Saddle River resumes deer culling deal with United Bowhunters of NJ. No explanation given

SADDLE RIVER — The borough has brought back its five-year deer culling program a year after it put it on pause.

The council voted this week to resume its agreement with United Bowhunters of New Jersey for the 2024-2025 hunting season.

The controversial program, the only one of its kind in Bergen County, was paused a year ago without explanation. Mayor Albert Kurpis declined to explain its renewal earlier this week.

The program was initiated in 2018 and quickly followed by protests from various animal rights groups. The program also raised public safety concerns as deer caused accidents on roadways and damage to the community's landscaping.

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The Animal Protection League of New Jersey contended accidents went up during the culling, possibly because hunters scared the deer which then ran onto area streets. Borough data shows the number of deer killed has steadily declined, from 138 deer in the 2018-2019 season to 50 deer in 2022-2023.

A league representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on restarting the program.

The 2023-2024 hunting numbers were not immediately available. However, resident Henry Senger asked for a stay in the vote at Monday's council meeting, contending there have been 80 police reports filed in connection with the deer hunting. He said in those incidents police assistance was requested to help search for or retrieve wounded or dead deer on properties that do not allow hunting. Police reports also indicate residents found arrows on their properties from nearby hunts.

"There have been no increases in deer-related car accidents in our area," Senger said. "This fact challenges the notion that deer population control through hunting is an urgent necessity for public safety."

The program has cost the borough an average of $5,517 per season, mostly for the rental of refrigerated trailers to house dressed carcasses.

The new agreement, found on the Aug. 19 agenda, establishes the following terms:

• United Bow Hunter members only, no residents or private hunters allowed;
• Bow hunting only, no firearms;
• Members use arrows with lighted "nocs" to facilitate retrieval;
• Hunting only on private property with advance written permission;
• Hunting only during state-designated bow hunting season days and hours October to February, including Sundays as permitted by the property owner;
• Advance notice to police before entering the property;
• Field dressing at pre-approved locations;
• A maximum of 15% of the seasonal harvest can be processed for donation to Hunters Helping the Hungry for payment to the borough of $100 per deer. There is no charge for deer kept by the participants.

Bergen County has considered, but so far declined to institute, a culling program at its 38 parks totaling 9,000 acres.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Saddle River resumes deer culling deal with United Bowhunters of NJ. No explanation given