The purpose of this chapter is to establish
controlled hunting for whitetail deer within a portion of the Bear
Swamp Recreation Area in order to allow the reduction of overpopulation
and subsequent habitat destruction to said area. The Township finds
that it is in the public interest to achieve this reduction of overpopulation
by the issuance of a controlled number of permits to hunt whitetail
deer within said area.
Any Township permit issued shall coincide with
the seasons established by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
This will apply to seasons established for archery, muzzle loaders
and shotgun as mandated by said Division of the State of New Jersey.
A. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife shall
determine the gender to be taken during each of the aforementioned
seasons.
B. The Township shall determine the amount of deer to
be removed in order to keep the remaining herd in balance with the
existing ecosystem. The Township shall make said determination in
conjunction with recommendations of the Howell Township Lake Restoration
and Wildlife Committee and subject to the requirements of the New
Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. The Township shall further have
the right to stop all hunting when it determines it is in the best
interest of said ecosystem balance even though the New Jersey Division
of Fish and Wildlife would still allow hunting.
The Township shall determine in conjunction
with recommendations of the Howell Township Lake Restoration and Wildlife
Committee a seasonal number of Township permits to hunt within said
Bear Swamp Recreation Area as herein defined.
A. Anyone hunting with said permits must report that
a whitetail deer has been taken within said Bear Swamp Recreation
Area to both the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and to the
Clerk's office of the Township of Howell. Upon receipt of said information
by the Clerk's office, it shall be forwarded to the Lake Restoration
and Wildlife Committee by written notice.
B. The Township shall notify all permit holders when
there has been a determination made that no further hunting will be
permitted within the tract commonly known as "Bear Swamp."
C. The number of permits to be issued shall be determined
in conjunction with appropriate reports prepared by the new Lake Restoration
and Wildlife Management Committee of Howell Township.
Permit fees shall be set forth in Chapter
139, Fees.
All acts prohibited by the New Jersey Division
of Fish and Wildlife are hereby prohibited within the Bear Swamp Recreational
Area during the limited hunting seasons. There shall be no hunting
allowed on Sunday during any prescribed season.
The following prerequisites will be required
prior to the receipt of a hunting permit from Howell Township as hereinabove
described:
A. All permit applicants shall be in possession of all
New Jersey permits pertaining to deer and shall have a valid New Jersey
hunting license.
B. Said valid New Jersey hunting license shall be presented
to the Township prior to the Township issuing a permit.
C. No permit shall be issued without a New Jersey valid
hunting license.
D. The portion of Bear Swamp Recreational Area upon which
hunting shall be allowed is hereinafter described on Schedule A attached
hereto and made a part hereof. The appropriate signage shall be posted indicating that
a Township permit is required in order to hunt within said defined
area.
Any person who violates any one or more sections
of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000
for each separate offense and/or confinement in the Monmouth County
Jail for a period of not more than 90 days.