Deer Season Archery Regulations

New Jersey Hunting

New Format for Deer Hunting Regulations!

Deer hunting regulations are now easier to read and understand. The nine Regulation Sets have been reformatted into two tables — one each for archery and firearm hunting.

Regulation Sets: groups of deer management zones with the same season length and bag limits still exist in the Game Code and are used by wildlife managers to develop deer management strategies.

Archery Deer Hunting by Season and Zone • 2020–21
Season	Dates	Zones**	Bag Limits	Notes
Fall Bow	Sept. 12–Oct. 2, 2020^a Oct. 3–30, 2020^b	2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47	5 antlerless and 1 antlered	a – First deer must be antlerless during this period (not required for Youth hunters) b – Either sex
		5, 19, 25, 42, 48	9 antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
		6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 36, 41, 49, 50, 51	unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken except for Zone 6)
	Oct. 3–30, 2020	21, 23, 24, 34*, 43, 45, 46	1 deer, either sex
		1, 3*, 4, 18, 22, 26	2 deer, 1 antlered and 1 antlerless
		30, 55, 63, 65	2 deer, 1 antlered and 1 antlerless
Youth Day Archery	Sept. 26, 2020	ALL Zones Listed Above	1 deer, either sex	Must be accompanied by licensed, non-hunting adult
Permit Bow	Oct. 31–Nov. 21, 2020	21, 23, 24, 34*, 43, 45, 46	1 deer, either sex	Antlered deer may be taken when the hunter possesses both an Antlered Buck Bow Permit and a valid zone-specific antlerless deer permit.
		1, 3*, 4, 18, 22, 26	2 deer, 1 antlered and 1 antlerless
		30, 55, 63*, 65	2 deer, only 1 may be antlered
	Oct. 31–Dec. 24, 26–31, 2020	2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47	5 antlerless and 1 antlered
		5, 19, 25, 42, 48	9 antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
		6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 36, 41, 49, 50, 51	unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken except for Zone 6)
Winter Bow	Jan. 1–31, 2021	21, 23, 24, 34*, 43, 45, 46	1 deer, either sex
		1, 3*, 4, 18, 22, 26	2 deer, 1 antlered and 1 antlerless
		30, 55, 63, 65	2 deer, 1 antlered and 1 antlerless
		2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47	5 antlerless and 1 antlered
		5, 19, 25, 42, 48	9 antlerless and 1 antlered
		6	unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered
	Jan. 1–Feb. 20, 2021	7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 36, 41, 49, 50, 51	unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
* Any antlered deer taken must have at least three antler points on one side of rack See Deer Hunting Season Special Areas Information for Special Areas deer regulations — Zones 37, 38, 39, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 61, 64, 66, 67, 68 and 70 NOTE: Archery deer hunting on Sunday is legal ONLY on WMAs and private property. Youth Day** — see Take A Kid Hunting for details.

Firearm Deer Hunting by Season and Zone • 2020–21
Season	Zones**	Dates	Bag Limits	Notes
Six-Day Firearm	ALL zones listed below	Dec. 7–12, 2020	2 antlered deer (only one buck at a time may be taken)	If 2 antlered deer are harvested, the opportunity to take an antlered deer during the Permit Shotgun Season is forfeited.
Youth Day Firearm	ALL zones listed below	Nov. 21, 2020	1 deer, either sex	Must be accompanied by a licensed, non-hunting adult
Permit Muzzleloader	21, 23, 24, 34*, 43, 45, 46	Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 19–24, 26–31, 2020	1 deer, either sex	Antlered deer may be taken only when the hunter possesses both an Antlered Buck Muzzleloader Permit and a valid zone-specific antlerless deer permit.
	1, 3*, 4, 18, 22, 26	Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 14, 15, 19–24, 26–31, 2020	2 deer; 1 antlered and 1 antlerless
	6, 30, 55, 63, 65	Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 14, 15, 19–24, 26–31, 2020; Jan. 1–9, 2021	2 deer
	2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47	Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 14, 15, 19–24, 26–31, 2020; Jan. 1–9, 2021	5 antlerless and 1 antlered
	5, 19, 25, 42, 48	Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 14, 15, 19–24, 26–31, 2020; Jan. 1–30, 2021	9 antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
	7, 8, 9*, 12, 17, 41	Antlerless only: Dec. 7–12, 2020 Either sex: Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 14, 15, 19–24, 26–31, 2020; Jan. 1–Feb. 13, 2021	unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
	10, 11, 13*, 14, 15, 36, 49, 50, 51	Antlerless only: Nov. 23–25, 27, and Dec. 7–12, 2020 Either sex: Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 14, 15, 19–24, 26–31, 2020; Jan. 1–Feb. 13, 2021	unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
Permit Shotgun	1, 3, 4, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 34, 43, 45, 46	Dec. 16–18, 2020	1 deer, either sex	Antlered deer may be taken only when the hunter possesses both an Antlered Buck Shotgun Permit and a valid zone-specific antlerless deer permit.
	6, 30, 55, 63, 65	Dec. 16–18, 2020	2 deer
	2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47	Dec. 16–18, 2020 and Jan. 9–16, 2021	5 antlerless and 1 antlered
	5, 19, 25, 42, 48	Dec. 16–18, 2020; Jan. 2–30, 2021	9 antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
	7, 8, 9*, 12, 17, 41	Antlerless only: Dec. 7–12, 2020 Either sex: Dec. 16–18, 2020; Jan. 2–Feb. 13, 2021	unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
	10, 11, 13*, 14, 15, 36, 49, 50, 51	Antlerless only: Nov. 23-25, 27 and Dec. 7–12, 2020 Either sex: Dec. 16–18, 2020; Jan. 2–Feb. 13, 2021	unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer at a time may be taken)
* Any antlered deer taken must have at least 3 antler points on one side of rack. See Deer Hunting Season Special Areas Information for Special Areas deer regulations — Zones 37, 38, 39, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 61, 64, 66, 67, 68 and 70 NOTE: Firearm deer hunting is not open on Sundays. Youth Day** — see Take A Kid Hunting for details.