Twp. Receives $3K for Hunting on Public Land

Washington Township will receive a total of $3,351 to allow two hunting clubs access to use parcels of land this season after resolutions on the matter were approved at the committee’s work session meeting Wednesday night.

New Jersey Conservation and Sportsman Club was awarded the use of land on Reservoir Road, which encompasses 131 acres, for the bid price of $2,601. Last year the same club was awarded this parcel of land and used shotgun as well as bow and arrow to hunt. This year, the club will only hunt with bow.

The second parcel of land, located at the intersection of Spring Lane and Marjorie Drive, encompasses 55 acres and was awarded to HHH Hunting Club in the amount of $751. The club will use both shotgun and bow and arrow to hunt this season.

The township-owned parcels of land were a to produce revenue and cull the deer populations.

Residents were split on the idea during a Washington Township Committee public hearing, with detractors saying the land was too close to residences and neighborhoods, while proponents felt the need to eliminate deer from the area was imperative.

The governing body voted 4-0 to approve the resolutions Wednesday night, as committeeman Dave Kennedy was absent. Kennedy, in the past, voted against using the land for hunting purposes.