Contact

The Historic Hunt Barn

197 Blackwell Road Pennington, NJ 08534

Phone Number: (609) 303-0706

Email: stewardship@mercercounty.org

General Information

The Mercer County Park Commission is responsible for overseeing and managing approximately 7,100 acres of parkland throughout the County, with the dual goals of conserving natural resources and providing a variety of recreational opportunities for Mercer County residents. Ecological stewardship within the parks has become an increasing priority in the past decade, with partnerships in place to facilitate large-scale habitat restoration projects. Current County stewardship efforts include invasive species management, citizen science efforts, meadow and forest restorations and wildlife management, which all contribute to improving the ecological health within the park system and the County at large.

One of the largest regional threats to biodiversity of flora and fauna in central New Jersey is the overabundance of white-tailed deer. Heightened levels of herbivory caused by deer overpopulation jeopardizes the native plant understory and overall forest health, degrading habitat value for other wildlife. Regions within Mercer County have some of the highest deer populations in the state. According to 2021 population estimates, the white-tail deer population density within Hopewell Valley was 109 deer per square mile, and 155 deer per square milepost-birthing. Biologists recommend a density of 20-25 deer per square mile to achieve and maintain a healthy forest, and 10-15 deer per square mile if the forest is already in a degraded condition. In order to address this ecological issue and cooperate with regional efforts, the Park Commission implements its Deer Management Program in several of its parks.

The deer management program complies with all hunting regulations set by the State; the Park Commission has additional rules for the program to ensure the safety of the public and maintain the management ethics of the program. 

Hunting on Mercer County Park Commission property is permitted only by those who have applied for, met all the requirements and have been issued a permit by the Mercer County Park Commission to participate in the program. 

2024-2025 Deer Management Program 

Beginning October 15, 2024 through Saturday, February 15 ,2025, bow hunting will be permitted Monday through Saturday at Mercer Meadows, Baldpate Mountain and Mercer Oaks Golf Course. There will be no hunting at Mercer County Park during the 2024-2025 season. The parks and trails will remain open to the public during bow hunting. Park users are required to remain on trail, keep dogs leashed and are encouraged to wear blaze orange.

Baldpate Mountain will be closed to the public for firearm hunting Monday, December 9 through Saturday, December 14 and every Wednesday through Saturday thereafter through Saturday, February 8, 2025. Firearm hunting will take place at Mercer Oaks during the courses' annual winter maintenance closures.

2024-2025 Deer Management Rules & Regulations

Baldpate Mountain Deer Management Map

Mercer Meadows Deer Management Map

Mercer Oaks Deer Management Map

Mercer Meadows 

The Mercer Meadows Deer Management Program is held during the Fall Bow, Permit Bow and Winter Bow seasons. The park will remain open to the public. Park users are required to stay on marked trails, keep pets on leash and wear bright colors.  

Baldpate Mountain 

The Baldpate Mountain Deer Management Program is held during Fall Bow, Permit Bow, Winter Bow, Permit Shotgun, Permit Muzzleloader and Six-day Firearm hunting seasons. During days when only bow hunting occurs, the park will remain open to the public. Park users are required to stay on marked trails, keep pets on leash and wear bright colors.

Venison Donation Program

One stewardship initiative that has grown in the past few years is the facilitation of venison donation to local food pantries. This is an important effort to bring a fresh and sustainable protein source to those in need, and the County takes it seriously. It begins with the hunters in our programs, who after securing enough meat to feed their own family and friends, find it fulfilling to give their harvest to a good cause.

It is not free to donate deer in New Jersey – the cost is split between the individual hunter and the remainder is paid by a non-profit, Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH). However, the County pays the full processing fee, thereby relieving both the hunter and HHH of any expense. The deer is then processed by USDA-certified game butchers and then the meat is transported to local food banks. The majority of the meat donated through our program goes to Mercer Street Friends, a non-profit whose mission is to address poverty in the Trenton area.

To date, the County has facilitated the donation of enough venison to provide approximately 78,290 portions of meat to those in need. We are excited to continue to see this number grow and appreciate the efforts of those generous participating hunters that make this effort possible. 

Deer Management Annual Reports

2023-2024 Deer Management Annual Report

2022-2023 Deer Management Annual Report