Take this great opportunity to introduce youth hunters to hunting!

All youth hunters must have a valid youth hunting license. See Youth Licenses, Licenses, Permits, & Stamps.

• Supervision: 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 the adult mentoring hunter set up together at the same location, hunting as a unit, not hunting independently. The adult does not need a zone or area permit to supervise, only their valid license, CANNOT hunt on any youth days but may call for the youth. 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 Deer Hunting

See table below.

Erich Geiger

After passing on a doe, then readying to shoot a spike, this beautiful 9-pointer stepped into range. Hunter Geiger, 12, of Byram, on a father-son hunt from a ground blind in DMZ 7, made a clean shot, downing the buck in 30 yards. High-fives, hugs and tears of pride and joy followed. His dad Erich said, “When you watch your kids catch their first fish or take their first deer, it’s even better than doing it yourself.”

Youth Waterfowl Hunting

See below.

Edward Thurman

Natalie Raines proudly displaying a hooded merganser after an enjoyable hunt in the Coastal Zone.

Youth Turkey Hunting

See below.

Mike Amico

With great patience and straight shooting, Ryan Wright, 16 of Ocean County, used a 12-gauge shotgun to harvest his first gobbler called in by Christina Krajscovics.

WMA Youth Pheasant Hunt Days

All youth hunters must have a valid youth hunting license. See Youth Licenses,  Licenses, Permits, & Stamps.

• Oct. 31 and Nov. 2–6, 2020 Rain or Shine!

This year’s Take a Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt will allow properly licensed and supervised youth hunters (see table, below) to hunt any of the 10 stocked Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) on Saturday, Oct. 31 and Monday–Friday, Nov. 2–6.

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, Oct. 31 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 who 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.

A limited number of youth hunters will be allowed on each WMA during the guided morning hunts. To register, go to NJFishandWildlife.com/ythpheas_register.htm and select the wildlife management area where you wish to hunt. For each WMA, when registration reaches capacity, that area disappears from the online registration options. Select one of the remaining locations. Priority will be given to first time participants. Register early; spaces fill quickly!

Online registration for the Oct. 31 guided youth hunt opens Sept. 8 and closes Oct. 16. No late registrations will be accepted. Pheasant hunt information packets will be mailed to registered youth hunters on or around Oct. 19.

Youth Pheasant Hunting

See table, above.

Keith Griglak/NJ Div. Fish and Wildlife

Proud father and son enjoying the Take a Kid Pheasant Hunting program at Black River WMA.

Selected Wildlife Management Areas for Youth Pheasant Hunting

WMA	Guided AM Oct. 31 only	Open 1 PM Oct. 31	Open All Day Oct. 31	Open All Day Nov. 2–6
Whittingham	•	•		•
Black River	•	•		•
Flatbrook			•	•
Clinton	•	•		•
Assunpink	•	•		•
Colliers Mills	•	•		•
Glassboro			•	•
Millville	•	•		•
Peaslee	•	•		•
Winslow	•	•		•

Guided Morning—pre-registration required.

Open—afternoon: Any properly licensed and supervised youth hunter (see Who can hunt? top of table, above) will be permitted to hunt on the listed wildlife management areas on October 31 from 1 p.m. until sunset. No registration required.

Open—all day: Any properly licensed and supervised youth hunter (see Who can hunt? top of table, above) will be permitted to hunt on the listed wildlife management areas on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2 – 6 from 8 a.m. until sunset. No registration required.

Semi-wild Preserves Upland Bird Youth Hunt Day

All youth hunters must have a valid youth hunting license. See Youth Licenses, Licenses, Permits, & Stamps.

• Saturday, October 31, 2020

Properly licensed and supervised youth hunters (see Who can hunt? top of table, above) are permitted to hunt on licensed semi-wild hunting preserves for pheasant, quail and/or partridge on Saturday, October 31 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.