[Adopted 8-7-2019 by Ord.
No. 1133-19]
A.
No person shall hunt, shoot, kill or remove deer from any park or
open space, or carry or possess firearms of any description in which
loaded or blank cartridges may be used, or air guns, spring guns,
slings or any other form of weapon potentially dangerous to wildlife
and human safety, unless that person has first obtained a municipal
deer management or deer culling permit for such activity.
B.
The hunting, shooting, killing and removal of white-tailed deer shall
be allowed solely for the purpose of reducing and managing the Township's
deer population and only in accordance with the following provisions
set forth herein below, and shall otherwise be prohibited in any Township
park or open space.
C.
The Mayor and Council shall annually determine by resolution the
number of permits issued for that year, the properties for which the
permits are issued, the number of hunters allowed on each property,
the dates on which the properties may be hunted, the minimum number
of deer to be taken to be eligible for future participation in the
program, and the minimum number of does to be taken prior to taking
a buck, as well as any other conditions or requirements as shall be
reasonable and necessary for public safety and for the efficacy of
the program (including, but not limited to, assisting with the costs
of processing any deer that are donated to the Hunters Helping the
Hungry venison donation program), provided such conditions or requirements
do not conflict with any provisions set forth in this article.
D.
Each permit will cover one primary hunter and up to two alternate
hunters. A permit shall be obtained by application to the Clerk of
Clinton Township, which application shall contain at a minimum the
following information:
(1)
The name, street address, and email addresses of the primary hunter
and any alternate hunters (hereinafter collectively referred to as
"applicant").
(2)
The applicant's date of birth. Applicants must be 18 years of age
or older to be eligible for a municipal deer management permit.
(3)
The license plate number for all vehicles the applicant might use
to access hunting property.
(4)
Current firearm or bow and arrow hunting license number, or proof
of application for same and participation in a state hunter education
course.
(5)
Applicant must have in their possession all current state permits
allowing said individual to hunt the various permit seasons specified
by the State of New Jersey (permit bow, permit shotgun, and/or muzzleloader
rifle).
(6)
A signed certification that the applicant is not prohibited by law
from possessing a firearm and has not been convicted of any felonies.
Any applicant who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm or
who has been convicted of a felony shall not be eligible for a permit.
(7)
A release authorizing the Township to conduct a background check
for violations of the New Jersey Fish and Game Code, N.J.A.C. 7:25-5
et seq., and for violations of any local regulations pertaining to
parks or to hunting. Any applicant who has violated any provision
of the Fish and Game Code or violated any local regulation pertaining
to parks or to hunting within five years of the date of the application
shall not be eligible for a permit.
(8)
A copy of a certificate of insurance confirming general liability
insurance with coverage with combined single limits for bodily injury
and property damage of at least $1,000,000 per single occurrence and
$1,000,000 annual aggregate. The insurance requirements set forth
herein can be satisfied through full membership in the New Jersey
State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs or other sources.
(9)
The property and hunting season(s) for which a permit is sought.
E.
Applications shall be available in the Township Clerk's office and
on the Township's website. Prior to any permits being issued, all
applications will be reviewed by the Clinton Township Police Department
for accuracy of information supplied and for compliance with the requirements
set forth herein. All applications must be complete upon submission.
Incomplete applications will not be processed.
F.
Prior to receiving a permit, each applicant (including the primary
hunter as well as any alternate hunters) shall be required to complete
the Township's mandatory hunter orientation and safety course.
G.
Any resident of the State of New Jersey shall be eligible to apply
for a permit, except that the Mayor and Council in its discretion
may give first priority for such permits to individuals who either
work or reside in the Township.
A.
The following rules and regulations shall apply to all permit holders:
(1)
Hunting shall only take place from commercially manufactured elevated
tree stands. Ground blinds shall be strictly prohibited. Only portable
tree stands that do not harm the trees shall be permitted. All stands
shall be removed no later than 15 days following the expiration of
the hunting and/or permit season. Baiting shall be allowed but only
from automatic feeders holding up to a maximum of 30 gallons of feed.
(2)
Permits shall be site-specific and nontransferable. Permittees shall
be authorized to hunt only the property for which they have been issued
a permit and shall be responsible for knowing the property lines and
safety zone requirements as defined by the New Jersey Division of
Fish and Wildlife. Each permittee shall be required to display his
or her permit prominently when engaging in hunting activities.
(3)
Deer drives are strictly prohibited.
(4)
Vehicles shall be restricted to public roads and designated parking
areas. No all-terrain vehicles shall be allowed.
(5)
Target practice is strictly prohibited. For purposes of this subsection,
the discharge of a crossbow prior to transport shall not be considered
target practice.
(6)
Permittees shall be allowed to enter their properties up to two hours
before sunrise and must leave the property no later than two hours
after sunset. In the event of a conflict between this provision and
any other rule or regulation of the Township, this provision shall
apply.
(7)
All season dates and bag limits designated by the State of New Jersey
Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game Council for the
deer management zones in which the Township is located shall apply.
(8)
Only white-tailed deer may be hunted; the hunting, shooting, killing,
pursuit or removal of any other wildlife is strictly prohibited.
B.
Any permit issued by the Township may contain such additional conditions
as the Clinton Township Police Department and/or Clinton Township
Administrator determines are reasonably required to ensure the safety
of the public, including but not limited to restricting the days and
times during which the permittees may hunt thereon and restricting
the areas within the parks or open spaces on which the permittees
may hunt.
C.
Permits shall be valid only during the applicable state-approved
deer hunting seasons, as said dates may be amended from time to time
by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game
Council.
A.
A press release and/or notice informing the public of the designated
hunting dates and locations shall be published on the Township's website
and shall be submitted to the official newspaper of Clinton Township
for publication.
B.
Prior to any hunting activities taking place, permittees shall be
responsible for posting warning and no-hunting signs along the boundaries
of the properties for which they have received a permit, and the Township
shall post warning signs at the entrances to all properties for which
permits have been issued.
A.
In order to defray increased maintenance, materials, labor and administrative
costs incurred by the Township in connection with its deer management
program, a permit fee of $50 per primary hunter is hereby established.
This cost is in addition to the purchase of appropriate hunting licenses
and permits that are issued by the State of New Jersey.
B.
Any permit fees collected that are not needed to defray the costs
of administering the program shall be deposited into the Township's
Open Space Fund and dedicated to the acquisition or maintenance of
open space.
A.
The provisions of this article, including the conditions and requirements
of any permits issued pursuant to this article, shall be enforced
by the Police Department of the Township of Clinton.
B.
The Clinton Township Police Department shall be authorized to revoke
a permit issued hereunder at any time if the safety of any persons
or the safety of personal property, including that of Clinton Township,
is threatened as a result of the activity authorized by the permit.
C.
Violations by any permittee of any applicable state or local rules
and regulations pertaining to hunting or use of parkland shall also
cause the permit to be revoked. Where such permit has been revoked
or where persons or personal property are endangered as set forth
above, the police are authorized to require that such person or persons
leave the park area immediately and take all steps necessary to eliminate
the condition which endangers persons or personal property.
