by El Jefe » Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:20 pm
But you see George UBNJ those all the work for the better of all bow hunters. I for one monitor a hunt up in Bethlehem township in hunterdon County 200 acres of prime deer habitat and loaded with deer and nice buck. I hunted when they first open the land and I had just become a MEMBER. I had not been able to hunt for quiet a while with a bow because of numerous surgeries to my spinal column. I read about the hunt I applied for it was picked for it did everything I was told and I harvested my two does and a beautiful 9 pointer all in a four day period. That is what made me curious about an organization like UBNJ, how can UBNJ get all these prime land and let their members hunt it for $35.00. There was no "GOOD OLD BOYS" as a matter of fact that is were I met Jack Spotto. I was so impressed that I immediately introduced myself to UBNJ did a presentation and I was vote in as the Union County Rep. since that day I have never had a free week end or have been able to hunt any of the management hunts, even though I spend days helping organize these hunts with other Council members. I might add that I belong to two hunting clubs with some of the best hunting areas in the State, I have four 8 pointers this year to show for it. Now just about every Council member belongs to or has private land of their own that they hunt. Some Council members might participate on the hunts to meet certain criteria as far as reaching a quota to balance the herd. We make sure that they take enough doe before they can take a buck. As a matter of fact up in Bethleham I don't think they have shot a buck in the last two years.
Now some of these lands are under stewardship. Members of UBNJ dedicate hours and week ends to help out were ever needed and those individuals are and will always be given preference over those that just want to become members during the hunting season so they could just hunt.
Its impossible to put up applications on the web site when this hunt was just dropped on our laps. Orientations, qualification phases have to be organized, applications have to be received and process, and right now I don't see how they are going to have the time to do it when the city wants the hunt done NOW. So I imaging that UBNJ members that have been through the process already will be ask to jump over and help out till next year when UBNJ will have the time to go through the steps and allow applicants to apply on a timely matter. I also won't be surprise if they ask all Council members to help on the hunt as we are all qualified every year in case of something like this comes up.
Again all these deer are going to be donated to the Paterson food bank, just like the Denville and Livingston hunt. I believe you are only allow to keep one deer on the above mention hunt. And I believe on this hunt all deer are being donate. This is another problem with some hunters, they want it all. They want to be first on the list. They want to be first to be picked. They want the best spots and then they want to keep all the meat. Like some have posted on other web sites. HUTERS ARE THERE OWN WORST ENEMIES.