New Jersey Deer Population   An estimate of 105,000 whitetail deer in 2022 based on hunting data, down from a state estimate of about 133,000 in 2018.  An EHD outbreak in 2021 reduced deer populations.  A state estimate of about 146,000 in 2017, up from about 100,000 in 2015.  The state estimates the recent peak population at 204,000 in 1995.  Estimates apply to deer in hunted areas.


New Jersey Deer News

Saddle River suspends deer culling program after five years. Here's why March 17, 2024 New Jersey, The Record, Bergen County on MSN.com

... "We have data indicating deer accidents have actually gone up in the borough since the hunting began, possibly because the deer are scared onto roads by the hunters," Lin said [Animal Protection League of New Jersey attorney Doris Lin] ...


Annual national deer stats report! March 15, 2024 New Jersey, Sullivan County Democrat

... New Jersey hunters take the highest percentage of deer with archery equipment at 65 percent of the harvest ...


Wayne, Decision looms for funding of 8-foot-tall deer fence at Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne February 6, 2024 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... It would be set back 50 feet from all streets surrounding the arboretum... Mayor Christopher Vergano, an ardent supporter of the arboretum, said the outlay is an appropriate use of tax dollars. “I don’t have a problem with spending our money on our park,” ...


No, it’s not an abandoned overpass. The story behind N.J.’s wildlife bridges. January 8, 2024 New Jersey, NJ.com on MSN

... “What the overpasses have done allows animals to access either side of 78,” Zarate said. “We know they work in successfully moving animals and equate to less likely being killed on the road.” ... “Deer was a main driver for the project,” ...


Controversial Deer Hunt Will Return In Essex County For 2024 January 2, 2024 New Jersey, Patch on MSN

... “We urge you to stop wasting our taxpayer money and spend the $1 million or so that you have wasted over the years to plant trees (and use deer protection as you do in Brookdale Park, which allows the trees to grow with no issue),” Our Green West Orange stated...


Hilltop Deer Hunt Starts Next Week January 2, 2024 New Jersey, MyVeronaNJ

... Since the hunts were first held in 2008, a total of 3,057 deer (1,926 deer and 1,131 unborn deer) have been removed ...


Endangered since the 1990s, NJ's bobcat population is now on the rise January 2, 2024 New Jersey, northjersey.com

... according to a recent study by the Department of Environmental Protection ...  there are 200 to 400 bobcats thriving in the Garden State..,


Safe Driving in NJ During Deer Mating Season November 26, 2023 New Jersey, 92.7 WOBM

... According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, there are over 15,000 deer-to-vehicle accidents every year..,


“He Looks Like A Tiger” – Giant Bobcat Snatches Baby Deer In New Jersey Backyard November 1, 2023 Whiskey Riff

... video then cuts to a few moments later when the predator that potentially caused this damage revealed itself. A giant, and I mean GIANT bobcat comes out of the tree line to snatch up the still writhing fawn...


Deer 'Struggling' in Rough Tide Returns to Shore With Help From Surfer October 3, 2023 New Jersey, Yahoo Canada Sports

...  “He was struggling as the incoming tide was rough that morning,” ... a happy outcome, as the animal regained the shore safely, after “a little help from a surfer” ...


Deer leaps from Route 3 overpass and crashes through vehicle windshield on Route 21 September 27, 2023 New Jersey, Yahoo

... crashed through the windshield of a vehicle heading south on Route 21 in Clifton, police said.  After the deer wound up in the lap of the driver, 45, of a 2016 Jeep Compass, the driver lost control of the vehicle ...


'Illegal, Inhumane:' Deer Poacher Charged In Morris Township September 12, 2023 New Jersey, Patch 

...  Morris Township police have apprehended a man who used a blow dart gun to "illegally and inhumanely" kill one deer and injure another in a woodland area on township property.

     Illegal Deer Hunting Investigation Underway In Morris Township September 1, 2023 New Jersey, Patch 

... individuals shot multiple deer with a blow-dart gun in the area of Speedwell Avenue and Max Drive, killing at least one deer... "Our officers have observed additional deer in the area with darts hanging from their bodies," ...


What changes could be made to New Jersey's deer hunt? These are the possibilities August 29, 2023 New Jersey Herald

... the changes look to align the deer hunting seasons across the state and reinstate the seven-buck season limit. Eliminated in the proposal is the requirement that a buck must have at least three points on one side ...


Commissioners Approve Deer Hunts in Union County Parks, Municipal Spaces July 16, 2023 New Jersey, TAPinto

...for a cost not to exceed $17,500 ...The hunt is conducted each year to reduce the deer population in certain parts of Union County...


Northfield NJ, Where Have All Your Deer Gone? May 2, 2023 New Jersey,  Cat Country 107.3

... It would not be uncommon for each of us to see 3, 4, or 5 deer each morning on our way in... All of a sudden, nothing. Not less deer - no deer.  For the last two months, neither of us has seen ANY deer! None! ...


Essex County Hunters Kill 240 Deer In First Cull Since COVID Pandemic March 31, 2023 New Jersey, Patch

... Hunters killed 240 deer in Essex County ...Since 2008, a total of 3,057 deer (1,926 deer and 1,131 unborn deer) have been killed as part of the program... 


Saddle River suspends deer culling program after five years. Here's why  March 18, 2023 New Jersey, Bergen Record

... "We have data indicating deer accidents have actually gone up in the borough since the hunting began, possibly because the deer are scared onto roads by the hunters," Lin said. "We're hoping the borough will review the data and determine the culling was unsuccessful." ...


What is ‘deer corn’ and where to get it in New Jersey? January 6, 2023 WKXW

... Some experts say corn is not the right food for them this time of year and recommend fruits and vegetables or natural plants.  So, whether people are buying it to attract a deer for hunting or just to watch them eat, “deer corn“is a thing in New Jersey...


Essex County Executive DiVincenzo Outlined Plans for the 2023 Deer Management Program January 4, 2023 New Jersey, TAPinto

... Since 2008, a total of 2,817 deer (1,774 deer and 1,043 unborn deer) have been removed utilizing the services of experienced and qualified marksmen who volunteer their time... 


Raritan Township Adds Open Space Properties to Deer Hunting Program November 22, 2022 New Jersey,  TAPinto

... The township already allows deer hunting on nine of its 22 parcels of open space, and the three newly acquired properties will be on the list when the township invites bids from hunting clubs for the two-year 2023–2025 period ...


New Jersey warns drivers deer more likely to cross roads and highways during mating season October 21, 2022 CBS News

... State estimates indicate there are more than 125,000 deer in New Jersey... as mating season for deer gets underway, they're more likely to cross roads and highways, increasing the danger for drivers..,


Princeton Council awards deer management contract in efforts to control town’s deer population October 5, 2022 New Jersey, Central Jersey

... The Princeton Council has awarded a contract to White Buffalo Inc. to help control the town’s deer population, including a pilot sterilization program aimed at female deer... A dart containing a tranquilizer will be aimed at the doe, or female deer. The doe will be taken to a surgical bay and its ovaries will be removed...


Burlington County deer appears safe; community relieved  August 25, 2022 New Jersey, FOX 2

... somehow, got a tomato cage and planter stuck on her head ... " I called Animal Control and they said they can’t come out. They don’t do wildlife. So, I called New Jersey Fish and Wildlife and they said they can’t help." ...


New Jersey Bill Would Require Landowners to Notify Neighbors Before Hunting Their Own Land June 6, 2022 Outdoor Life

...  Assembly Bill 3732 calls for an expanded safety buffer that would prohibit hunters from nocking an arrow or carrying a loaded weapon within 450 feet of any occupied building in the state... 


Don't Move Newborn Fawn To Mow Your Lawn, Livingston Tells Residents  May 31, 2022 New Jersey, Patch

... "Needing to mow your lawn or let your dog out is NOT reason for Animal Control to remove a fawn from your property," the town said. " The fawn should only be there for a majority of the day."  They added, "The fawns wait in hiding until their mother returns ...


Expert: 'Coexist with deer' — Forum at River Vale Public Library against backdrop of collisions May 14, 2022 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... Over three years ago, following River Vale Mayor Glen Jasionowski’s call for a deer bow hunt in 2019 to trim the local population ... limited public open space (e.g. River Vale Country Club), public safety concerns, not enough time to pass needed ordinances, and heated public opposition caused the mayor and council to “pause” a decision on the issue and no further action was ever taken...


Where are Snowflake and Winter? Eatontown's endearing oddball white deer charm residents April 27, 2022 New Jersey, Asbury Park Press

...a pair of what are most likely piebald deer, that live in the few thickets of woods in town, but frequently meander out to parking lots, sidewalks and people's backyards ...


Wayne, Laurelwood Fence Moves Forward News March 4, 2022 New Jersey, TAPinto

...  deer population in the area was literally eating away at Laurelwood’s famous hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas  ... FOLA agreed that if the vote passed that night, they would push the deer exclusionary fence back off the road double the original proposed setback of 25 feet... 


Neighbors Step Up Against Perimeter Fence at Laurelwood Arboretum February 18, 2022 New Jersey,  Wayne, NJ News TAPinto

... Mayor Chris Vergano assured residents that culling would never happen. “We are not killing Bambi in Wayne Township,” ... The fence, they said was the “best option available.” ... [some] argued that the park was "a natural deer run," ...


Help needed for deer in Middletown with plastic lid stuck around its neck January 27, 2022 New Jersey, 

News 12

... is still mobile and its vision and ability to eat and drink are not impaired, it has generally been the position of DEC to not attempt to intervene. Intervention to remove the lid at this point is not without significant risk to the animal. DEC will continue to monitor the situation ...

2 deer rescued after getting stuck on ice covering N.J. reservoirs, officials say January 24, 2022 New Jersey, NJ.com 

... State Park Police and local volunteers freed a deer at Round Valley Recreation Area in Clinton Township and another rescue occurred at Monksville Reservoir ...


COVID has been found in New Jersey deer  January 21, 2022 NorthJersey.com

... The virus was recently found in two free-ranging deer ... The ability to become infected with COVID seems to rest only with mammals, early research shows. Chickens and ducks do not seem to become infected ...


Montclair Deer Caught In The Spotlight And Headlights January 17, 2022 New Jersey, The Montclarion

... @msu.deer on Instagram is the paparazzi page for campus deer... “I give props to whoever made the account because it brought a lot of [Montclair State] students together over our love of animals.” ...


New Jersey Advances Deer Fencing Bill January 12, 2022 Lancaster Farming

...  bill would offer matching grants to help farmers install deer fencing on unpreserved farmland. The state already offers this assistance to preserved farms...


Park Commission to implement Community Based Deer Management December 30, 2021 New Jersey, Mercer County Park Commission

...  The Community Based Deer Management (CBDM) permit allows for additional opportunities to improve forest understory and the overall ecological condition of natural areas through deer reductions beyond standard state hunting regulations...


It was a 'very bad year' for New Jersey wildlife in 2021 December 28, 2021 northjersey.com

... In September, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that epizootic hemorrhaging disease, generally referred to as EHD, was killing deer in the state...  if you find a sick or injured animal, don't try to treat it yourself — that would be illegal — contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator nearby...


Deer Chased By Dog Dies After Crashing Through Window Of NJ Home December 22, 2021 New Jersey, Middlesex Daily Voice

...The gravely wounded deer eventually died ... 


New Jersey Advances Deer Fencing Bill December 10, 2021  lancasterfarming.com

... a bill to provide matching grants for farmers to install deer fencing... applies specifically to fencing on unpreserved farmland...


Firearm Deer Season Opens Monday December 3, 2021 New Jersey, WENJ

... a near statewide (17 out of 21 counties) outbreak of the fatal midge-driven EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) put substantial dents in some area deer herds... New Jersey boasts approximately 750,000 acres of public state land open to deer hunting ..,


Deer Management Hunting Happening In Chester Parks November 15,2021 New Jersey, Patch

...  The program’s goal, to additionally “reduce agricultural crop damage,” and “improve forest health,” helps thin the deer herd to “an average of 20 deer per square mile,” the township stated, which aligns with state regulations...


EHD, Deer are dying all over New Jersey — but not because of hunters October 28, 2021 WKXW

... People in some towns are complaining of the stench of rotting deer carcasses in their neighborhoods ... Deer are being killed off by something called EHD, or Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease...

Westfield Aims to Participate in Union County's Next Annual Deer Hunt  October 25, 2021 New Jersey, TAPinto

... white-tailed deer in Brightwood Park and a small section of Tamaques Park identified by Union County has resulted in over browsing of native vegetation in this area, damage to greens and ornamental vegetation ...


Deer rescued after being stuck for 18 hours in Port Jefferson Station  October 14, 2021 New Jersey, News 12 New Jersey

... stuck on her back for 18 hours between a PVC fence and a concrete wall...


Budding Ecologists Plant 1000 Trees in the Sourlands October 11, 2021  New Jersey Stage

... trees range in size from tubelings to two-gallon pots and will be planted singly in tree tubes and wire cages, as well as larger fenced areas up to 1/2 acre in size... Installing fencing in historically forested areas will allow trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers to fill in without additional planting or risk of deer herbivory..,


No solution on deer September 25, 2021 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... In 2019 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection population said that, statewide, the deer population has been decreasing since 2017... River Vale had been pointedly determined to solve its deer problem for a number of years but late in 2020 said it was not investing in another drone survey to gauge the local deer population and was backing off altogether on its idea to manage that population...


EHD Virus Killing Deer in Hawthorne But Poses No Human Risk, DEP Says September 24, 2021 New Jersey, TAPinto

... confirmed by the Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife as Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, or EHD for short... Since the mid-1950s, outbreaks have occurred throughout New Jersey...


Princeton, Suspected Disease Outbreak Hitting Princeton's Deer Population September 24, 2021 New Jersey, Patch 

... confirmed Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in the White-Tailed Deer population of New Jersey.  In Princeton, the first suspected case of EHD was found ... in the Oak Ridge area of town ...


Princeton, Annual Managed Deer Hunt Begins Saturday TAPinto September 15, 2021 New Jersey

... The culling of deer within the municipality was highly controversial when it began in 1982.  ... the use of deer contraceptives had been discontinued. Cecil said that state regulations that apply to darting of deer, in order to tranquilize them so that the contraceptive could be administered, had become “Kafka-esque in their interpretation.” ... 


EHD, Have you noticed more dead deer piling up on NJ roadsides? Here's why September 10, 2021 New Jersey, Daily Record

... epizootic hemorrhagic disease ... "The vendor confirmed that the outbreak of EHD in the county has been impacting the deer population in the last few weeks," Morris County spokesperson Brian Murray said ..,


Bernards Township LEGAL NOTICE The Township of Bernards hereby notifies September 2, 2021 New Jersey,, New Jersey Hills

... notifies all Township residents and non-resident Township property owners that year fifteen of a Bernards Township Committee approved deer management program ... The remainder of this season's program does not require a CBDM permit, according to a 2006 policy decision by the New Jersey DFW, since it conforms to the State sports hunting regulations ...


Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Found in 1 Deer in Burlington County  August 21, 2021 New Jersey,  MidJersey.News

... There have been multiple outbreaks of EHD in New Jersey deer since 1955. Bluetongue virus was isolated from one deer that died in Basking Ridge, Somerset County and another that died in Stirling, Morris County in 2014...


'You Would Do The Same': Man Rescues Fawn In Toms River Lagoon  August 18, 2021 New Jersey, Patch

... "Oh my god it's gonna die," one woman says. "I'm not going to let him die," Wallace says,.. The fawn goes under a dock briefly and Wallace follows and then emerges, the fawn cradled in his left arm ...


New Jersey Senate Committee Votes to Expand Deer Control June 28, 2021 Lancaster Farming

... allow the use of spotlights, vehicle assistance and bait when controlling deer in woodlands that are under a forest stewardship plan... 


Ocean Township, some residents at odds over push for deer hunt approval June 1, 2021 New Jersey, Asbury Park Press

... Two years ago the town's voters supported the adoption of a deer management plan that would use non-lethal means ... include relocating the deer or sterilizing the animals... The Division of Fish & Wildlife, however, rejected the town's application ...

   

Best Deer Resistant Evergreen Shrubs and Trees for Privacy Hedge (Full Sun/Shade Options) May 31, 2021 New Jersey, Suburbs 101

... 5 Best Deer Resistant, Evergreen Shrubs and Trees for Privacy Hedge:  Boxwood, Green Giant Arborvitae, Spartan Juniper, Holly, Rhododendron ...


Below is the City of Wildwood, New Jersey,Board of Public Safety Deer Management Subcommittee - May 20, 2021.  In this meeting it is incorrectly asserted that 15 to 20 deer per square mile really reflects what was likely here naturally occurring at their most dense population prior to major European settlement of the area. This number is unknown for New Jersey.  Average deer density in the U.S. is about the same as at pre-European settlement.

Drones Used for the First Time at South Mountain to Count Deer May 10, 2021 New Jersey, jersey digs

... “Drones are much more accurate and make it less likely deer are double-counted,” ... Drones also allow scientists to perform surveys in a wider variety of conditions because the machines can penetrate the forest where deer hide during severe weather... 


NJ bans urine-based lures for deer hunting to protect herds from tragic disease April 30, 2021 New Jersey, New York Daily News

... The state has banned the use of hunting lures made from deer urine in an effort to protect deer from chronic wasting disease ... Production of deer urine is unregulated ...


Westfield Looks to Expand County Bow Hunt on Clark, Cranford Border April 26, 2021 New Jersey, TAPinto.net

... Cranford Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty said Friday she had not been made aware the proposed expansion of the hunt.  “We’ve not had any official requests or notification,” Miller Prunty said. “And I have not heard of any complaints from residents.” ...


Lesniak Calls on UC to Establish Fertility Control Programs for Deer Management April 13, 2021 New Jersey, InsiderNJ

... Former Senator Raymond Lesniak kicked off the event by breaking the news that the Lesniak Institute will be working with advocates and Union County officials to establish a deer fertility control program in Union County...  In their research, they found that fertility control programs could gradually reduce the deer population in their neighborhood to a sustainable size without unnecessary lethal force...


North Jersey park had four times too many deer, high-tech drone finds. What happens now? March 24, 2021 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... At High Mountain Park Preserve in Wayne, the biggest tract of wooded land east of the Highlands, the drone pilots found 39.1 deer per square mile, four times the density considered healthy. [see opinions on appropriate deer density] ... Susan Russell, wildlife policy director for the Animal Protection League of New Jersey ... supports non-lethal methods of population control...


  Firefighters help free deer stuck in New Jersey fence February 26, 2021 New Jersey, abc7NY

... Firefighters were able to bend the iron fence posts enough to free the deer's hind legs... the deer sprinted off...


‘Peaceful co-existence is what we would say’: Opponents protest against this year’s Plainfield deer hunt January 11, 2021 New Jersey, News 12 New Jersey

... An upcoming deer hunt in Plainfield has some neighbors concerned, as protesters say this year, the hunt has been expanded beyond a nearby wooded area to include areas of a park where it's not safe...


Princeton puts plans in place to control deer population January 11, 2021 New Jersey, Central Jersey

... White Buffalo’s goal is to kill between 125 and 150 deer between January and March through a combination of sharpshooting or trapping them under nets and euthanizing them after they have been drawn to bait stations...


In a Rare Winter Without a Deer Hunt in Essex County, Animal-Rights Activists Push for New Ways to Protect Reservations December 23, 2020 JerseyDigs.com

... Susan Russell ... recently published a white paper discrediting the connection between Lyme disease and deer....In her eyes, the truth about hunting — that it doesn’t solve ecological problems; it causes them — is obvious by the need to do it each year, which wasn’t the original agreement...  [Note: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has prevented volunteer efforts to use contraception to control the deer population.  Their ban on darting deer within 2000 feet from a residence effectively imposes hunting on communities who may desire alternative management methods.] ...


County Cancels 2021 Deer Hunt November 20, 2020 New Jersey, MyVeronaNJ

... “Essex County will not conduct its annual Deer Management Program in 2021,” DiVincenzo said. “Our energy and manpower are being focused on offering our expanded COVID testing schedule and weekly Emergency Food Distribution events ...


Deer Rescued From Hudson River in New Jersey November 12, 2020 NBC New York

... The deer was attempting to cross the river from Hoboken around 1 p.m.,.. The Hoboken fire and rescue team promptly got in a rescue boat and escorted the deer back to shore...


Watchung vote to halt deer hunt a miracle November 10, 2020 New Jersey, New Jersey Hills

...  this year, after 16 straight years, the council chose to spare Watchung residents the dangers of a hunt (using shotguns in a densely populated suburban town is inherently dangerous), and chose instead to begin looking for non-lethal, more holistic means of deer management. I believe this reflects the attitudes of a changing Watchung ...


Watchung, No deer hunt this year in Watchung November 9, 2020 New Jersey, New Jersey Hills

... The lack of deer culling sites was the driving factor behind the council's decision to call off this year's deer management program...


Deer bucks the toll, swims from Staten Island to NJ October 31, 2020, silive.com

... A tagged deer from Staten Island was spotted running around downtown Bayonne and the Newark Bay water area ... Video footage captures an 8-point buck swimming ...


Our complicated relationship with deer September 30, 2020 New Jersey, Press of Atlantic City

... at the dawn of the 20th century, rampant overhunting and development left them on the verge of extinction. Fortunately, conservation measures ... has allowed for a population rebound to around 125,000 in New Jersey alone ..,


Saddle River, Some Disagree With N.J. Town’s Plan To Cull Deer Population September 21, 2020 New Jersey, MSN

... bow hunters are being invited onto select residential properties, but some neighbors say they didn’t know and they are worried about their safety ... she noticed steps away from her property line, “… a deer-feeding bait stand, which is used for hunting.” ... knocked on her door Saturday to retrieve a deer shot by a hunter...


NJ Asks You to Look Out for Drooling Deer September 19, 2020 New Jersey, TAPinto.net

... deer that may be affected by Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) ... Symptoms of HD in deer may include difficulty standing, drooling, lethargy, respiratory distress, emitting foam from the mouth or nose, and swelling of the face, tongue, and neck....


Plainfield Council Passes Resolution to Reduce Deer Population September 15, 2020 New Jersey,  TapIntoPlainfield

...  A robocall Monday morning also informed residents that the council would vote on the issue, with one resident saying the spin of the call made her think a potential deer kill is a done deal...


Princeton Deer Hunt To Begin on Sep. 12  August 28, 2020 New Jersey, Patch

... a small group of volunteer recreational hunters will be allowed to hunt using bow...


Saddle River approves third deer culling contract to control herd in borough August 19, 2020 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com 

... Written permission of each homeowner must be obtained before members of the nonprofit bowhunters group can enter a property... Saddle River originally approved a program of deer sterilization offered for free by an area veterinarian. However, the state eventually denied the program...


Lifeguards help rescue deer that got stuck in ocean off Jersey Shore town July 17, 2020 New Jersey, NJ.com on MSN.com

... Two Long Branch Police officers, Animal Control Supervisor, Deb Nagel, and Beach Supervisor ... ll worked together to get the deer ashore at the beach ...


  Morristown Man, Police Save Baby Deer From Storm Drain June 9, 2020 New Jersey, Patch

... Steinman had the idea of using one of his bedsheets as a safe hook around the animal. Working together, they were able to secure they were able to secure the deer and get it safely removed from the storm drain...


Two more deer spotted in Hoboken May 29, 2020 New Jersey, NJ.com

... The two bucks, with small antlers sprouting, ran back and forth amid the pallets of materials ...


 Fawn rescued from a groundhog hole May 20, 2020 New Jersey, RecordOnline.com

... he could hear something crying ... After spotting a groundhog hole, Tillou quickly dropped to the ground and placed his ear into the hole where he could hear a faint crying sound.  It was the fawn... trapped five feet below ground...


Deer is rescued from Hudson River May 7, 2020 New Jersey, NJ.com

...  a deer had been caught near a drainage pipe ... “The deer first had to be set free before our team could snare the animal and take it back to land,"  ... bringing the deer to a wooded area in Weehawken, where it was released ...


Essex County, Deer Cull Will Return To Essex County For 2020: Dates, Locations  January 8, 2020 New Jersey, Patch

... Hunters will be stationed at South Mountain and Hilltop reservations. Over the past 12 years, more than 2,600 deer have been killed...


  Firefighters rescue deer stuck on icy Central Jersey pond December 26, 2019 New Jersey, NJ.com on MSN.com

... firefighters tied ropes around themselves and placed a lasso around the deer to carefully pull it across the surface and onto the land...


Englewood panel calls for drone count of deer population December 26, 2019 New Jersey, The Record, Bergen County 

... The panel spoke with officials in River Vale who used the drone survey and called the information gathered from the drone survey "invaluable." ... would cost an estimated $4,500 ...


Deer trapped on icy pond is rescued after nearly 24 hours December 17, 2019 New Jersey, Livingston Ledger

... The Roxbury Township police called the rescue ‘impossible‘ and urged people not to try to save the deer themselves ... A rescue team went out on the pond in an amphibious vehicle, but it broke through the ice and took on water.  Members of the team were wearing thick wetsuits and no one was injured in the process...  [the deer is ] being well taken care of at the Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary...

Westfield, Veterinarian Objects to Westfield Deer Hunt December 10, 2019 New Jersey,  TapInto

...  A deer that has been hit by crossbow may be able to run 100 yards or more. ...  It should be anticipated that there will be several dead deer to be removed from private property, or from running into traffic... Sometimes injured deer are irretrievable in bow hunts, as many as 18-50%....


Englewood, Deer Census, Citizen Survey Urged by Task Force December 9, 2019 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... the city’s Deer Task Force director recommended Nov. 26 that council members conduct an aerial drone survey to get precise deer population numbers and also survey residents about deer-related impacts...


Edison may consider ovariectomies in an effort to cull the deer population November 7, 2019 New Jersey, centraljersey.com

... “Scientifically [ovariectomies] have been very effective, but in New Jersey politically, it’s very difficult because of the NJDEP [New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection] Division of Fish and Wildlife and their reluctance to give out these permits [for surgical sterilizations],” ...


  Rare white deer caught on video wandering outside N.J. office complex November 7, 2019 New Jersey, NJ.com

... “Have you ever seen a white deer?” he says on a video ...the animal fits the description of “piebald” deer ... not show a true albino deer ...


Mercer County deer management program has began October 29, 2019 New Jersey, NJ.com

... Cucchi said biologists recommend 20 to 25 deer per square mile to maintain a healthy forest... Hiring a professional culling company would cost the Park Commission a minimum of $700 per deer,” ... The commission has selected 10 to 14 licensed hunters ...


Raritan, NJ lawsuit challenging Raritan Township deer hunt dismissed  October 16, 2019 New Jersey, MyCentralJersey

... a lawsuit brought by the Animal Protection League and a former municipal official claiming that the township is not enforcing the rules for deer hunting on public property ... dismissed the lawsuit earlier this month because it was not filed within 45 days of the township committee approving the deer hunts ...


Parks Director Says Deer Solution Must be Regional August 19, 2019 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... “The average person has no connection to this [forest understory impacts],” said Koth...  towns and residents are more concerned with deer impacts such as public safety (car vs. deer accidents), Lyme disease transmission, and landscape damage... the deer situation is “not such an epidemic that we need to come up with a response to it.” ...


Woodland Stewards Worry About Deer Impact August 9, 2019 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... Most North Jersey nature centers and sanctuaries have already taken action—at three nature preserves managers have built deer-excluding fences to help protect and regenerate forest understory ... Many public discussions come to a stalemate when experts or advocates present opposing views on deer impacts and methods to effect deer controls and population reduction...


Raritan Township sued over deer hunting on public properties July 9, 2019 New Jersey, MyCentralJersey

... The lawsuit argues that the township has failed to enforce the rules of the deer hunt ... trespassers and other activity...  hunters had placed a deer stand close to his property in a field where people often walk their dogs...


River Vale Deer Hunt 'Will Continue' Despite Pleas July 5, 2019 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... All 23 residents who spoke were adamantly against the hunt ... “We moved into this town because of its rural character, that included its animal population,” ...


Cranbury officials establish a deer management program June 26, 2019 New Jersey, Central Jersey

...  only bow hunting will be allowed for the hunting of the deer.  Mulligan explained that the passage of the ordinance allows for the town to have the established deer management plan in place for the 2019 hunting season...

    Cranbury, Bill to allow deer hunting on five Cranbury-owned properties set for final vote June 21, 2019 New Jersey, MonroeNow

...  “We would not have done this if the NJDEP did not agree that this was an appropriate step. When we spoke with environmental officials the most humane and effective means to control the population was through hunting.” [see nonlethal deer control] ...


Responders free deer from fence in Stanhope May 29, 2019 New Jersey, New Jersey Herald

... The Jaws of Life were used Tuesday morning to free a deer that was wedged in a fence at the Metro Self-Storage Facility on Route 183. "She was stuck halfway in the fence," ...


River Vale Council 'Pauses' in Considering Deer Bow Hunt May 17, 2019 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... Following nearly two dozen speakers May 13 voicing opposition to a proposed deer bow hunt later this year—plus many anti-hunt social media comments and a street protest by animal advocates—Mayor Glen Jasionowski said the council would “pause” its decision to hold a hunt ... approved a $3,367 drone deer census survey ...


A deer leaped into the ocean, and tried to ride waves. Then, surfers had to rescue it May 9, 2019 New Jersey, USA Today

... It took the surfers about 30 minutes to rescue the deer.. a surfer cradled and carried the deer back to shore...


River Vale Council To Decide On Deer Control April 1, 2019 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... The Animal Protection League recommends surgical sterilization, or ovariectomies, as a proven non-lethal method, although state Fish and Game Council does not list them as an accepted non-lethal approach. Only trap-and-transfer and chemical sterilization are listed by the state as non-lethal options...


Land Bill to Encourage Hunters to Donate to Feed the Hungry Approved by Full Assembly March 26, 2019 New Jersey, InsiderNJ

...  a special account to be known as the “Hunters Helping the Hungry Fund” would be created within the State’s “hunters’ and anglers’ license fund.” The fund would support Hunters Helping the Hungry ...


333 Deer Killed In Princeton Hunt For 2019 Season March 26, 2019 New Jersey, USA Patch

...  deer were killed by sharpshooting and bow hunting ... conducted by Princeton's agent White Buffalo Inc...


Essex County Executive DiVincenzo Announces Results of the 12th Annual Deer Management Program March 13, 2019 New Jersey, TAPinto

... a total of 200 deer and 100 unborn deer were removed from Essex County South Mountain Reservation and Essex County Hilltop Reservation during the 12th Annual Deer Management Program...


NJ deer policy needs more honesty, less schtick February 9, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Oswald Schmitz, Ph.D., the forest ecologist and director of Yale University’s Institute for Biospheric Studies, refuted a claimed need to kill deer in Rock Creek Park, Maryland. Adverse effects were “patently overstated,” wrote Schmitz. “The study shows the opposite, that deer eat tree seedlings in the Park, but that this particular reduction in the number of tree seedlings has no measurable effect on forest regeneration.” ...


Watchung, 51 Deer, 28 Fetuses Killed In Watchung Hunt February 7, 2019 New Jersey, Patch.com

... The 2018-19 season killed 10 more deer and 16 fewer fetuses than the 2017-18 season. The 2017-18 season had a total of 41 total deer and 44 fetuses...


Essex County Lethal Deer Policy is Failing - It's Time for Change February 4, 2019 New Jersey, Change.Org

... Essex County has nothing to show for eleven years of intensive killing, unethical and ecologically damaging baiting, the expenditure of at least $1.6 million in public grants and $90,000-100,000 annually to mount bait and shoots...


Union County Deer Culling Effort Continues Near Springfield January 25, 2019 New Jersey, TAPinto ·

... The County of Union has begun removing deer from various County and municipal park properties ... a specific goal density of 20 deer per square mile or less...


Jan. 23, 1919, Total of 365 Deer killed in 1918 January 20, 2019 New Jersey, NJHerald.com

... Under a new law, each successful gunner had to report the killing of his deer to the county warden or to the State Fish and Game Commission direct. This was responsible for the recording of a record score, a total of 365 bucks were bagged during the four days of the open season..,


Essex County Deer Cull Returns To South Mountain, Hilltop January 4, 2019 New Jersey, USA Patch 

... Since 2008, more than 2,000 adult and unborn deer have been killed as part of an effort to "revitalize the forest ecology," ...


Monmouth County, Deer Hunting Season Underway In Monmouth County Parks December 30, 2018 New Jersey, USA Patch

... all Monmouth County parks remain open during bow-and-arrow hunting... located in densely-populated Central New Jersey... a post card is sent to all neighbors adjacent to the park ... In last year's 2017/2018 season, 604 deer were reported as harvested, according to this final report ...


Saddle River deer hunt continues in spite of opposition December 21

NorthJersey.com

... As late as this May, the state DEP rejected the borough’s non-lethal proposal to capture and spay.  Before council passed a deer culling ordinance in July, a group held a protest and argued elected officials were acting too quickly and a more humane approach was needed...


Deer management will continue until February December 14, 2018 New Jersey, Daily Record

... deer harvest is up ... the total for all seasons is up 10 percent, to 35,333. There will be still muzzleloader, firearms permit, and winter bow seasons...


NJ considering these ideas to reduce ‘deer epidemic December 9, 2018 New Jersey, WKXW

... farmers are screaming for something to be done about deer ... increases cases of Lyme disease [mice are the main drivers of Lyme disease risk] ... Suydam says hunting alone can’t solve the problem, though he suggested it would help if hunters were allowed to sell their venison...


Start of NJ deer hunt a success December 8, 2018 New Jersey, Daily Record

... Hunters harvested 2,561 deer on the first day of the six-day firearms season, compared to last year’s first day which was 2,209...


U. hires bowhunters to kill campus deer November 29, 2018 New Jersey, The Daily Princetonian

... he grew up admiring the deer near his house, and is very troubled by the existence of the hunts... [Twitter post]:  Seeing and watching these beautiful animals has become a part of my everyday life and one that I wouldn’t want to give up ...


The 13 NJ counties that clean up the most dead deer November 27, 2018 New Jersey, NJ.com

... The white-tailed deer population in New Jersey was so critically low from over-harvesting that state wildlife officials restocked some of the woodlands to revive the dwindling population. That was a century ago..,


River Vale, Non-lethal controls on Nov. 26 agenda November 23, 2018 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... “There’s absolutely no mention of surgical sterilization in their [Fish and Wildlife Community-Based Deer Management Program] handbook. That’s how heavy their bias is in favor of hunting,” Lin told the Montvale audience. She said each surgery costs $1,000 to $1,200...


Plainfield, Council Hears from Residents at Deer Management Public Hearing November 22, 2018 New Jersey, TAPinto.net

... Kamenir offered information about an immunocontraceptive vaccine adapted for the management of deer called Zonastat- D, or PZP, that has been approved federally by the Environmental Protection Agency, but is not yet approved for use in New Jersey.  He urged the council to do what they can to help progress its approval...


Way too many deer in NJ? Drones will count them November 18, 2018 New Jersey, nj1015.com

... A group of New Jersey farmers have overseen a test flight for an infrared-sensing drone to measure the number of deer around their fields... "The drones fly between 200 and 400 feet above the ground...


Montclair, MEC investigating deer count to assess numbers October 18, 2018 New Jersey, Montclair Local

... The Montclair Environmental Commission is recommending that a deer count be conducted to assess the number of deer and their locations. Members are also discussing the possibility of the town pursuing vaccination birth control and, if all else fails, hunting...


Saddle River deer hunt can proceed, judge orders October 18, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com 

... Farrington dismissed as "unfounded" allegations that United Bowhunters had violated its contract by failing to submit a roster of participants 30 days before the hunt began, to provide time for background checks...  no one has produced a reliable count of the borough's deer population...


Wildlife official issues deer caution during peak mating season October 17, 2018 New Jersey, Asbury Park Press

... AAA reports there were 9,097 motor vehicle crashes in New Jersey involving deer in 2016. Out of that number, 4,463 occurred during October and November. ...


Historic Deer Population, Wildlife official issues deer caution during peak mating season October 17, 2018 New Jersey, app 

... October to November is peak deer mating season ... deer are more apt to suddenly run onto roadways as bucks pursue does ... New Jersey's white-tailed deer population plummeted to a handful of deer in the early 1900s, however, due to conservation efforts the herd rebounded..,


New Jersey Deer Population, Avoiding October's galloping deer and blinding sun glare October 15, 2018 NorthJersey.com

... The state Fish and Game Division puts the New Jersey population at 112,000 for 2017, about 17,000 more than the 2016 count when the state’s crop of acorns – a prime food source for deer – was much less plentiful..,


River Vale, How to Deal With the Deer? Town Weighs a Hunt, Alternatives October 12, 2018 New Jersey, Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press

... Lin said state Fish, Game & Wildlife rejected Saddle River’s initial proposal for a surgical sterilization ... “It’s because of their bias against fertility treatments,” Lin told the mayors. “Non-lethal strategies are a win-win for the town, for the deer and for the people,“ she said...


Edison is taking initial steps in combating growing deer problem October 9, 2018 New Jersey, centraljersey.com

... options included ...archers  ... professional hunters to shoot ... tranquilize and kill...; and/or tranquilize and transport deer to a medical facility for sterilization .. which would cost the township $1,100 to $1,200 per deer to ... transport...


Saddle River deer hunt put on hold October 8, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

...An animal protection group is ... telling a judge that the group hired to do the work is not following contractual procedures... The borough's animal control officer has said a "healthy deer density is 10 deer per square mile." ...


Summer with 'Bambi': How a family of deer found a home in my yard — and then slipped away September 21, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... “Mike, there’s a deer in our backyard.”  So began what we have come to remember as our “deer summer.” ... As I turn the calendar from summer to fall, I will miss them.  And I hope they come back...


Saddle River, Animal group files complaint against Saddle River's deer culling plan September 13, 2018 Mew Jersey,  MSN.com

... council was advised that a "healthy deer density is 10 deer per square mile," ... "Defendants surprised the public by changing the language of the resolution after the resolution had been published with the agenda," reads the complaint...  two resolutions "should be invalidated based on public safety, public concerns about trespass and liability, and the resolutions being arbitrary and capricious," ...


Extended Hunt Aims To Control County Deer Population September 5, 2018 New Jersey, 

... The exact number of deer was 127 deer per square mile, county officials said ...  12 times what it should be, wildlife experts told Mercer County officials [research on deer density] ...Deer also are host to disease-carrying tick species. In Hopewell Township alone, 26 percent of households have a family member who has contracted Lyme disease ...

Saddle River passes deer culling ordinance July 27, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... How to determine the success of the hunt was discussed ... questioned how it could be determined unless the approximate number of deer were known before the hunt began.  ... Borough residents voted in a November 2016 nonbinding referendum to adopt a deer management policy "limited to the use of non-lethal methods only" by a vote of 715-457...  on the same ballot authorizing lethal methods to reduce the deep population also passed 582-544...


Saddle River tables deer hunt over concerns about implementation and injured deer July 17, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... After hearing contentious comments from residents largely concerned about finding blood and injured deer on their property, the Borough Council tabled a resolution on Monday night to enter into an agreement with the United Bow Hunters of New Jersey to shoot and kill deer on private property....


Saddle River considers plans to cull deer population July 17, 2018 New Jersey, 

...  the ordinance was too vague. It did not indicated how many deer were to be killed or if neighbors are to be notified of the hunt... will now rewrite the resolution and vote on it at a later date...


Where in NJ are you most likely to hit a deer? The top 20 towns Bambi should avoid July 12, 2018 New Jersey, NJ.com

... there were 16,905 claims for animal-caused losses filed by motorists in New Jersey last year—a 14.1 percent increase over the previous year... the majority of animal loss claims occur in the autumn months of October and November, during the deer mating season...


    Trapped Baby Deer Rescued By Parsippany Police Officer July 10, 2018 New Jersey, USA Patch

... When a baby deer got stuck in a fenced in backyard, help came quickly: Parsippany police ...


Geese numbers down, deer on the rise June 21, 2018 New Jersey, Montclair Local

... “Deer have completely destroyed what was once a huge selling point for our home, a beautifully-maintained front-yard flower garden... A Dryden Road resident has requested that the town come up with a plan using birth control methods to control the deer population...


Saddle River, Deer hunt decision tabled by Saddle River Borough Council June 19, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... the non-lethal plan was approved by a greater margin ... The council has scheduled a special meeting with the Environmental Commission ...

     Deer hunt possible in Saddle River June 18, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... A controversial hunt to reduce the number of deer in town will be considered by the Borough Council on Monday, after a non-lethal plan to capture and spay the animals was rejected by the state last month...


Mother Deer Saved Her Babies Before She Died June 11, 2018 New Jersey, Patch.com

... Both her legs were badly broken, with compound fractures. She was bleeding. But her terrible injuries didn't stop her from doing what she could to take care of her two baby fawns...  that she had placed in separate yards for their safety ...


  New Jersey Cop Performs Emergency C-Section to Deliver Baby Deer May 21, 2018 Time

... its mother was struck and killed on a road... the fawn was moving inside the mother’s body...


State rejects Saddle River's plan to sterilize deer May 12, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... The Community Based Deer Management permit application to capture then sterilize female deer was formerly rejected May 3 by the Division of Fish and Wildlife “based on the low likelihood of success” ...


Setting fire to New Jersey's forests — on purpose May 12, 2018 NorthJersey.com

... Low intensity fires can help restore some nutrients to the soil. It also clears lanes for deer, and helps suppress the spread of ticks, which can carry Lyme disease ...


‘Don't feed the deer' bill moves forward May 11, 2018 New Jersey, New Jersey Herald 

... The Senate version (S2419) ... will make it illegal to feed whitetail deer, except as bait for hunting ... 


Bear hunt protester wants access to Saddle River deer management survey responses April 27, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... After a voters were asked whether they preferred lethal or non-lethal deer control measures in 2016, the council asked Cerf to come up with the non-lethal plan because a majority of voters preferred that option... “The deer will then be transported to a separate site where they will be spayed.” ...


  SPCA Saves Deer With Bowl Stuck On Head March 30, 2018 New Jersey, USA Patch

... If the SPCA and state Division of Fish and Wildlife officers hadn't come along when they did, the deer probably would have died...

Essex County, Bye bye, Bambi. Controversial deer hunt wraps with dozens killed March 16, 2018 New Jersey, NJ.com

... Hunters killed 139 deer during an 11-day hunt ... Essex County has been holding a deer hunt for 11 years ...


Eventually, we can come out of our dens March 11, 2018 New Jersey, Daily Record

... Coyotes also feed on deer, and there are about 4,000 coyotes in New Jersey... 


Essex County hunt ends with 213 adult and unborn deer killed March 5, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Marksmen have killed 139 deer and 73 unborn deer ... Since 2008, 2,370 adult and unborn deer have been killed by marksmen, who volunteer their time...


Princeton readying lethal force to deer overpopulation February 11, 2018 New Jersey, NJ.com

... Over the last several winters, Princeton has relied upon a group of volunteer bow hunters and a team of hired hunters ... Residents have protested ... Central New Jersey holds particularly dense deer populations relative to the rest of the state because of its natural ecology and abundance of private wooded land...


Essex County, Activists protest hunt to cull what others consider a suburban nuisance — deer February 10, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Their signs said, “Birth control for deer, not killing,” and “It’s their home, let them roam,” and “Stop the cruelty.”  They were protesting the annual effort by Essex County to cull the deer population ... “Hunting the deer in the nature preserves just pushes them further into developed areas,” ...


Essex County, Hilltop deer hunt underway; protest set for Saturday February 6, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Essex County’s deer hunt is underway ... The Animal Protection League of New Jersey intends to gather from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Verona intersection of Bloomfield and Fairview avenues ...


Essex, Thousands of deer already dead, county hunt not needed January 19, 2018 New Jersey, NJ.com

... N.J. Department of Environmental Protection estimated the deer population last year at 100,000, down from 204,000 in 1995... Essex County is holding a deer hunt in two, county-owned nature preserves ... Sue Russell, director of wildlife policy for the Animal Protection League of N.J., countered that the annual hunts in Essex County are unneeded..,


Essex County Deer Cull Returns, 2158 Killed In Past Decade January 12, 2018 New Jersey, Patch.com

... Since 2008, "experienced and qualified" volunteer shooters have killed a total of 2,158 deer (1,343 adult and 815 unborn) in an effort to control the local deer population ... "Deer are social, intelligent, and gentle animals whose lives matter to them, their offspring, and to their family units," the League of Humane Voters of New Jersey stated prior to a protest of the Essex County hunt in 2017...


Be On The Lookout For Injured Deer In Ocean Township January 9, 2018 New Jersey, Word on the Shore

... A deer shot by an arrow survived and is injured and on the loose in town... [Mayor Chris Siciliano said] he would like to find a "non-lethal method" for controlling the deer population and is not in favor of bow hunting...


Planfield, Despite criticism, deer hunt underway in Plainfield January 6, 2018 New Jersey, MyCentralJersey.com

... When management programs were first put into effect more than a decade ago, protests were plentiful, but the chorus of opposition has faded... a city group, the Animal Initiative Committee of Plainfield, is opposing a new hunt ...


Union County deer hunt starts Jan. 8 January 6, 2018 New Jersey, Union News Daily

... Since 1995, hunters in the county’s state-regulated deer management program have reduced the population of the white-tailed species in the Watchung Reservation ... parks will not be closed during the deer hunt ... Park users also are urged to adhere to the county ordinance that requires that pets be restrained on a leash...


Plainfield's deer hunt plan a misguided strategy January 5, 2018 New Jersey, MyCentralJersey.com

... This cannot be a one-year deer hunt; that is propaganda Plainfield uses to gain acceptance. Hunting deer serves to quickly replenish the population. Fewer deer/wildlife increases the birth rate of the surviving better- nourished females as there is less competition for food...


Watchung, Deer hunt suspended at Watchung cull site January 3, 2018 New Jersey, New Jersey Hills

... Deer hunting has been temporarily suspended on one of five designated sites in town in the wake of public safety complaints from residents. The roughly two-acre lot is located in a neighborhood off Wetumpka Lane  …


Essex County, Protest promised as deer hunt returns to Cedar Grove, Millburn, Verona January 2, 2018 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Since 2008, volunteer marksmen in coordination with the county have killed 2,018 deer in the reservations in Essex County; 759 of them were unborn deer...  "You need well below 20 and preferably below 10 to allow the forest to regenerate." [18 to 28 deer per square mile considered optimal in U.S. Forest Service Study]


Plainfield Launches Deer Management Program​ December 11, 2017 New Jersey, TAPinto.net

... the County of Union is willing to recruit and supervise licensed hunters who are members of the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association to provide voluntary service to remove deer ...


New Jersey Deer Population, Bear, deer hunters should take advantage of weather December 3, 2017 Daily Record

... The Division of Fish and Wildlife estimates there are 112,126 deer in areas where they can be hunted, while tens of thousands of deer live where they cannot be hunted... an estimated 2,500-3,000 bears ...

    Fatal crash a reminder of fall deer driving hazard November 30, 2017 NJ.com

... The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection estimates the deer population at 100,000, down from 204,000 in 1995..,


Georgia lab confirms deer died of EHD virus November 16, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Herald

... the first time the EHDV-6 strain has been confirmed in New Jersey and is the same serotype as what has already been found in eastern Pennsylvania, Connecticut and West Virginia this year. He noted this strain was first found in the region in 2006 ...


EHD, Scientists investigating possible disease outbreak in local deer November 10, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Herald

... along the Wallkill River after the discovery of nearly two dozen dead white-tail deer ... consistent with an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) ..,


When it comes to bears, NJ isn't Montana  October 22, 2017 New Jersey, Daily Record

... From white and red oak acorns to hickory and beechnuts the mast crop produced a bounty this fall, and berries, apples and cornfields provided more natural fodder... as of Monday was down 21 percent  from the same time last year based on preliminary information provided ..,


Deer's Ocean Dip In Ortley Beach Captured By Toms River Man October 18, 2017 New Jersey, Patch.com

... "It's just sunning itself on the beach. Every time we get close he runs back into the ocean." ... "He swims way out into the ocean then swims back in exhausted," ...


DNR wants to know about dead deer. Could have died due to EHD, a fatal viral disease October 17, 2017 New Jersey, Fenton Tri County Times

... The first occurrence and subsequent identification of EHD occurred in 1955 when several hundred white-tailed deer died in both New Jersey and in Michigan... Since the initial 1955 outbreak, this malady has occurred primarily among white-tailed deer, although occasionally mule deer ..,


Neighbors Opposed to Deer Hunting in Vienna October 9, 2017 New Jersey, Vienna Connection

... I understand that Fairfax County allows for deer hunting in preserves, but when do we stop bringing this to neighborhoods? Neighborhoods with children, that move to the suburbs because of the beauty of nature...


Saddle River to submit non-lethal deer management plan to state September 18, 2017 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... A non-lethal deer management plan that involves capturing and sterilizing female deer will be presented to the state to consider for approval ... the majority of voters expressing that they would prefer non-lethal measures to reduce the deer population...

     Controlled deer hunt recommended in Saddle River September 18, 2017 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Two non-binding ballot questions were posed to residents ... Some officials and residents have said the referendum clearly showed that residents support a non-lethal plan. Others argue voters indicated that while they prefer a non-lethal method if it works, reducing the number of deer is the main objective and should be achieved by any means necessary...


Local man's deer feed supplement hits shelves nationwide August 18, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Herald

... founded Grow the Bone, a premium all-in-one whitetail deer nutritional supplement, around 10 years ago... can now be found in 1,400 Wal-Mart stores across the U.S...  designed to grow the biggest and healthiest bucks ...


Morristown National Historic Park Looks for Public Review and Comments on Draft Vegetation and and White-Tailed Deer Management Plans August 12, 2017 New Jersey, TAPinto.net

... The 30-day public comment period for review of the Draft Vegetation and White-tailed Deer Management Plan/EA is open now through September 8, 2017.  Interested parties may obtain an electronic version of the draft plan and/or submit electronic comments through the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website [should be at this link, if the link is working] ...


Flat Rock Brook puts up fence to keep deer out July 16, 2017 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Construction is underway of an eight-foot fence meant to keep deer out of the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center. The center is creating two exclosures ... About 55 acres will be left open for deer ...


Saddle River committee proposes capturing, spaying deer June 21, 2017 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

...  A committee charged with creating a non-lethal plan to control the town's deer population has submitted a proposal that its chairman says would result in the sterilization of 95 percent of the town's female deer within a year... However, the state Fish and Game Council, which authorizes community-based deer management plans, has never approved a plan that did not include a lethal component...


  Baby deer breaks into New Jersey pool for daily swim June 19, 2017 New York Daily News

... “She’s young and skinny enough that she just walks right through the fence,” Benincasa says. “I’ve seen her. It’s awesome... She was actually enjoying the jets up against her body like a massage...


Not now, deer: Farmers get money to fence out hungry visitors June 14, 2017 New Jersey, NJ.com

... In the continual battle of man vs. deer, Melick's Town Farm, based in Oldwick, will be among the farms in 12 counties that will share nearly a half-million dollars in state grants for fences to protect their crops... range from $3,618 to $20,000 to build fences ...


Deer possibly shot by crossbow investigated near Boonton reservoir June 13, 2017 New Jersey, Morris County Daily Record

... Several dead deer have been found near the reservoir in Boonton – home of the Jersey City Water Works treatment plant – the past few months ...


Deer damage targeted with funds allocated in New Jersey June 6, 2017 Fruit Growers News

... New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher announced June 6 that the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) has approved $456,122 in cost-sharing grants to help 32 farmer applicants purchase and install deer fencing on preserved farms to protect their crops...


Englewood, Forum on proposed deer fence May 31, 2017 New Jersey,  North Jersey

... The Flat Rock Brook Nature Association has researched several options over the last three years, including a limited hunt, and officials there feel a fence is the best solution...


Staten Island Deer Killed in New Jersey Over Fear of Mad Cow-Like Disease May 25, 2017 New Jersey, DNAinfo

... [deer from Staten Island killed in New Jersey because New Jersey officials said they were concerned about chronic wasting disease] .... Chronic wasting disease hasn't been found in New York State since 2005, when five white-tailed deer from breeding facilities in Oneida County were confirmed to have it, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation. No deer in New Jersey have been confirmed to have it, according to the NJ DEP...


Deer Whisperer' cop rescues scared fawn trapped in sewer May 24, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Online

... rescuing a fawn trapped in a sewer. It was his third save of a distressed deer in the past year... [video below]

Sad ending for deer found roaming in Jersey City May 24, 2017 New Jersey, NJ.com

... A one-year-old male deer spotted strolling through the city's McGinley Square neighborhood this morning was later caught and killed by state wildlife officials... based on tags found on the deer the DEP discovered it was part of a research study of deer population control being performed in the New York City borough...


Three seeking two seats in Bernardsville primary, deer cull issue May 23, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Hills

...  incumbents were both supportive of the borough's first deer management hunt ... "I don't think they substantiated their request,'' [Gardner] said. "I'm not against hunting. I don't think they presented the facts to convince me. I used to have a lot of deer coming through my property,'' ...


  Officers rescue baby deer from hole in the ground at Trenton home May 16, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Online

... found the deer, crying and weak, in a hole from which the mother was unlikely to pull her from ...


2016-2017 NJ Deer kill numbers are out May 12, 2017 New Jersey, njwoodsandwater.com

... ~20% rebound in kills from the prior year's Acorn Apocalypse... The antlered kill was the highest in 7 years ... Ignoring last year, the doe tally was the lowest in 22 years, despite the healthy buck tally... archery kills are increasing while gun kills continue to decrease... see the data ..,


Watchung, Wildlife Management Committee to review deer census results in Watchung May 10, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Hills

... an aerial deer census conducted in February by Vision Air Research Inc... found about 165 deer traveling in 65 different groups within the borough, ranging from one deer per group to four... 27 deer per square mile ...


Bernardsville may expand deer hunt May 3, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Hills

... A South Plainfield-based sports club should be retained to conduct the borough’s deer management bow hunt for a second year ... The goal of the hunt was to help cull the local deer herd and cut down on the amount of plant damage and traffic accidents caused by the animals...


Saddle River vet: Neutering deer will reduce population April 18, 2017 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Dean Cerf, a local veterinarian leading a committee to research deer population control, said Monday that a two-pronged approach of neutering male and spaying female deer would be an effective way to reduce the animals’ presence in town...


Changes made to state game code April 8, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Herald

...  the code will prohibit the use of unmanned aircraft or drones to hunt, harass, scout, drive or rally wildlife... reduce the bag limit in set 5 from one antlered and an unlimited number of antlerless deer to one antlered and five antlerless deer.  Hunters had requested that the bag limit be reduced to two deer...


New Jersey Frozen Deer April 4, 2017 Amigo-play

... This newest online game is based on the real incident happened in New Jersey. A deer is trapped in a frozen lake. This place is fully surrounded by ice water [click link above to play]


Little Falls Wildlife Committee, neighborhood group address deer overpopulation March 21, 2017 New Jersey,  NorthJersey.com

... looked into the possibility of using salt licks containing birth-control chemicals... don't have long-term health effects on the deer ... Some reports say the salt licks are harmless to people, Vancheri said, but other studies question whether droppings left by deer that consume salt licks will damage the soil and possibly cause other health issues...


Deer Saved After Harrowing Day Stranded on Icy Pond Finds New Family March 21, 2017 New Jersey, NBC New York

... She ran off with the herd, apparently accepted by the other deer, later on... the deer has been eartagged and the herd stays on the sanctuary property; there is no fencing but the deer are basically locked in by farms...

     Rescuers only saved deer from ice because residents were going to risk themselves March 20, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio

... “We were really concerned it would turn into a good Samaritan going out trying to help the deer and falling in the water and putting life at risk,” DiGiralomo said.

The deer was not able to get any traction for more than 20 hours ...

     Deer rescued from frozen pond as neighbors cheer effort March 19, 2017 New Jersey, NJ.com

...A wildlife workers expressed optimism that the deer would recover, stating that it had no broken bones and appeared exhausted by an icebound adventure starting Saturday....

     Stranded deer pulled from icy pond after rescue boat overturned March 19, 2017 New Jersey, News 12 New Jersey

... Amid the action, the deer darted further away from its would-be rescuers on the pond.  Crews eventually caught up to it and dragged it off the ice, but once on shore, the creature appeared to have a leg injury...

NJ Animal Control Officer Who Cut Baby Deer's Throat Must Pay NJSPCA March 10, 2017 New Jersey, Patch.com

...   How much is the life of an injured baby deer worth? About $3,500, officials say....

Animal control officer gets $3500 fine in baby deer killing March 10, 2017 New Jersey, NJ.com

... Officials said exsanguination, or blood draining, was not an approved method of animal euthanasia in New Jersey...


Saddle River mayor proposes new deer management panel March 4, 2017 New Jersey, 

NorthJersey.com

...  the mayor said, there are some who believe a proposal that does not involve killing deer could be approved. Those are the people he would like to sit on the new committee...


Essex County Executive Announces Results of Deer Management Program March 2, 2017 New Jersey, TAPinto.net

...  89 deer and 56 unborn deer were removed from Essex County South Mountain Reservation and Essex County Hilltop Reservation during the 2017 Essex County Deer Management Program... the 10th year the program was held...


Saddle River mayor opposes lethal ways of controlling deer population March 2, 2017 New Jersey, NJ.com

... Kurpis plans to ask local veterinarian Dean Cerf to head the committee that would develop non-lethal methods. The Animal Protection League of New Jersey has previously suggested birth control and surgical sterilization as more humane ways of controlling the population.  Cert said last year he would be willing to perform the procedures with no cost to taxpayers...

     Saddle River officials push for deer management plan Fenruary 28, 2017 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Two non-binding ballot questions were posed to residents – one asked if the borough should adopt a deer management policy that would be limited to non-lethal methods. That passed 715 to 457. A second question asked if voters wanted a deer management policy that would include the ability to kill the animals... also approved, though in fewer numbers and by a slimmer margin of 582 to 544...


Bridge Water, 94 Deer Killed In Somerset County Hunt February 16, 2017 New Jersey, Patch.com

... A total of 8 Bucks, 20 Button Bucks, 8 Sheds and 58 Does were killed during the 35 days of the hunt...


Watchung deer hunt discussion continues in public hearing February 4, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Hills

... “It just doesn't make sense to keep the program going year after year without current data of deer population to adjust the hunt,” ... many residents are against the hunt because they really don’t know where exactly hunters are using their weapons in the borough...


Deer fencing now available to farmers for crop protection January 31, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Herald

... Sussex County farmers can now get help with installing deer fences to protect their crops on land which has been permanently preserved ... 


Watchung,  Deer Culling is Addressed in Watchung January 30, 2017 New Jersey, TAPinto.net

... Six sites in Watchung have been made available to professional hunters for deer culling using shotguns ... “Watchung’s deer population has been cut way down, yet the hunt continues year after year.” ...


Essex County, Protesters rally against Essex County deer hunt January 28, 2017 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

  ... A woman dressed in a deer costume greeted drivers heading down Northfield Avenue in West Orange Saturday afternoon, as one way a small group of protesters stood against the annual deer hunt held in Essex County...

     Group Will Protest Essex County Deer Hunt: West Orange Rally Set January 26, 2017 New Jersey, Patch.com

... The League of Humane Voters of New Jersey plans to hold a “Deer Banner Protest” from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 around the area of 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange...


Humans vs. Deer In North Jersey: 'Zero Density' Goal January 24, 2017 Patch.com

.... New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJFW) Director Dave Chanda ... confirmed that the state’s Deer Management Zone 36 – which includes Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Passaic, Morris, Union, Somerset and Middlesex counties – has a “deer density goal of zero because of high deer-human and land use conflicts, severe environmental damage and the lack of sustainable habitat.” ...


Fish & Wildlife tainted by pro-hunt stance January 19, 2017 New Jersey, MyCentralJersey.com

... Forming a Wildlife Management Advisory Committee consisting of five appointed pro-hunting members, including Chen and Greene, facilitated Chen’s “plan” to recommend and propose lethal wildlife “control.” ... residents were force-fed Introduction of an ordinance allowing the WMAC to advise use of firearms, including a variety of weapons “potentially dangerous to wild life or human safety;” ...



Essex County, Hunts Set For South Mountain, Hilltop Reservations January 15, 2017 New Jersey, Patch.com

... For 2017, the county will conduct the deer cull at South Mountain Reservation ... The program will not be held in Eagle Rock Reservation ...


  Deer Rescue 'A Real Community Effort,' Brick Police Say January 12, 2017 New Jersey, Patch

... a pair of deer that fell through the ice on a lagoon ... firefighter Ron Gaskill put on a dry suit and jumped in with a tethered line ... You could tell the deer knew we were trying to help ...


Essex County deer management program to start 10th year January 10, 2017 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... Since 2008, 1,254 deer and 759 unborn deer, for a total of 2,013 deer, were removed using the services of experienced and qualified marksmen who volunteer their time ...


Union County plans deer hunts to reduce population in parks January 3, 2017 New Jersey, New Jersey Online

... Since the mid 1990s, Union County has selected licensed hunters to reduce the herds... Last year, a total of 144 deer were removed ...


New year brings changes to Fish & Wildlife January 1, 2017 New Jersey, Daily Record

... Larry Herrighty will become acting director of  the division ... worked with staff to implement liberalized archery hunting regulations to manage suburban deer populations...


Saddle River plans aerial survey of deer population December 21, 2016 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... either conducting an infrared aerial survey — which could cost the borough thousands of dollars — or using one of the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management's drones... will focus on exploring non-lethal measures of deer management...


Firefighters rescue deer stuck on ice in Kinnelon December 13, 2016 New Jersey, New Jersey Online

... A video posted on the Kinnelon Police Department's Facebook page shows Bloomingdale firefighters pulling the deer to safety...

Opening Day deer hunters did well, despite snow, rain and cold weather December 11, 2016 New Jersey, Daily Record

... 2,249 bucks taken Monday, a 29% increase over 2015...  a 9% increase above the five-year average (2,084) on opening day buck harvests... total estimated harvest was 3,086, with 837 antlerless deer added...


Number of hunters decline drastically in New Jersey December 7, 2016 New Jersey, NJ.com

... There are 40 percent fewer hunters culling deer herds or shooting pheasant in New Jersey this year than there were 40 years ago ... fewer kids are picking it up ...


Woodbridge cop rescues huge deer from net -- again December 2, 2016 New Jersey, New Jersey Online

...  its antlers tangled in a soccer net ...  animal control officers had managed to loop a snare around the deer. He was able to cut the netting piece-by-piece off the antlers while one of the animal control officers held a towel over the deer's eyes...


Mating season for deer can last until mid-December November 30, 2016 New Jersey, North Jersey

... The height of the season is in November ... begins in October and can extend into mid-December ... "When the deer are mating, they're not paying attention to much else ...


Princeton, Council hires hunters to thin the deer population November 22, 2016 New Jersey, Packet Online


Saddle River, Offer To Sterilize Deer Still Stands November 18, 2016 New Jersey, Fair Lawn-Glen Rock Daily Voice

... “The people have spoken out strongly for non-lethal,” said Cerf, director of Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital in Ridgewood and Midland Park... females will be vaccinated with a contraceptive ... select males will get vasectomies ...

     One of state's richest towns voted to kill deer — and not killing deer November 10, 2016 New Jersey, NJ.com

... Rhe borough posed two questions to voters ... At least two council members said that residents seemed to be more in favor of the non-lethal options since overall there were 715 who wanted only non-lethal options compared to the 582 who would like lethal methods to be considered...

     Saddle River residents vote in favor of deer questions November 8, 2016 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... local veterinarian Dr. Dean Cerf, who has proposed that he perform vasectomies on deer. Cerf has offered to put up his own money in order to perform these operations ...           Saddle River Deer Activists Prepare Voters For Ballot Questions November 7, 2016 New Jersey, Mahwah-Ramsey Daily Voice

... three environmental groups tried persuading residents to vote against non-lethal deer hunting on two questions on the local ballot Tuesday... Bow hunters are also not required to retrieve any razor-sharp arrows that may fall on a homeowner’s property ...

Firefighters free deer wedged between bars of cemetery fence November 1, 2016 New Jersey, United Press International

... The team put a blanket over the deer's head to keep it calm while they used a hydraulic spreader to separate the bars ...


Drowning deer rescued after falling through pool cover October 27, 2016 New Jersey, UPI.com

... Mount Olive police shared a photo of an officer attempting to hoist the deer out of the water ...


Forum on wildlife in suburbia offers lessons in co-existence October 24, 2016 New Jersey, NorthJersey.com

... As New Jersey’s suburban population has risen over recent decades, habitat for wildlife has shrunk...  ... Daneen Aromando, a veterinary professor ... bait laced with birth control can manage populations...  The old thinking was that if a deer had a broken leg or a bird had a broken wing it had to be put down. But with rehabilitation many can be saved ...


New Jersey State Police Trooper Saves Drowning Buck From Swimming Pool October 23, 2016 New Jersey,  New Jersey, NBC New York

... A deer drowning in a swimming pool was rescued by a New Jersey State trooper in Warren County ...


Fort Monmouth 'Deer Culling' To Commence Soon October 17, 2016 New Jersey, Word on the Shore

... Since the fort closed in 2011, the number of deer at the fort has risen ... The culling will be handled by federal personnel and will begin in the "near future" ...

     Fort Monmouth deer population to be culled October 14, 2016 New Jersey, Asbury Park Press

... about 250 deer currently reside on the fort's Main Post, which has been closed and surrounded by fence since 2011 ... contracted with the United States Department of Agriculture to run the deer culling program for a cost of $40,000...


Deer population is down, but rutting season still dangerous to drivers October 9, 2016 New Jersey, Press of Atlantic City

...  the deer population in the state is estimated to be about half what it was in 1995 ... The state's deer management policies have cut the population from 204,000 to about 101,000 ...


Hopewill, Committee increases deer hunting fees October 6, 2016 New Jersey, Packet Online

...  increased the fee from $100 to $105 ... There is an “over-abundance of deer” in the township, according to the mayor, with an estimated 19-to-20 deer per acre, instead of the “natural level” of one or two deer per acre... There is an “over-abundance of deer” in the township, according to the mayor, with an estimated 19-to-20 deer per acre, instead of the “natural level” of one or two deer per acre. [Hopewell is 450 acres so they are estimating about 9,000 deer in the town, almost 1/10 of the total state population] ...


Deer tries to settle the score with driver who hit it September 29, 2016 New Jersey, NBC Montana

...  she hit a deer that had crossed her path. The deer took off -- or so she thought.  As the driver, Ellen Snyder, opened the door to check out the damage to her SUV, the deer suddenly charged back across the road towards her vehicle ...

Raritan, Stop deer slaughter in Raritan Township September 21, 2016 New Jersey, MyCentralJersey.com

...  they got the idea of open space hunting for revenue from Readington Township... RVCC Professor Jay Kelly advised bow and arrow hunting and the necessity of changing our township ordinance to allow hunting and other “ecological concerns” on open space, stating “There is always concern about whether this is humane or not — to kill all these deer.” ...


Councilman pushing for deer fence change September 13, 2016 New Jersey, The Press Group

... Cohen’s proposal to amend the ordinance would make it a simpler process for homeowners seeking to keep their properties free of damage from deer infestation.  Under a proposal he outlined earlier in the summer, Cohen explained any resident seeking the taller fence would be required to prove its sole purpose is trying to block deer from entering through side and rear yards...


Palisades Park neighborhood tries to help orphaned baby deer September 8, 2016 New Jersey, News 12 New Jersey

... For the past few weeks, the baby deer has not strayed far from Bergen Boulevard where its mother was killed...the fawn keeps venturing closer and closer to traffic... A spokesperson for Bergen County Humane tells News 12 New Jersey that the agency cannot move wildlife. It is up to the state Fish and Wildlife Department ... there is a natural preserve close to where the fawn is located...

New Jersey Deer News and Information Archive by TopicPopulation and Management, Deer in the News, Disease, Suburban, Transportation

New Jersey data:    The 105,000 population estimate for 2022 was based on a recent decline revealed in hunting data.  A widespread outbreak of EHD in 2021 reduced deer populations.   The  New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) reported to the press in 2021 that the deer population had been on a decline since 2017. Estimates for 1984 to 2018 in the graph below are based on a recent NJDEP report with hunting data used to fill in a few missing years.  Estimates are for deer in hunted areas. 


Data and Analysis for Graph Below

The deer hunt results were down by 30% in 2021 from 2020.  Hunter numbers in 2020 were elevated as a result of the pandemic which accounts for part of the decline.  The hunt was down 25% in 2022 from 2018 when the state estimated a population of about 133,000.  About 114,000 deer in 2019 based on hunting data and an estimate in the press.  


In 2023 a report of more than 15,000 deer-vehicle collisions every year which in include many suburban deer not included in the state estimates.  


DEP estimated 112,126 deer in 2017 and 101,000 deer in 2016 in areas available for hunting.  A good mast crop in 2017.  The large increase posted for the 2016-17 deer hunt is partly attributed to an improved acorn crop.  About 100,000 deer in 2015.   About 62 percent of the 51,596 deer hunted in 2013 were antlerless. In 2014 roughly 106,000 deer in the state, according to DEP estimates at the time, down from an estimated peak of 204,000 in 1995  as a result of state policies to reduce the population.  


In 1998, the statewide minimum fall, pre-hunting season deer population was estimated at 178,598. Despite news media reports that the New Jersey deer population is exploding, the statewide population has remained relatively stable during the past several years [see page 4 and 6]".    About 50,000 are killed in hunts each year, about 25,000 killed by cars.  See the graph and data below for the state deer population estimate starting in 1984.   A breakout of  Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in 2007 killed 15 to 30 percent of the deer herd, highest in the south.


A population estimate of 140,000 in 2009 and 153,000 in 1990.


Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)  "Annual sampling of New Jersey deer harvested since 1998 have found no evidence of the disease. Based on those samples, if CWD was present in our state we are 99% confident it was in less than 1% of the adult deer at that time (without testing all of the animals in a population it is statistically impossible to say a disease is not there)."  Source: New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife


Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) was first identified in 1955 when several hundred deer died in both New Jersey and Michigan.  Outbreaks in 2021, a major outbreak, and 2017.  Severe outbreaks in 2007 and 1999.  Outbreaks 1955 to 2012.


Suburban Deer Management  In 2011 New Jersey become the second state after Maryland to approve contraceptives for deer population control. It has rarely if ever been used.


History  Deer are native to New Jersey with a thriving population in colonial days.  According to a report by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station "in the era before the arrival of colonial settlers, typical NJ habitats could support about 15 to 21 deer per square mile."   New Jersey is  7,352.9 square miles.  Applying the mid-point of the 15 to 21 per square mile, 18 per square mile, gives a rough estimate of 132,000 deer.   By 1900 deer had been virtually exterminated from the state as a result of unregulated hunting.  Just a few deer remained by the early 1900s.  A restocking effort was started to restore the population.  The state commented in a 1999 report that "On a regional basis, deer populations actually peaked in the 1930s in the pinelands of southern New Jersey and in many areas of northern New Jersey in the 1950s (Burke et al., 1990)."

Bear, an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 bears in 2017.  An estimated 3,158 in 2020.


Bobcats, 200 to 400 in New Jersey around 2023 according to an EPA study.


Report Sick Deer:  Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics, 908-236-2118


Other useful links:

- New Jersey Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife  

- White-tailed Deer in NJ, NJDEP

- Report dead deer along the highway to New Jersey DOT

- New Jersey Wildlife Cam