23:4-42.3 Application for special deer management area designation.

1. a. Whenever a county board of agriculture determines that a farm or farms located within the county has incurred significant crop damage caused by deer, based on evidence submitted by the county board of agriculture or the Center for Wildlife Damage Control in the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University, the county board of agriculture may apply to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for designation of a special deer management area. The application shall describe the nature and extent of crop damage incurred, and delineate the area proposed for designation as a special deer management area. If the division determines that the significant crop damage has been caused by an overpopulation of deer in the area described in the application, it shall designate it as a special deer management area. In designating a special deer management area, the division may, after consultation with the county board of agriculture, modify the area proposed for designation in an application. The county board of agriculture or the division may request the Center for Wildlife Damage Control to coordinate and facilitate the application and designation of a special deer management area pursuant to this subsection.

b. Whenever a municipality determines that the deer population has caused significant damage to property, not including damage to agricultural property, in the municipality or has caused a significant number of vehicle collisions therein, the municipality may apply to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for designation of a special deer management area. Two or more municipalities may submit a single application for the designation of an area that includes more than one municipality. The application shall describe the nature and extent of property damage or vehicle collisions caused by deer, and delineate the area proposed for designation as a special deer management area. If the division determines that the significant damage to property or a significant number of vehicle collisions has been caused by an overpopulation of deer in the area described in the application, it shall designate it as a special deer management area. In designating a special deer management area, the division may, after consultation with the municipality, modify the area proposed for designation in an application.

c. Whenever the owner or operator of an airport determines that the existing population of deer within its boundaries and immediately adjacent property constitutes a hazard to the safe operation of aircraft, the owner or operator of the airport may apply to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for designation of a special deer management area. The application shall describe the nature and extent of the hazard to safe operations of aircraft, and delineate the area proposed for designation as a special deer management area. If the division determines that there is a hazard to the safe operation of aircraft at the airport due to deer in the area described in the application, it shall designate it as a special deer management area. In designating a special deer management area, the division may, after consultation with the owner or operator of the airport, modify the area proposed for designation in an application.

d. Whenever a county governing body determines that the deer population has caused significant damage to property, not including damage to agricultural property, in the county or has caused a significant number of vehicle collisions therein, the county governing body may apply to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for designation of a special deer management area. The application shall describe the nature and extent of property damage or vehicle collisions caused by deer, and delineate the lands owned by the county proposed for designation as a special deer management area. If the division determines that the significant damage to property or a significant number of vehicle collisions has been caused by an overpopulation of deer in the area described in the application, it shall designate it as a special deer management area. In designating a special deer management area, the division may, after consultation with the county governing body, modify the area proposed for designation in an application.

L.2000, c.46, s.1; amended 2010, c.54, s.1.