Wildlife Management Area Regulations

The following are prohibited: alcoholic beverages, camping, cutting or damaging vegetation, dumping, fires, swimming and picnicking.

Regulations for use of wildlife management areas (WMAs) are established by the Division of Fish and Wildlife with penalties of not less than $50 nor more than $1,500. A second violation of any WMA regulation will result in a five-year loss of all sporting licenses and privileges.

Information on these regulations and permit applications may be obtained by writing to New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, MC 501-03, P.O. Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420, or NJFishandWildlife.com/wmaregs.htm.

Fish and Wildlife may revoke any permit or other authorization issued for violation or due cause.

WMA Update

Cox Hall Creek WMA is closed to hunting with the following exceptions: The eastern-most wooded portion of the WMA bounded by Bayshore Rd. to the east and the red trail to the west is open for hunting during winter bow season ONLY. All tidal marsh and the upland portion of the tract lying east of Cox Hall Creek are open for hunting during all seasons. A map illustrating these restrictions can be found at http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/pdf/wmamaps/cox_hall_creek.pdf.

Boat Ramp Maintenance Permit

Any vehicle used to transport or launch a vessel or water conveyance on the following WMAs must have affixed to the lower corner of the driver’s side rear window a boat ramp maintenance permit, or a photocopy of a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license. Be sure your Conservation ID number is clearly displayed; all other personal information may be blacked out for reasons of privacy. The boat ramp maintenance permit fee is $15, available from a license agent or at Fish and Wildlife’s Internet sales site, NJFishandWildlife.com/wmaregs.htm.

Persons 70 years and older are not required to obtain a boat ramp maintenance permit and need no license, but must affix to their window proof of age, such as a former license displaying your date of birth.

1. Round Valley Angler Access
2. Assunpink
3. Dennis Creek
4. Tuckahoe
5. Mad Horse Creek
6. Union Lake
7. Menantico Ponds
8. Prospertown Lake

Dog Training, Exercising and Hunting

A person may exercise or train dogs only in designated dog training areas from May 1 to Aug. 31, inclusive and only on the following select WMAs:

1. Assunpink
2. Black River
3. Clinton
4. Colliers Mills
5. Glassboro
6. Hainesville
7. Manasquan
8. Millville
9. Pequest
10. Salem River
11. Stafford Forge
12. Tuckahoe
13. Whittingham
14. Winslow

All dogs must be properly licensed. A person may exercise or train dogs on any WMA from Sept. 1 to April 30. There shall be no exercising or training of dogs on any WMA on Nov. 9, 2012, the Friday before the opening day of the regular small game season.

Additional regulations involve the release of game birds for training, the use of pigeons, the use of firearms, frozen game birds, the use of call back pens and the release of fox, raccoon, rabbit and hare. For more information call (609) 984-0547.

Field Trials

Permits for use of wildlife management areas for running of field trials may be granted by the Fish and Wildlife. Permits may be obtained by calling (609) 259-2132.

Higbee Beach

Higbee Beach WMA is closed to hunting from Sept. 1 to Dec. 9, 2012.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is allowed on designated WMAs only by permit from the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Apply online at www.NJ.WildlifeLicense.com. Horseback riding permits should be displayed on outer clothing while riding. For more information on horseback riding permits, call (609) 259-2132.

Hunting Regulations

Hunting with firearms is prohibited on Nov. 9, 2012 on those WMAs designated as Pheasant and Quail Stamp areas except in tidal marsh open to an ongoing waterfowl season. See Pheasants under Small Game Hunting Regulations.

For the purpose of hunting, it is legal to possess and use a .22 caliber rifle and .22 caliber rimfire short cartridge on WMAs only for hunting raccoon and opossum and dispatching trapped animals other than muskrat.

Rifles, including muzzleloading rifles, may not be used to hunt woodchucks on WMAs.

Motor Vehicles and Other Forms of Conveyance

No person shall operate an unregistered vehicle on any state WMA. All motor vehicles are restricted to established public roads and parking areas.

All motor boats must be properly registered and have all the required safety equipment. (See Outboard Motors, below.)

The use of dog sleds and dog carts, off road vehicles, ATVs, trail bikes, or snowmobiles is prohibited on all WMAs unless authorized by Fish and Wildlife.

Outboard Motors

Only electric motors are allowed on freshwater lakes and ponds owned by NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife areas with the exception of Union Lake where an outboard motor, not exceeding 9.9 hp, may be used. On Prospertown Lake, only manually operated boats and canoes are allowed.

All titled boats must also be registered. Any boat mechanically propelled, regardless of length, must be registered. All boats greater than 12 feet, regardless of propulsion means, must be titled and registered.

Restricted Hours

Wildlife management areas are closed from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. unless engaged in lawful hunting, fishing or trapping activities. Special permission may be granted for Fish and Wildlife-approved activities.

Target Practice

Only archery, shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun, muzzleloading rifle, .17 and .22 caliber rimfire rifle shooting is allowed in designated hunter training ranges according to regulations posted at the training area.

The following types of ranges are available on designated WMAs statewide:

• Shotgun Range: for use with clay birds and the patterning of fine shot;
• Archery Range: approved backstops at select ranges, no broadheads allowed;
• Muzzleloading Rifle and Shotgun Slug Range: for sighting in with shotgun slugs or buckshot, .17 or .22 caliber rimfire rifles and muzzleloaders; no other firearms allowed. See below for a list of ranges and requirements.

Waterfowl Blinds

No permanent waterfowl blinds, including pit blinds, shall be constructed, hunted from or used in any manner on any of the following WMAs:

1. Assunpink
2. Black River
3. Colliers Mills
4. Hainesville
5. Tuckahoe
6. Manahawkin
7. Stafford Forge
8. Whittingham
9. Beaver Swamp
10. Sedge Island
11. Salem River
12. Prospertown
13. Paulinskill

Any blind used in these designated areas must be portable and shall be completely removed at the end of the day. Blinds remaining in WMAs will be subject to confiscation and properly disposed of by Fish and Wildlife.

Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Ranges

The following information pertains to New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife facilities. Information on privately operated facilities is available at “Where To Shoot,” a site maintained by the National Shooting Sports Foundation at www.wheretoshoot.org

• All WMA regulations apply.
• Ranges are open 8 a.m. to sunset.
• At least one member of the shooting party must have a current, valid New Jersey hunting license in possession.
• Shotgun range: fine shot only. No buckshot or rifled slugs.
• Archery range: target or practice tips only (NO broadheads.)
• Muzzleloading rifle and shotgun range: muzzleloading firearms, shotguns with rifled slugs or buckshot and ­modern rimfire (both .17 and .22 caliber) rifles only.
• No handguns or centerfire rifles permitted.

NORTHERN REGION

Hunterdon County

Clinton WMA

Route 173W, Clinton

• Shotgun, Archery, Muzzleloader (100 yards)
• All target frames must measure a minimum 30 inches from its base to the bottom of the paper target held in the frame. Frames must be placed only on top of a target mound located at the 25, 50 and 100 yard lines. This minimum target height requirement will eliminate the risk of ricochet and ensure that all projectiles are collected in the berm behind the 100 yard target.
• Spinner type targets for .17 caliber and .22 caliber firearms MUST be placed directly at the base of the 25 yard berm so that all bullets are directed into the berm. These targets are not to be used at other yardage or target mound placements.

Morris County

Black River WMA

Route 513 (Dover-Chester Rd.), Chester

• Archery, open year-round.
• Shotgun: Closed weekends from the third Saturday in May through the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, as well as on Christmas and Easter. Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. during this summer period, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the rest of the year. Hunter education classes will continue at the range and are not affected by these new hours.

Sussex County

Flatbrook WMA

Route 615, Layton

• Shotgun, Archery, Muzzleloader (75 yards)

Warren County

Pequest WMA

Pequest Rd., Oxford

• Archery

CENTRAL REGION

Monmouth County

Assunpink WMA

Imlaystown-Hightstown Rd.,
Upper Freehold Twp.

• Archery
• Shotgun range is restricted to the use of non-toxic shot, no lead shot is allowed.

Turkey Swamp Park

Georgia Rd., Freehold Twp.

• Archery (Special regulations apply; call 732-842-4000.)

Ocean County

Colliers Mills WMA

Off Colliers Mills and Hawkins Rds.,

Jackson Twp.

• Archery, Muzzleloader (100 yards)
• Shotgun range is closed.

Stafford Forge WMA

Off Route 539, south of Warren Grove, Little Egg Harbor Twp.

• Shotgun, Archery, Muzzleloader (100 yards)

SOUTHERN REGION

Atlantic County

Makepeace Lake WMA

Elmwood-Weymouth Rd.,
Weymouth

• Shotgun, Archery, Muzzleloader (50 yards)

Gloucester County

Winslow WMA

Piney Hollow Rd., Monroe Twp.

• Archery
• Shotgun and muzzleloader ranges are closed.

Cape May County

Tuckahoe WMA

Off Tuckahoe Rd. (Rt. 631), Tuckahoe

• Archery
• Shotgun range is closed.

Cumberland County

Millville WMA

Ackley Rd. (Rt. 718), Millville

• Shotgun, Archery, Muzzleloader (100 yards)

Regulations in red are new this year.

Purple text indicates an important note.