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

Youth Deer Hunting Days

• Youth Bow Hunt
  Saturday, September 22, 2018
• Youth Firearm Hunt
  Saturday, November 17, 2018

Who can hunt

Hunters with a valid youth hunting license. See Youth Licenses, License, Permits & Stamps.

• 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 provided on Deer Harvest Report Card (PDF).

• 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.

Alex Katyan

Alyssa Katyan arrowed this handsome 8-pointer at 20 yards from a ladder stand on her friends farm in Clinton Township. The deer was recovered 75 yards away. Alyssa is an accomplished hunter having previously harvested several deer. She also enjoys hunting game birds, including wild turkeys.

Waterfowl

Brian LaFay

An enjoyable Youth Waterfowl Hunt Day excursion was shared among (L to R) Logan Bukowski, Darren and Riley LaFay and Luke Bukowski.

Turkey

Youth Turkey Hunt Day

• Saturday, April 20, 2019

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, 2019. See Youth Licenses, License, Permits & Stamps. 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.

Chris Kling

Less than 18 hours after completing her Hunter Education course with a test score of 100%, 14-year-old Katrina Kling harvested her first turkey! The gobbler weighed in at 23 pounds.

Upland Bird

Youth Upland Bird Hunt Day

• Saturday, November 3, 2018

Youth hunters with a valid youth hunting license (see Youth Licenses, License, Permits & Stamps), 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 partridge on Saturday, November 3, 2018 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.

Jim Farinaccio

“It was a great time had by all” at the Youth Pheasant Hunt which included cooking breakfast and lunch in the woods “as my dad did with me” said Jim Farinaccio, volunteer hunting mentor. “I love watching all the kids hunt safely, and we made sure they did.”

Pheasant

Youth Pheasant Hunt

• November 3 and 5–9, 2018

This year’s Take a Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt will allow properly licensed hunters with a valid youth license (see Youth Licenses, License, Permits & Stamps) to hunt any of the 10 stocked Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) on Saturday, Nov. 3 and Monday–Friday, Nov. 5–9, 2018. 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 Saturday, Nov. 3 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 morning 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 the guided morning hunts. To register for a guided morning hunt, go to NJFishandWildlife.com/ythpheas_register.htm and select the wildlife management area where you wish to hunt. When registration for each site reaches capacity, that particular site will be removed from the online registration options. Select one of the remaining locations. Register early; spaces fill quickly!

Registrations are accepted from Tuesday Sept. 4 through Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Information pertaining to the pheasant hunt will be mailed on or around Oct. 16, 2018.

Selected Wildlife Management Areas for Youth Pheasant Hunting

WMA	Guided AM Nov. 3 only	Open 1 PM Nov. 3	Open All Day Nov. 3	Open All Day Nov. 5–9
Whittingham	•	•		•
Black River	•	•		•
Flatbrook			•	•
Clinton	•	•		•
Assunpink	•	•		•
Colliers Mills	•	•		•
Glassboro			•	•
Millville	•	•		•
Peaslee	•	•		•
Winslow	•	•		•

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 November 3, 2018 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 November 3 and 5–9, 2018 from 8 a.m. until sunset. No registration required.