Purpose of Funding

The Community-Based Deer Management Grant Program will assist local communities and non-profits in facilitating efforts to address overabundant deer in New Jersey’s urban landscape. Funding can assist in making signage, data, and deer processing needs to facilitate and/or maintain Community-Based Deer Management programs. Guidance on deer management approaches will also be provided to grant recipients.

Application
The application can be found here: Community-Based Deer Management Grant Application

Application Deadline
Friday, May 3 at 5:00 PM ET

Notification Date
N/A

Source of Funding
$160,000 from the FY24 NJDEP State Appropriation

Statutory Citation
N.J.S.A. 13:1D-9 (q), (r), N.J.S.A. 13:9 et seq., N.J.A.C. 7:27D

Who is Eligible
Applicants eligible to apply for funding under this program include:

• County and local government units within New Jersey, including municipal park systems;
• Local nonprofit organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code authorized to operate in the State of New Jersey.

Qualifications Required for Consideration
Funding is available to support several initiatives as described below:

• Signage for Community-Based Hunting Programs
  • Open only to County and Local government units within New Jersey, including municipal park systems.
  • Applicants must own or otherwise be authorized to have signage installed at the identified locations.
  • If approved to receive signage, an applicant will not receive any direct funding. Instead, NJDEP will contract to have the signs produced and delivered to the applicant.
• Deer Population Density Estimate/Survey
  • Open only to County and Local government units within New Jersey, including municipal park systems.
• Forest Health Survey
  • Open only to County and Local government units within New Jersey, including municipal park systems.
• Venison Donation Program
  • Open to all entities identified under Who Is Eligible.
  • Deer must be processed at New Jersey Department of Health inspected butchers.
  • Venison must be donated to food banks operating in the State of New Jersey

Grant Limitations
As noted above, funding for signage will not be included as a financial award to the recipient. NJDEP will coordinate the production and delivery of any signs. An applicant may apply for funding under any or all of the four (4) identified initiatives. The Department will have final determination of which initiatives and for how much they are funded for each applicant. The Department reserves the right not to award a grant if, in its sole discretion, no acceptable application is received, funding is no longer available or for any other reason.

Application Procedures
Applications must be submitted via email to NJdeer@njdepwptest.net by 5:00 PM ET Friday, May 3, 2024, to be considered for an award.

Additional Information: 
Visit the Community-Based Deer Management page here.

For More Information, Contact:
Jodi Powers
Principal Wildlife Biologist
1 Eldridge Rd. Robbinsville, NJ 08691
609-223-6073
Jodi.Powers@njdepwptest.net