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Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Awarding a Contract to John Zampini/Suburban Deer Management Association for Bow Hunting Services on Public Lands in Connection with Princeton's 2025-2026 Deer Management Program
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WHEREAS, from 2000 through 2012, the municipality formerly known as the Township of Princeton ("the Township") implemented a deer management and deer removal program throughout the Township in an effort to reduce its white-tailed deer population to a healthy and manageable level; and
WHEREAS, since 2003, a component of that deer management program has involved bow hunting on municipally owned properties in the former Township that are not restricted against hunting and are otherwise suitable for bow hunting; and
WHEREAS, John Zampini ("Zampini") is a New Jersey resident and recreational hunter who through his organization Suburban Deer Management Association assists municipalities and other entities with the management and control of white-tailed deer using traditional bow hunting; and
WHEREAS, Zampini implements these services by serving as a volunteer field coordinator overseeing and hunting with a group of volunteer recreational hunters that Zampini selects based on a quota system, whereby hunters who demonstrate a superlative safety record and who remove large numbers of deer are permitted to participate, and hunters who are poor performers are not invited to continue participating; and
WHEREAS, Princeton has successfully used Zampini's services each year since (and including) the 2016-2017 bow hunting season; and
WHEREAS, Zampini has demonstrated the ability to safely and effectively remove deer from the properties on which he and his volunteers have hunted; and
WHEREAS, Zampini has also demonstrated a commitment to increasing Princeton's use of, and reliance on, bow hunting to help manage its white-tailed deer population; and
WHEREAS, because of Zampini's commitment to reducing the size of Princeton's deer herd, Zampini's demonstrated success in furthering Princeton's deer management goals, and Zampini's superlative safety record, Princeton wishes to utilize Zampini and his team once again to manage the deer on certain public properties using recreational hunting; and
WHEREAS, Zampini and his team will not be compensated for their services; and
WHEREAS, recognizing, however, that the costs of processing deer can act as a cap on how many deer are removed, and as an incentive for Zampini and Zampini's team to remove as many deer as possible from the properties on which they will be operating, Princeton will reimburse Zampini and his team for their direct costs in processing any deer that are removed, provided, however, that any deer that are processed at Princeton's expense and not retained by Zampini or Zampini's team for their personal use, shall be donated to a New Jersey food bank, and subject further to a not-to-exceed cost of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), with the proviso that this cap may be increased in accordance with the requirements and limitations set forth in the Local Public Contracts Law and within budget limitations; and
WHEREAS, Princeton has not solicited quotes for the provision of these services because it was not practicable to do so and because any money expended in exchange for the services provided will be well below the bid threshold; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Financial Officer has certified that sufficient funds are available for this purpose.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of Princeton as follows:
1. The preamble to this Resolution is incorporated herein and made a part hereof as if set forth in full.
2. The Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute an agreement with John Zampini pursuant to the terms set forth in the attached agreement, said agreement to be subject to the approval of the Municipal Attorney.
3. The contract term shall terminate on March 31, 2026.
4. Hunting shall be allowed during the 2025-2026 State-designated fall, permit and winter bow hunting seasons for Zones 12 and 14, beginning on or about September 13, 2025, and ending on or about January 31, 2026 ("Designated Dates"). No hunting shall be permitted on Sundays or on Christmas Day. In addition, no hunting shall be permitted between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm on Saturdays, except that hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
5. The properties to be hunted, and the applicable limitations, shall be as follows:
a. Fieldwood (Cherry Valley Rd., Block 701, Lot 9.85):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 2 hunters on the property at the same time.
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road.
b. Autumn Hill Reserve (Herrontown Rd., Bl. 1201, Lot 1; Bl. 1302, Lot 1):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 5 hunters on the property at the same time.
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road.
c. Woodfield Reservation (Drakes Corner/Great Rd., Block 1701, Lots 4 & 8; Block 1801, Lots 1, 4 & 5):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 5 hunters on the property at the same time
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road
d. Herrontown Woods Arboretum (Herrontown Rd./Snowden Lane, Block 2901, Lots 1, 2 & 3 and Block 3001, Lot 7):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 5 hunters on the property at the same time.
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road.
e. Gulick Farm (Block 1502, Lot 2.02):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 2 hunters on the property at the same time.
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road.
f. Stony Brook / Puritan Court (Pretty Brook Rd., Block 5101, Lots 9-12):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 3 hunters on the property at the same time.
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road.
g. Stony Brook / Quaker Road (Quaker Road, Block 9901, Lots 4, 9 & 10):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 2 hunters on the property at the same time.
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road.
h. Mt. Lucas Property (Mt. Lucas Road/Route 206, Block 4201, Lot 22):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 5 hunters on the property at the same time.
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road.
i. Smoyer Park (Block 4503, Lot 1):
* Hunting dates: September 13, 2025, to January 31, 2026.
* No hunting on Saturdays between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. Hunters shall be permitted to be present in the park and/or in their tree stands during these hours, provided their arrows remain un-nocked.
* No hunting on Sundays or Christmas Day.
* No more than 2 hunters on the property at the same time.
* No hunting within 20 yards of any trail or road.
6. The Princeton Clerk shall cause a notice informing the public of the designated dates and locations to be published promptly on Princeton's website and in Princeton's newsletter and shall submit said notice to Princeton's official newspaper(s) for publication.
7. Prior to any hunting activities taking place, Zampini or Zampini's team shall post Princeton-supplied and/or Princeton-approved warning signs at the entrances to the Designated Properties, either near the parking areas or at the trail heads or both. The signs shall (1) notify the public that recreational bow hunting is taking place on said properties by a limited number of hunters specifically authorized by Princeton to engage in such activities; (2) identify the range of dates during which said hunting activities are permitted to take place; (3) identify the hours during which said activities may take place (one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset, except that on Saturdays, no hunting may take place between 10 am and 2 pm); (4) state that no hunting is permitted on Sundays or on Christmas Day; and (5) state that hunting with firearms is strictly prohibited.
8. Within thirty (30) days of the completion of the designated services but in no event later than March 31, 2026, Zampini shall submit a final report to the Princeton Police Chief and Princeton Animal Control Officer, with a copy to the Princeton Clerk, Princeton Municipal Attorney, and Princeton Health Officer, that will at a minimum contain the following information:
a. The total number of antlered and antlerless deer taken from each of the Designated Properties;
b. The specific number of antlered and antlerless deer taken by each agent;
c. The specific property from which each antlered and antlerless deer was taken;
d. The number of hunter-hours spent by each agent in the performance of the contracted-for services; and
e. Whether any hunter failed to comply with any of the terms and conditions set forth in the attached agreement, even if inadvertently, and the measures taken to correct such violations.
9. Zampini and Zampini's team shall not be compensated for their services, except that as set forth in the preamble to this resolution and in the agreement attached hereto, Princeton will reimburse Zampini and his team for any direct costs incurred in processing the deer removed on Princeton's behalf, subject to a not-to-exceed cost of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), with the proviso that this cap may be increased in accordance with the requirements and limitations set forth in the Local Public Contracts Law and within budget limitations.
10. The Mayor, Administrator, Clerk, Municipal Attorney and other appropriate staff and officials are hereby authorized and directed to undertake any and all other acts and execute any and all other documents as may be proper and necessary to effectuate the terms of this resolution.
11. A copy of this resolution and the executed agreement shall be placed on file in the office of the Clerk.
12. Notice of this action shall be published in Princeton's official newspaper(s), as required by law.
13. This resolution shall take effect immediately.