DEER-HUNT LAWS SPUR SHREWSBURY PROTEST
A deer crosses a Shrewsbury street in 2010. (Photo by Peter Lindner. Click to enlarge)
Local and state laws that allow deer hunting closer to housing than in the past drew protesters to Shrewsbury on Sunday, the Asbury Park Press reports Monday.
Led by Sycamore Avenue resident Dede Lichtig, about a dozen protesters from Shrewsbury, Fair Haven, Middletown and elsewhere voiced concern about a shrinking of the deer hunting safety zone passed earlier this year by the state Legislature, as well the borough governments decision to maintain its hunting law, the Press reports.
In June, after months of study and debate, Shrewsbury’s governing body voted to allow residents to do what theyve been allowed to do for the past five years: kill the animals with arrows, provided they do so within New Jersey Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife regulations.
From the Press:
Around the same time, the Legislature reduced the bow hunting safety zone, from 450 feet to 150 feet from a building, effectively bringing the hunt within steps of somebodys back door.
All you need to do to come into town and shoot an animal is either find out where the hunting areas are or approach someone and say, Can I hunt on your property? or, Can I pay you to hunt on your property? Lichtig said.
Supporters of Lichtigs dispute the facts behind the reasoning of the shrunken safety zone, and say that with hunters perched in trees so close to backyards, personal safety is at risk.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 08:44:42
Personal safety is not at risk from the hunters, it’s the deer that gets an arrow stuck in it on a non-fatal shot that jumps through some kids bedroom window that’s at fault.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 09:03:38
Deer hunting with ANY weapon should not be permitted in such a densely populated suburban area. I’m glad I don’t live in Shrewsbury – I’d be ashamed to live in a town with such a ridiculous law.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 21:15:15
tey tste good.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 23:27:59
Sue hit the nail on the head.
I’m sure all of the “hunters” will like the law until an innocent pedestrian gets shot by accident. Then everyone will change their tune. Hopefully folks come to their senses before that.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 09:38:29
Sue,
You are unfortunately mistaken. These same Div of Fish and Wildlife regulations apply all over the state. It is up to each town to make further restrictions as Shrewsbury did for the last three years(before that hunting was allowed). Middletown does not further restrict hunters and follows the state regulations and ALOT of people hunt Middletown properties, large and small. Deer attempt to run to the closest, natural, safest place and I assure you that is not some kids bedroom. I googled that and couldn’t find it anywhere…bow hunting is actually a very safe sport and I am very disappointed that so many people come to conclusions without any objectivity.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 13:43:12
Lead story in the Community Reporter this week (11/10/2011)
“Deer-car crashes in NJ rising”
Stats:
7 people killed in deer collisions with vehicles between ’05 and ’10
6,847 collisions in 2005, 8,365 in 2010
6,020 dead deer picked up by DOT in ’10
4,139 dead deer picked up so far in ’11
I don’t hunt & I don’t eat venison, but I support hunting as a means to reduce the deer population to reduce the # of deaths and serious accidents that result from deer over-population
Nov 17, 2011 @ 23:30:54
I will never understand how murdering an innocent animal is considered a “sport” to some. Living in Shrewsbury, having had Lyme disease and having had a car incident with a deer, I agree something has got to be done but I cannot condone this “sport”.
Nov 18, 2011 @ 01:02:57
It’s interesting that some people see killing as the answer–the only answer–to the problems people created when they destroyed animal habitats and drove them into residential areas (where the animals would rather not be in the first place).
Contraceptives and permanent natural habitats are a much better solution.
Nov 18, 2011 @ 01:07:35
And I agree 100% that killing animals is not “sport”. Sport requires two evenly matched adversaries. That leaves animals out in the “match” between them and people.
Nov 18, 2011 @ 10:07:50
What we have here is a failure to communicate! …. and market properly – This is Not the sport of hunting! Rather this Is harvesting free-range venison to make our busy streets safer for our children! AND at the same time, we can feed a few people along the way, saving slaughterhouse raised cattle and swine! All this while keeping public expenses in check! Its a Win-Win (except for the deer that is)…..
Nov 18, 2011 @ 11:10:04
Robert,
What are YOU volunteering? Nothing more than a couple days of your time which you’re going to spend doing something you enjoy.
There are many values that soar higher in the human experience than the concept that money comes first and foremost.