Dear Editor:
Hikers, bikers, bird watchers, and others who visit State wildlife management areas and clubs who use private properties in New Jersey on Sundays should be able to do so without worrying about being accidentally hurt by hunters. The prior law allowed hunting on Mondays thru Saturdays and left Sundays for the rest of us. The new law, passed by both houses and signed by Governor Corzine, means you cannot be in State Wildlife Management areas or private properties without fear of being hurt by hunters for 3 complete months of the year.
I am extremely unhappy about this new law that allows deer hunting on Sundays. Although not a hunter myself, I support the goal of reducing the deer population, but this law is a very poor way to accomplish the goal.
The new law will result in 12 additional Sunday bow hunting days each year. NJ Fish & Wildlife data suggests that this will harvest 834 more deer – a 1.7% increase… However, four additional gun days would harvest 1,039 deer, and two additional youth days would harvest 1,168 deer – together a 4.7% increase that still allows visitors to peacefully use our open space on Sundays.
Why does the hunting need to be done on Sundays? Assemblywoman McHose and Assemblyman Chiusano of NJ’S 24TH District claim that this new law will bring NJ in line with most states. However, these other states are not the most densely populated state in the nation – NJ is. People who visit State wildlife management areas and clubs who use private properties on Sundays could have continued to do so without worrying about being accidentally shot if the hunting season simply began earlier and/or ended later.
Governor Corzine, tear down this law in favor of a new law which is more appropriate for NJ!
Nancy Held