Park Red Hill Activity Center, 251 Red Hill Road, Middletown.They are expected to take action on the report June 8.
The commissioners recognize hunting "as an efficient and effective means of controlling the population of deer that threaten forest health within the county parks," park system spokeswoman Susan Walsh said.
She also said the county would continue to pursue ways of controlling the deer herd besides killing deer.
The park system had its first deer hunt in 2004. There were 23 fewer deer harvested last year than in 2007.
Hazlet resident Robert Wavro, a hunter, said he is happy the hunt program doesn't appear likely to be scaled back.
"I haven't read the whole 57-page report, but it looks like they're maintaining the program, which they should. They've been doing a real good job with it," Wavro said.
But others aren't as pleased, including Lin, an attorney who last September began court action on behalf of residents of a Wall household in an attempt to stop the hunting in a section of Shark River Park on the ground that a local ordinance prohibited the discharge of firearms. The action failed but the decision is being appealed.
Of the 421 kills last season, 77 percent were harvested by bow and arrow, 21 percent by shotgun and 2 percent by muzzleloader firearms.
Three parks — Thompson Park and Hartshorne Woods, both in Middletown, and Clayton Park in Upper Freehold — have the only designated areas where shotguns and muzzleloaders can be used. But use of those weapons is restricted to no more than six days at each location.
Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold Township was the site of the most hunting activity over the past year. The site was used by 200 hunters who took 74 deer, including 52 doe.
Other sites that registered at least 50 deer kills were Big Brook Park in Marlboro and Shark River Park, which has sections in Wall, Tinton Falls and Neptune.
Anthony P. Mauro, Sr.
Chairman,
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance: "We've got your back!"
www.njoutdooralliance.org
NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA