Do you want to be a key player in our efforts to restore forest health? Part of what makes Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (“FoHVOS”) so effective at managing our acres of preserved land is our commitment to stewardship. Preserving land is a huge part of environmental protection, but the stewardship that maintains our preserves is key to keeping our forests healthy.
If you’ve ever asked yourself the following questions, you may want to consider joining our deer management program as a conservation deer hunter:
Is the meat that I am eating free of hormones and antibiotics? Was the animal raised humanely? Deer are free of hormones/antibiotics and totally organic- literally “field to table”
- How many times have I had a near miss with a deer while driving home from work? Over 500 deer are hit by motorists every year in Hopewell Township
- I hike often, but have I ever really communed with nature through quiet observation? There is no better way to experience all of nature than sitting quietly in a hunting stand.
- Why aren’t any new trees replacing those blown down by Superstorm Sandy? Overabundant deer are preventing new trees from growing in most of our local forests
We invite you to learn how to become part of the deer management solution by participating in our course, “Conservation Deer Hunting for Beginners,” this fall.
The instructor:
Local expert and longtime hunter, Brian Kubin, will draw on his 25 years of experience to teach you how to hunt from a conservation standpoint. Brian hunts on 20 different properties (both private land and preserved open space), and regularly harvests over 100 deer per year in his efforts to improve the health of our forests and the deer herd. He donates to Hunters Helping the Hungry and shares his harvests with an extended network of friends and family.
Course Outline:
•Natural History of Deer: habits, diets, social structure, and population dynamics
•Hunting Regulations: Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations, licensing and permits
•Sporting Arms: firearm and bow options (participants will be trained to discharge bows)
•Reading the Forest: field trip to walk through forest to determine deer signs and habitat use
•Stand Placement and Baiting: learn about tree stand types and where to place them most effectively, types of bait, placement timing, and quantities
•Processing Deer: discussion of butchering deer yourself and professional butchering services
Date & Location:
Date: Sunday, October 9 (rain or shine) from 9 am to 3 pm. Participants will be provided a free venison lunch (12 pm to 1 pm).
Location: 145 Wertsville Road, Hillsborough, NJ
Cost: Registration is $100 per participant. Registration will be capped at 14 people, so sign up now to lock in your spot!
To register, visit our website at fohvos.org or contact Mike Van Clef, Stewardship Director ([email protected]).
Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space is a nonprofit land trust that is dedicated to preserving the Valley’s character through open space and farmland preservation, and natural resource protection. Since our inception in 1987, we have partnered with landowners, government and nonprofit organizations to preserve over 4,000 acres of open space and farmland.
NOTE: MercerMe contributor, Ryan Kennedy, is proud to serve as a member of FoHVOS Board of Trustees.
