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Providing an update on the status of the city's application
for a white-tailed deer culling, Common Council President Frank Macioce
revealed the expected timeline for the hunt at Tuesday's Common Council
meeting.
"We have received permission from Union County,"
said Macioce. "Obviously we have to get permission from the property
owner."
While the deer culling is taking place, Macioce said
individual property owners who live near the shooting area will be asked for
permission to allow deer culled on their property. The next step is to get Summit's deer culling plan on the
agenda of the New Jersey Fish and Game Council on Feb. 12, Macioce said,
adding that the deer culling should proceed somewhat earlier than last year.
Union County will pay half the cost, which will be $200 per
deer, he said. This includes the cost of butchering and packaging the venison,
which will be shipped to local food banks to feed the needy.
Macioce said starting the culling earlier is more
effective, since more deer can be culled in January than at any other time. He
said he has encouraged staff to submit the deer culling application permit
earlier so hunt can begin in January, rather than later. "This is a serious problem," said Macioce.
"The important thing is thinning the herd."
Also on Tuesday, council approved authorization of the
Union County special deer management permit application to the New Jersey
Division of Fish and Wildlife. This will allow Union County to conduct a deer hunt in
Summit's portion of the Watchung Reservation.
Summit's deer culling is expected to begin within the next
month if approval is granted. The permit allows for agents approved by the state to shoot
deer over a period of time, which may include February through March and half
of April.
The city has set aside $10,000 in its budget to pay for the
hunt and plan to use Deer Management Systems Inc. to perform the hunt, which
was the same contractor the city hired last year.
The contract is on a per-deer basis, with $7,500 covering
the cost of shooting about 30 deer. The planned locations for the hunt include Hidden Valley
Park, the former American Water Company of New Jersey property on Glenside
Avenue and the transfer station off Passaic Avenue.
According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
Web site, several communities have used Deer Management Systems Inc. for deer
culling programs including Millburn, Bridgewater, Bernards, Watchung and
Mountain Lakes.
Agents from the private company use shotguns to kill the
deer and operate from tree stands at pre-baited sites.
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