Mercer county deer ‘massacre’ underway in our backyards

Thanks to a recent letter to the editor in the Times of Trenton (“. . . deer hunt a ‘massacre’”), I learned that a four-month long deer hunt is underway in Mercer County Park, a popular destination where area residents can enjoy myriad activities (typically not including slaughter). 

All deer “management” decisions for the park -- who can kill deer, when and with what weapons -- were reportedly made in August, yet opposition to the hunt seems to be building as more people learn it’s underway right now, close to home.  Wondering how and where hunt plans were publicized, some say they simply didn’t know about it.  They also wonder if and how they might have spoken against the hunt before decisions were made.

(A Mercer County spokesperson indicates that the public was informed of deer management plans “through a variety of communications, including signs that have been posted in the park, a Park Commission press release, social media messages, and a public information meeting held at the park on Oct. 18.” )

  

The Park Commission’s website provides more information on deer management, including a FAQ section that provides reasons and rules for the hunt at Mercer County Park -- and Mercer Meadows (in my own backyard) and Baldpate Mountain, as well.  

http://www.mercercountyparks.org/#!/activities/deer-management

Here’s the hunt schedule for Mercer County Parks:

https://mercercountyparks.org/assets/18-19_MCP_HuntSchedule.pdf

In most cases, hunters will use bows, with firearms permitted at specified times. From sunrise to sunset for five days a week (six, starting in January) through Feb. 16, hunters can “harvest” deer.  They’re required to hunt from elevated tree stands (to “ensure the trajectory of projectiles is downward”); hunting from the ground is not permitted.  

There will be “no hunting activity near active recreation areas,” and the licensed hunters who were selected for this “deer management” activity must abide by a 75-foot safety zone.  Park visitors are advised to wear bright colors and proceed with caution.  (Sounds like lots of fun, doesn’t it?)

Hunters are “asked to cover their harvest with a tarp when transporting in the park to avoid exposure to more sensitive park goers.”  Such delicacy, given that hunters are allowed to bait the deer -- an extremely unsportsmanlike practice -- shoot them and then “dress” the dead deer (oops! “harvest”!) before leaving the park.  

So “management” is one common euphemism for deer population-control-by-death.  The word may suggest deliberative consideration of alternative ways proceed, but that’s not necessarily so.   (The Park Commission website describes the hunt as “the most cost effective and reliable method for controlling deer populations.” [italics added])  And then, as above, “harvest,” an upbeat euphemism for "kill,'' invariably appears.

If you object to deer being “managed” by being killed in Mercer County Park, what can you do about it?  Talk, write, donate.  Repeat.

First, you can sign the Change.org petition against this hunt. Here’s the link: https://www.change.org/p/lucylle-walter-we-oppose-hunting-in-mercer-county-park-nj

Next, with those who may join you once they know, talk up your objections to this mode of “deer management.”  Let the county officials behind the hunt know of your objections.  Here are the people who need to know what you think of a deer hunt in Mercer County Park, as well as Mercer Meadows and Baldpate Mountain (with thanks to MP for specifics):

COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Brian Hughes    bhughes@mercercounty.org

MERCER COUNTY BOARD of CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS

Lucylle Walter, President   lwalter@mercercounty.org

John Camino, VP              jcimino@mercercounty.org

Ann Cannon                      acannon@mercercounty.org

Pasquale Colavita            pcolavita@mercercounty.org

Samuel Frisby                   sfrisby@mercercounty.org

Andrew Koontz                akoontz@mercercounty.org

Nina Melker                      nmelker@mercercounty.org

MERCER COUNTY PARK COMMISSION

Aaron T Watson, Executive Director.             awatson@mercercounty.org

Anthony Cucchi, Superintendent of Parks.   acucchi@mercercounty.org

Joe Pizza, Director of Operations.                   jpizza@mercercounty.org

And finally, write letters to the editor; look for, or organize, tabling, meetings and demos; and speak up on social media.

Take action and keep taking it!

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This issue has so many facets that I hope for comments to help complete the picture.  Please comment by going to 1moreonce.blogspot.com