Essex County Freeholders met Wednesday night in Montclair and voted in favor of a 10-day deer shoot to control the deer population in South Mountain Reservation. Now, reports The Star Ledger (link not available), they're looking for volunteer shooters to kill 150 deer this January and February.
More wildlife news: New Jersey black bears have received another year of amnesty. NJ Fish and Game Division lost an appeal in court, and were denied permission to schedule a controlled bear hunt. From The Star Ledger:
"Bear management is a topic that sparks widespread disagreement and strong public sentiments," the court said. "The need to give the public sufficient notice of the terms of a proposed bear management policy, and to respond fully to comments received from citizen objectors and advocates alike, is particularly salient here."Animal rights groups -- which back the state's current position of managing the bear population with nonlethal methods, like securing garbage and educating the public -- cheered the decision.
We, the undersigned, think it is a good idea to shoot all the deers and eat them. Just be careful that you don't shoot any other animals.
Thank you,
Paddington J. Bear
Wile E. Coyote
South Mountain Reservation,
Oranges, New Jersey