Politics & Government

Overpopulation of Deer is on the Decline

The Deer Management Advisory Committee gathers last night to review recent statistics about the current overpopulation problem within the community.

It's time to pack up your camo gear and clean your rifle! Regulated hunting season is shortly coming to a close; gun hunting is over on the 13th of this month and bow and arrow season ends on the 20th.  The Deer Management Advisory Committee met last night in the Town Hall to review the newest numbers, and the statistics are nothing but positive. 

There are two different hunting groups within the the Deer Management Advisory Committee that put together the numbers of deer that were harvested: White Tail Solution and Bernards Township Protective Association. This past month White Tail Solution calculated 142 killed and the Bernards Township Protective Association calculated  131 resulting in a total of 273 deer killed this season to date.Of the 273 deer killed, 220 were on township property and 53 were killed on private land.

While the committee only has jurisdiction over public property it is important for them to collect the numbers from private residences, as well. The most accurate way to secure the number of deer killed comes from an aerial survey, but this method is way too costly than the current problem permits. Therefore the best, indirect way of calculation comes from adding the number of accidents and roadkill sightings to the recorded number of killings. And, just this past year, the DMAC installed eight new infrared cameras to aid their groups in locating deer. 

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While some people view the committee as controversial, they insist that the overpopulation of deer has always been a problem and their main goal is to lessen the numbers enough so that the deer and other animals can peacefully coexist. The perfect number in a residential community is ten deer per square mile. This amount would significantly lower the amount of property damage and vehicular collisions caused by deer in Bernards Township each year.  Deer Management is not intended for more recreational hunting, but it is a useful tool that help both the health of our natural community. 

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife assert "that Deer Management Assistance Programs can help improve crop yields, forest health, native plant regeneration and diversity while reducing negative impacts of overabundant deer responsible for environmental damage, agricultural and property damage, and deer vehicle collisions." 

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Furthermore, the DMAC donate all of the deer meat to food banks. The township pays $70 a deer for a US Department Certified Butcher to prepare the venison and ship it to food bank. Since the Deer Management Advisory Committee started in Bernards Township, over 5,000 pounds of meat has been donated. 

The Chair of the Deer Management Advisory Committee, Bill Darrow, says, "it's a work in progress but we're getting there."  And they certainly are, with an approximate 60% reduction in township roadkill from 289 last year to 100 this year the decline in the deer population is apparent in Bernards Township. 


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