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Residents demand end to Saddle River residential bow‑hunting program after arrow found in yard
Summary
A resident told the Borough of Saddle River council an arrow was found in a front yard and accused a contracted hunter of lying to police; the council was told the organization removed the individual from the borough project and residents reiterated a prior referendum favoring non‑lethal deer control.
A resident, identified in the meeting record as Mr. Singer, told the Borough of Saddle River council during public comment that a “bloody razor‑shaped broadhead arrow” was found in a front yard near where children walk and that the hunter contracted to operate in town initially denied responsibility to police before admitting the truth. He said the incident on Dec. 10 underscored a pattern of safety failures and urged the council to end the residential bow‑hunting program immediately, saying residents had rejected this approach in a referendum he cited as 715–457 in favor of non‑lethal methods.
Mr. Singer described multiple prior incidents, including wounded deer found in yards and repeated police calls for cleanup, and said allowing hunters into residential neighborhoods was “gambling with our safety.” He told the council the program had betrayed residents’ trust and demanded the borough stop the program “tonight.”
In response to the public comment, an official present at the meeting said the borough contacted the United Bow Hunters organization and that the individual involved in the December 10 incident has been removed from the Saddle River project. Meeting participants asked why a supervisor had not acted within 24 hours; a commenter said removal should have been immediate.
Other residents raised related safety and licensing concerns, noting that New Jersey Fish and Wildlife rules can still permit someone with a serious criminal conviction to hold a bow‑hunting license; a commenter called that fact a reason to end the program. The council did not take a formal vote on the program during the meeting.
The meeting record shows the public comment focused on safety and accountability rather than a staff recommendation or ordinance change; the council did not announce any immediate policy change but the borough stated the specific hunter involved was prohibited from further participation in the Saddle River project. The governing body proceeded with the rest of its agenda and later moved into executive session for attorney‑client matters.
