Deer Management Program

For the 2024/2025 Season
May 9, 2024

Dear Applicant:

 Welcome to the Clinton Township Municipal Deer Management Program Permit application process. Applications will ONLY be available online at https://www.clintontwpnj.gov/deer-management-program. Completed applications will ONLY be accepted online via submission to Tom Silvia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Residents and employees of Clinton Township will be allowed to submit their applications starting at 8:00AM on Monday, June 3, 2024. Non-residents will be allowed to submit their application starting at 8:00AM on Monday, June 10, 2024. Permits will be issued on a first come, first served basis and once all permits are issued the application process will be closed.

Key points about the program for the 2024/2025 hunting season:

1. You can obtain the applications by going to https://www.clintontwpnj.gov/deer-management-program
2. You must submit your applications and required supporting documentation to Tom Silvia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on the required due date as defined above no earlier than 8:00AM
3. If submitted applications are incomplete, incorrect, or received prior to 8:00AM they will be moved to the bottom of the list. Once all missing information is received, if openings are still available, you will be assigned a property.
4. Permits will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. This will be determined by the date/time stamp on your emailed application. Also, properly completed applications will receive priority on property allocation.
5. You must identify the properties you would like to hunt in order of preference. You must rank all 7 properties in order of preference so that you have a better chance of being assigned a property. If this information is incomplete or inaccurate you may not be assigned a property. Properties will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. If your first choice property has been fully subscribed, then your subsequent preferences will be used to assign you a property based on the order identified on your application. If you don’t identify subsequent properties, you might not be assigned a property.
6. Certain properties will be bow only for the 2024/2025 hunting season. These include Cramer's Creek and White Cloud.
7. Team sizes are a minimum of TWO and maximum of THREE. No teams of one will be allowed. If you submit your application as a resident/employee, the primary team member must be a resident or employee of Clinton Township. Other team members do not have to be residents or employees of Clinton Township.
8. No one under the age of 18 or those holding an apprentice license may apply.
9. You and each team member are required to provide a copy of a certificate of insurance confirming general liability insurance with coverage having combined single limits for bodily injury and property damage of at least $1,000,000 per single occurrence and $1,000,000 annual aggregate. We have recommended in the past insurance through the NJ Federation of Sportsmen’s' Club but if you have other satisfactory insurance where you can provide the necessary proof of insurance that will be acceptable. If insurance is not in place at the time of submission of your application your application is deemed to be incomplete. If you obtain your insurance from an organization such as the NJ Federation of Sportsmen’s' Clubs or similar
   organization you are also required to provide proof of current membership in the organization.
10. There will be a mandatory orientation meeting on July 9, 2024, at Bundt Park at 6:00PM and July 16, 2024 at Bundt Park at 6:00PM. The orientation will be held under the pavilion. All team members must attend one of the orientation meetings in order to be assigned a property.
11. All permits and property assignments will be awarded after the final member of your team has attended the orientation.
12. The fee for the permit for the entire 2024/2025 hunting season is $100 per team and can only be paid at the orientation when you receive your paperwork.
13. There have been a couple items of note related to the 2024/2025 hunting season. They include:
    1. First deer taken DOES NOT have to be a doe as long as you comply with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife rules. If a team does shoot a buck first, then the team is required to take a minimum of 4 does. If you do not harvest at least 4 does, then that team or its members will not be given priority for a property in the subsequent year no matter when your application is received.
    2. Only one treestand per hunter will be allowed. If an individual wants to relocate their treestand they must communicate with the other hunters on the property before a move is made. No ground blinds are allowed.
    3. No treestand or ancillary equipment can be screwed into a tree. There is to be no damage to the trees in any fashion.
    4. All team members can hunt at the same time.
    5. Coyotes can be harvested incidental to deer while hunting deer as long as you are following the rules of the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife.

I am looking forward to working with you this year and making sure your deer hunting experience in the Township is a positive one. If you have any ideas, feedback or questions as the season progresses, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best of luck to you and thank you for you participation in the program.

Sincerely,
Tom Silvia
Clinton Township