SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal has released details of an Ash Brook Reservation Deer Management Program, which will begin on Saturday, January 5, and continue through Saturday, February 9.
This program is intended to reduce the white-tailed deer population at the Ash Brook Reservation and Golf Course in Scotch Plains to minimize overbrowsing of the forested parkland, reduce browse damage on the landscape plantings of surrounding homes, reduce the incidence of deer-related motor vehicle accidents, and lessen the occurrence of Lyme disease.
Seven members of the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association have been authorized to participate in this program and they have completed a marksmanship test. Those hunters, using shotguns at baited sites, will remove deer from various areas of the park, including the Golf Course. The venison that is processed from some of the harvested deer will be distributed to the needy and homeless through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Weather permitting, hunters may be in the Ash Brook Reservation every day except Sunday. Shooting may only occur during daylight hours.
Participation in this program is limited to the seven members of the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association. Anyone else found hunting on this County park property outside the terms of this program will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Citizens observing any illegal activity at any time are urged to immediately contact the Union County Police at 908-654-9800.
The public should note that the Ash Brook Reservation and the Ash Brook Golf Course will not be closed during the deer management program. Park users and neighbors are encouraged to stay out of the wooded areas during that time period, and to keep pets restrained on a leash. For further information, contact the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at (908) 789-3682 or visit the County website athttps://ucnj.org/community/parks-community-renewal/wildlife-management/deer/.
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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj .