This is the Official New Jersey hunting Information and Regulations navigation page for the New Jersey state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state New Jersey hunting regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the New Jersey state hunting regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the New Jersey hunting reg. books below and accessing the New Jersey hunting regs link in the New Jersey Guidebooks listed below.
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Weather its, New Jersey bear hunting, New Jersey Boar Hunting, New Jersey deer hunting, New Jersey dove hunting, New Jersey Duck Hunting, New Jersey Elk Hunting, New Jersey goose hunting, New Jersey grouse hunting, New Jersey javelina hunting, New Jersey mule deer hunting, New Jersey pheasant hunting, New Jersey predator hunting, New Jersey quail hunting, New Jersey rabbit hunting, New Jersey pronghorn/antelope hunting, New Jersey raccoon hunting, New Jersey moose hunting, or New Jersey whitetail deer   We have the New Jersey  state hunting regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
Hunting is regulated in New Jersey by the fish and game department. You can check there website for current hunting information including Hunters education courses and requirements.
New Jersey hunting opportunities are diverse. Everything from antelope, deer, elk, wild pig and bear. Most hunting opportunities are established using the zone system with varying dates and bag limits. Special muzzleloader and archery seasons are available for most upland game and big game species.
For The complete New Jersey Hunting Regulations Summary Guidebook Click Here
New Jersey Hunting Information
Legal Deer Hunting Hours: half hour before
sunrise to half hour after sunset
Only one antlered deer may be taken
per season statewide, except during the Six-Day
Firearm Season, regardless of the number of
antlered buck permits in possession. To be legal,
all deer harvested must be registered at an official
deer check station (see page 56) and have a metal
possession seal affixed to the deer. Only after registering
the first deer may a hunter take or attempt
to take another deer, where legal, unless specifically
written as an exception.
NOTE: Legislation is signed into law allowing
Sunday bowhunting for deer only on state wildlife
management areas and private property.
Feral Hogs
With the ongoing presence of feral hogs in the
Gloucester County area, New Jersey Division of
Fish and Wildlife may allow deer hunters in Deer
Management Zone 25 to hunt feral hogs during
the regular deer seasons.
A current and valid hunting license (Bow
and Arrow, Firearm or All-Around Sportsman)
is required to pursue any small game species. See
page 24 for General Hunting Regulations. The use
of dogs, unless specifically stated otherwise, is
permitted to pursue any small game species, except
wild turkey. Hunting for those species shown on
page 61 is prohibited during the statewide Six-day
Firearm (deer) Season and on the Wednesday of the
Permit Shotgun (deer) Season that immediately
follows the Six-day Firearm Season. For exceptions,
see Coyote and Fox and Semi-wild and Commercial
Preserve Hunting sections below. Sunday hunting
is prohibited; see Raccoon and Opossum, page 61
for exceptions.
Season Dates and Bag Limits: The Small Game
Hunting Seasons table on page 61 lists dates, hunting
hours and daily bag limits for all small game
species open for hunting. Hunting with firearms
is prohibited on Nov. 6, 2009 on state wildlife
management areas designated as Pheasant and
Quail Stamp Areas (see Pheasants below) except in
tidal marshes open to an on-going waterfowl season.
General Small Game Hunting Methods: Properly
licensed hunters may hunt small game with shotguns
or bow and arrow and limited hunting with
small caliber rifles; see below. See also General
Hunting Regulations, page 24.
Shotgun: Unless specifically stated otherwise,
shotguns for small game hunting may be single
or double barrel, rifled or smoothbore and not
larger than 10-gauge or smaller than .410 caliber
and capable of holding no more than three shells.
Shot: Unless specifically stated otherwise, shot
size for small game hunting may be no larger than
#4 fine shot.
Bow and Arrow: All bows must meet the requirements
specified in General Hunting Regulations,
page 24.
Muzzleloading Rifles: For limited small game
rifle hunting, see below for Coyote and Fox—Special
Permit Season, Raccoon and Opossum, Squirrel
—Muzzleloading Rifle Season and Woodchuck for
restrictions.
Wildlife Damage: Property owners or their
agents, and occupants of dwellings that are suffering
damage from coyote, fox, opossum, raccoon,
skunk, squirrel, weasel or woodchuck may control
them by lawful means at any time subject to local
ordinances.
Coyote and Fox, General and
Special Permit Seasons
The daily bag limit restriction for coyote is
eliminated to make the regulations consistent with
those for fox. See chart below for both general and
special permit season regulations for coyote and
fox. NOTE: All successful coyote hunters must
report any coyote harvested to a Fish and Wildlife
Regional Law Enforcement Office within 24 hours.
Callers must identify themselves by name and
daytime phone number.
In addition to the coyote and fox seasons
described in the chart below, properly licensed
persons hunting deer during the Six-day Firearm,
Permit Muzzleloader or Permit Shotgun deer seasons
may kill coyote or fox when the person is in
possession of a valid deer transportation tag for the
applicable deer season (i.e., before harvesting a deer.)
All hunting must cease immediately upon harvesting
the daily deer bag limit and completing the deer
transportation tag(s). Incidental hunting of coyote
or fox while deer hunting may resume following
the issuance of a New Jersey Supplemental Deer
Transportation Tag for the applicable deer season
(provided the season remains open and the season
bag limit of deer has not been reached.) Only applicable
projectiles approved for deer hunting may
be used to take coyote and fox incidental to deer
hunting during the deer seasons described above.
See Firearms, Bow and Ammunition chart, page 29.
In addition to the general Coyote and Fox seasons
and incidental coyote or fox harvest while
deer hunting, a Special Permit Coyote and Fox
Season runs concurrent with the regular small
game coyote and fox season. A Fish and Wildlifeissued
permit is required to hunt coyote under the
provisions of the Special Permit Coyote and Fox
Season; as follows:
Coyote/Fox permits: $2, available at any license
agent or via Fish and Wildlife’s Internet license
sales site (WildlifeLicense.com/NJ) beginning
December 15. A 2010 hunting license must be
purchased prior to or in conjunction with the
purchase of a 2010 Special Coyote and Fox Permit.
Northern Bobwhite (Quail)
Northern bobwhite (quail) are native to the
southern half of New Jersey. In recent years, quail
populations have declined throughout their range
including New Jersey. In an effort to reverse this
decline in New Jersey, two quail hunting zones
were delineated north and south of Rt. 33 in
2005. The season dates and daily bag limits are
more liberal north of Rt. 33, where quail are only
found as a result of stocking by licensed semi-wild
or commercial operations. The season dates anddaily bag limits are more restrictive south of Rt. 33,
where the best remaining quail habitat exists and
where wild quail populations are known to occur.
See Small Game Hunting Seasons chart, page 61 for
season dates and bag limits. See exceptions below
for semi-wild and commercial preserve hunting.
Pheasant
Pheasant Zones were eliminated several years ago.
See Small Game Hunting Seasons chart, page 61 for
season dates and bag limits. See exceptions below
for Semi-wild and Commercial Preserve Hunting.
Pheasant and Quail Stamp Areas: Anyone aged
16 and over (except 16 year olds whose Youth
License remains valid until Dec. 31 in the year
they reach 16 years of age) hunting or possessing
pheasant or quail on the following designated
Wildlife Management Areas shall have in possession
a current and valid Pheasant and Quail
Stamp (Youth Hunting licenses include pheasant
and quail stamp): Assunpink, Berkshire Valley,
Millville (Bevan), Black River, Clinton, Colliers
Mills, Dix, Flatbrook, Glassboro, Greenwood
(including Pasadena-Howardsville), Heislerville,
Tuckahoe (MacNamara), Mad Horse, Manahawkin,
Manasquan River, Medford, Nantuxent, Peaslee,
Pequest, Port Republic, Stafford Forge, Walpack,
Whittingham and Winslow. A current and valid
Pheasant and Quail Stamp is also required at the
Delaware River National Recreation Area.
Pheasant and Quail Stocking
Fish and Wildlife anticipates pheasant releases to
be in excess of 50,000 birds, and plans to purchase
11,000 quail for release as follows:
Assunpink, Berkshire Valley, Black River,
Clinton, Colliers Mills, Dix, Flatbrook, Glassboro,
Millville (Bevan), Nantuxent, Pequest, Port
Republic, Tuckahoe (MacNamara), Walpack and
Whittingham WMAs will be stocked with pheasant
for the following dates:
• Nov. 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26 and 28
• Dec. 3, 5, 19, 22, 24, 29 and 31
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
and the Heislerville, Howardsville, Mad Horse,
Manahawkin, Manasquan, Medford, Stafford
Forge and Winslow WMAs will be stocked with
pheasant for the following dates:
• Nov. 7, 14, 21, 26 and 28
• Dec. 3, 5, 19, 22, 24, 29 and 31
Greenwood Forest and Peaslee WMAs will be
stocked with quail for the following dates:
• Nov. 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26 and 28
• Dec. 3, 5, 19, 22, 24, 29 and 31
Fish and Wildlife reminds sportsmen and sportswomen
that the stocking schedule is tentative
until approved by the Fish and Game Council in
early October. The schedule is subject to pheasant
production and may change due to emergency
weather conditions.
Rabbit and Hare
The rabbit and hare hunting season will begin the
last Saturday in September starting in 2009. The
earlier opening date allows for hunting opportunity
when rabbit populations are at their peak. See Small
Game Hunting Seasons chart, page 61 for season
dates and bag limits.
Raccoon and Opossum
See Small Game Hunting Seasons chart, page 61 for
season dates and bag limits.
Hours: Hunting may not begin until one hour
after sunset on the opening day of the season. On
all other days open during the season, the hours
of hunting are one hour after sunset to one hour
before sunrise. Sunday hunting is permitted only
between the hours of midnight (Saturday) and
one hour before sunrise (Sunday).
Hunting methods: Portable lights are permitted.
Fluorescent orange is encouraged but not required
on outer clothing while hunting raccoon and opossum.
A current and valid rifle permit is required
when possessing a .22 caliber rifles while hunting
raccoon and opossum when only .22 caliber shorts
are permitted.
Dog Training: Dogs may be trained during the
month of September and from March 2 to May 1,
inclusive. The training hours are one hour after
sunset to one hour before sunrise.
Ruffed Grouse
The Fish and Game Council has once again established
two ruffed grouse hunting zones delineated
by Rt. 70. North of Rt. 70 the season length will
remain as it was last year. South of Rt. 70 the season
length will be reduced by approximately three
weeks to reduce harvest mortality of the remaining
populations in the southern zone. The ruffed
grouse zones are identical to those for woodcock
and will provide for consistent regulations for
these species that are often hunted simultaneously.
See Small Game Hunting Seasons chart, page 61 for
season dates and bag limits.
Semi-Wild and Commercial
Preserve Hunting
Hunting for certain species of game birds is allowed
from Nov. 7 to March 15 on semi-wild and from
Sept. 1 through May 1 on commercial shooting
preserve lands that are properly licensed for the
taking of such species. These species of game may
be hunted on Sunday only on semi-wild or commercial
shooting preserve lands.
Youth hunters (in possession of a valid Youth
Hunting License and accompanied by a licensed,
non-shooting adult) will be permitted to hunt
pheasant, quail and/or chukar partridge on licensed
semi-wild preserves on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009—the
Youth Pheasant Hunting Day.
All game taken on semi-wild or commercial
preserves must be properly tagged before being
transported off the licensed property.
(continued from page 59)
A person may legally hunt on semi-wild or
commercial preserves for game birds during deer
seasons, but no shot larger than #4 fine may be used.
There are no daily bag or seasonal limits for pheasant,
quail, chukar or mallards taken on commercial
preserves. There are no daily bag limits for pheasant,
quail or chukar taken on semi-wild properties.
Seasonal harvests on semi-wild properties may
not exceed the number of birds to be stocked as
indicated on the semi-wild permit application.
Squirrel, Regular Season
See Small Game Hunting Seasons chart, page 61.
Squirrel, Muzzleloading Rifle Season
Persons holding a current and valid firearm license
and rifle permit may hunt for squirrels from sunrise
to ½ hour after sunset with a muzzleloading rifle
(.36 caliber or smaller loaded with a single projectile)
during the periods Sept. 26 to Nov. 6; and, Jan. 9
to Feb. 15. Firearm hunting is prohibited on Nov. 6
on those wildlife management areas designated
and Pheasant and Quail Stamp Areas. Hunting for
squirrel in the manner described above is restricted
to the areas described below:
• Those portions of Passaic, Mercer, Hunterdon,
Warren, Morris and Sussex counties lying within
a continuous line beginning at the intersection of
Rt. 513 and the New York State line; then south
along Rt. 513 to its intersection with Rt. 511; then
south along Rt. 511 to its intersection with Rt. 46;
then west along Rt. 46 to its intersection with Rt.
80; then west along Rt. 80 to its intersection with
Rt. 15; then north along Rt. 15 to its intersection
with the Morris-Sussex County line; then south
along the Morris-Sussex County line to the Warren
County line; then southwest along the Morris-
Warren County line to the Hunterdon County
line; then southeast along the Morris-Hunterdon
County line to the Somerset County line; then
south along the Somerset-Hunterdon County
line to its intersection with the Mercer County
line; then west and south along the Hunterdon
Mercer County line to its intersection with Rt. 31;
then south along Rt. 31 to its intersection with Rt.
546; then west along Rt. 546 to the Delaware River;
then north along the east bank of the Delaware
River to the New York state line; then east along
the New York state line to the point of beginning at
Lakeside; and in that portion of Salem, Gloucester,
Camden, Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean,
Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties
lying within a continuous line beginning at the
intersection of Rt. 295 and the Delaware River;
then east along Rt. 295 to its intersection with the
New Jersey Turnpike; then east along the New
Jersey Turnpike to its intersection with Rt. 40; then
east along Rt. 40 to its intersection with Rt. 47; then
north along Rt. 47 to its intersection with Rt. 536;
then east along Rt. 536 to its intersection with Rt.
206; then north along Rt. 206 to its intersectionwith the New Jersey Turnpike; then northeast
along the New Jersey Turnpike to its intersection
with Rt. 571; then southeast along Rt. 571 to its
intersection with the Garden State Parkway;
then south along the Garden State Parkway to
its intersection with Rt. 9 at Somers Point; then
south along Rt. 9 to its intersection with Rt. 83;
then west along Rt. 83 to its intersection with
Rt. 47; then north along Rt. 47 to its intersection
with Dennis Creek; then south along the west
bank of Dennis Creek to its intersection with
Delaware Bay; then northwest along the east
shore of Delaware Bay and the Delaware River
to the point of beginning.The 2009 fall turkey season consists of one six-day
hunting segment, N, from Monday, Oct. 26 through
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. Fall hunting hours are onehalf
hour before sunrise until one-half hour after
sunset. Turkey Hunting Areas 1–5, 8, 9, 11, 20–22
are open for fall hunting. Turkey Hunting Areas
6, 7, 10, 12 and 14–16 are closed to fall hunting.
• Bag Limit: One wild turkey of either sex per day
during the fall season regardless of the number
of permits the hunter holds.
• Dogs and artificial decoys may be used while
turkey hunting in the fall season, except the use
of electronically-operated decoys is prohibited.
All hunters are required to possess a calling device
while turkey hunting.
• The maximum group size while turkey hunting
is five hunters. Hunters may not attempt to chase
or drive turkeys for the purpose of putting them
in range of other hunters. However, hunters may
rush a flock of turkeys to cause the flock to scatter.
• No shot larger than #4 fine shot or smaller than
#7½ fine shot may be used for turkey hunting.
• Hunters may not use shotguns larger than
10-gauge or smaller than 20-gauge for turkey
hunting.
A trapping license is required and a Trapper
Education course must be passed. See page 8 for
license information.
• All traps set or used must bear a legible tag of
durable material with the name and address of the
person setting, using and maintaining the traps.
• A trap identification number issued by Fish
and Wildlife may be used in lieu of a name/
address tag. A photocopy of your current and
valid trapping license plus a daytime telephone
number will be required. Contact the Bureau
of Wildlife Management at (609) 292-6685 for
more information.
• No traps or trap stakes are to be set prior to times
indicated in this section.
• All traps must be checked and tended at least
once every 24 hours, preferably in the morning.
• No trap shall be permitted to remain set on any
property at the close of the trapping season.
• No person shall steal or attempt to take traps of
another, or remove a trapped animal without
permission of the trap owner.
• Any person (including a farmer) who traps a
coyote must notify a Fish and Wildlife Law
Enforcement office within 24 hours.
• Licensed trappers at least 18 years of age and in
possession of a valid rifle permit may carry a .22
caliber rifle and use only .22 caliber short rimfire
cartridges to kill legally trapped animals other
than muskrat. Firearms may not be loaded with
more than three rounds.
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