Saddle River Considers Allowing Bow Hunting To Thin Deer Herd
SADDLE RIVER, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A Bergen County suburb is considering bringing in bow hunters to deal with an overpopulation of deer.
Officials in Saddle River say it's a public safety issue and are also concerned about tick-born illnesses.
Resident Jim Bachman hit a deer with his car last year.
"Horrible," he told WCBS 880's Sean Adams. "I come through East Saddle River Road, I do 20 miles an hour cause there is just deer all over the road every morning."
Saddle River Considers Allowing Bow Hunting To Deal With Overpopulation Of Deer
"They're all over the place and it's a shame cause I see them on the parkway dead, especially the babies," said Jack Lapore from neighboring Montvale.
"They're just grazing on the side of the road, I've hit one before," another man said.
The Record newspaper reports borough officials hope to be trailblazers for the rest of the county by allowing professional bow hunters to thin the deer herd.
Animal rights activists advocate nonlethal methods, such as contraception.
Saddle River officials have been studying the issue for a year, Adams reported.
If the borough allows sharpshooters, private property owners would have to give their permission and there would be no bow hunting within 150 feet of an occupied building as according to state law, Adams reported.
State wildlife officials have been invited to a public forum in October, the Record reported.
