Take a Kid Hunting

Youth Deer Hunting Days

Youth Bow Hunt
Saturday, September 22, 2012

Youth Firearm Hunt
Saturday, November 17, 2012

Take this great opportunity to introduce youth hunters to deer hunting!

Who can hunt:

Hunters with a valid youth hunting license. See Youth Licenses .

• The youth hunter MUST be under the direct supervision of a person who is at least 21 years old and who has a valid firearm or bow and arrow license corresponding to the season hunted. Direct supervision is defined as both the youth hunter and parent/guardian set up together at the same location, hunting as a unit, not hunting independently. The adult CANNOT hunt on this day. The adult may grunt, call or rattle for the youth. In addition to the youth, the adult accompanying the youth should wear the required hunter orange during the youth firearm deer hunt.

Bag limits

Youth may hunt statewide for one deer of either sex on each of the above dates.

• During the Youth Firearm Deer Hunt, youths may hunt either with a shotgun or muzzleloader. No bows.
• If the youth is hunting with a muzzleloader, both the youth and the adult must possess a valid rifle permit.
• Antler Point Restrictions and Earn-A-Buck requirements do NOT apply on these days for the youth hunter.
• These hunts are extensions of the Fall Bow and Six-day Firearm seasons; no special season deer permit is required. Youth hunters may still use a bow to harvest one antlered deer during the Fall Bow Season, and use an appropriate firearm to harvest two antlered deer during the Six-day Firearm Season.

Report Your Harvest

The youth hunter should complete all information requested on the Harvest Report Card .

• The card, or hand-made version, should include the youth hunting license number or Conservation ID number, sex of deer, number of antler points, date, zone, deer management unit, county and township from which the deer was taken, in order to have your information ready for when you report your harvest through the Automated Harvest Report System. Youth hunters do not need a harvest number during youth hunts or non-permit deer seasons.

For additional harvest reporting requirements, see Deer Hunting Regulations.

Youth Pheasant Hunt

November 3, 2012

The 2012 Take a Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt will allow properly licensed hunters with a valid youth license (see Youth Licenses ) to hunt on one of nine stocked Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) on Saturday morning, Nov. 3, 2012. In a cooperative effort between the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, volunteer hunting mentors with trained bird dogs will guide youth hunters on a pheasant hunt. This experience will increase the young hunters’ opportunity for harvesting a pheasant in a setting which encourages responsible and safe hunting practices.

All guided hunt participants must pre-register and be accompanied to the check-in by a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians are welcomed and encouraged to follow the hunters through the fields. All pre-registered hunters will receive an information packet. One session will be offered, starting at 7 a.m.

Only 50 youth hunters will be allowed on each WMA during each session. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of slots available, a random drawing will be held to select participants. To register, please send the application below to:

Take a Kid Hunting, NJ Div. of Fish and Wildlife, Northern Region Hunter Education, 26 Rt. 173 W, Hampton, NJ 08827. All entries must be postmarked by Oct. 10, 2012. Information will be mailed around Oct. 22, 2012.

Selected Wildlife Management Areas for the Youth Pheasant Hunt

Guided Morning—pre-registration required.

Open—afternoon: Any youth hunter with a valid youth hunting license under the direct supervision of a licensed, non-shooting adult (aged 21 or older), will be permitted to hunt on the listed wildlife management areas on Nov. 3, 2012 from 1 p.m. until sunset. No registration required.

Open—all day: Any youth hunter with a valid youth hunting license under the direct supervision of a New Jersey-licensed, non-shooting adult (aged 21 or older), will be permitted to hunt on the listed wildlife management areas on Nov. 3, 2012 from 8 a.m. until sunset. No registration required.

Youth Turkey Hunt Day

April 20, 2013

Youth hunters with a valid youth hunting license who have obtained a turkey permit may begin their spring turkey season on the special youth turkey hunting day, April 20, 2013. See Youth Licenses. Youth must be under the direct supervision of an adult 21 years or older who possesses a valid New Jersey hunting license. Adults may not hunt on this day.

Youth Upland Bird Hunt Day

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Youth hunters with a valid youth hunting license (see Youth Licenses), under the direct supervision of a New Jersey-licensed, non-hunting adult 21 years or older, will be permitted to hunt on licensed semi-wild hunting preserves. Youths may hunt for pheasant, quail and/or chukar on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012 from 8 a.m. to sunset. Take advantage of this great opportunity for hunters belonging to semi-wild preserves to ­introduce youth hunters to upland bird hunting without competition from adult hunters who may not hunt on this day.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

Youth hunters 15 years and under with a valid youth hunting license (see Youth Licenses) and under the direct supervision of a non-shooting New Jersey-licensed adult hunter (age 21 or older) will be permitted to hunt for waterfowl from ½ hour before sunrise to sunset on the following dates by zone:

North Zone: Oct. 6; Nov. 3

South Zone: Oct. 13; Nov. 10

Coastal Zone: Oct. 27; Nov. 3

See the New Jersey 2012–13 Migratory Bird Regulations for further details including written zone boundary descriptions and species bag limits. Non-toxic shot is required. An HIP number is required. See Migratory Bird Regulations for all waterfowl hunting requirements. Federal and state waterfowl stamps are not required on these youth days. Daily bag limits for ducks, Canada geese, brant, snow geese, coots, moorhens and gallinules will be the same as those allowed during the regular season. Adults may not hunt on this day.

Regulations in red are new this year.

Purple text indicates an important note.