Deer Hunting Regulations

Regulations in red are new this year.

Deer Hunting Regulations

• Legal Hunting Hours: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
• Harvest Report Requirement: To be legal, all deer harvested must be reported using NJ Fish & Wildlife’s Automated Harvest Report System at (855) 448-6865 or NJFishandWildlife.com/ahrs.htm. Hunters will be assigned a Confirmation Number which must be kept with the deer and its parts.

Deer Management Zone Boundaries

• Deer management zone (zone) boundary descriptions are available by visiting our website at dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/deer-management-zone-descriptions/. Review the Deer Hunting Zone Map for general zone borders and corresponding Regulation Set.
• For quicker results, use the Hunting & Trapping Explorer at NJFishandWildlife.com/hunt with simple instructions above the Explorer's map to determine the deer management zone (zone), county, township and deer management unit (unit) where you hunt. Write down all this information and keep it accessible while in the field for when you report your deer harvest.

Licenses and Permits

• See Licenses, Permits & Fees for details and Hunter Education requirements.
• Additional hunting licenses may NOT be purchased in order to harvest additional deer.
• Although hunters may purchase deer permits for multiple zones, they may purchase only one zone-specific ANTLERLESS permit per zone for each permit season (bow, shotgun, muzzleloader).
• Antlered Buck Permits may be used ONLY in a zone for which you possess an antlerless, zone-specific permit or DRS Multi-Zone Permit for the specified season. You may only buy one antlered buck permit per season.

Bag Limits

• For all seasons (except Six-day Firearm), properly licensed and permitted hunters are limited to taking one antlered buck per season, regardless of the number of antlerless, zone-specific permits purchased, when applicable. NOTE: if two antlered deer are taken during the Six-day Firearm Season, the Permit Shotgun buck stub is no longer valid.
• Bag limits for the Fall Bow and Winter Bow (both non-permit) seasons are as prescribed for each zone (see Archery Deer Hunting Seasons table in Deer Hunting Seasons) except that once a hunter has met the bag limit in a given regulation set, he or she may not harvest additional deer from any zone in that regulation set or in an identical or more restrictive (lesser bag limit) regulation set. However, the hunter may subsequently hunt in a zone with a more liberal (greater) antlerless bag limit as described in the regulations.

Firearms, Ammunition

• See the table above for Firearms, Bows and Ammunition Legal for Deer Hunting.
• While deer hunting with a shotgun, it is illegal to have in possession any ammunition not authorized for deer hunting.
• The use of centerfire and rimfire firearms for deer hunting is prohibited.
• When hunting during the overlapping firearms seasons for deer, and when in possession of the proper permits for the current seasons, hunters may carry the firearms legal for the current seasons. For example, when Six-day Firearm and Permit Muzzleloader seasons overlap, a hunter may be in possession of a shotgun and either a muzzleloading rifle or smoothbore muzzleloader.

Only one muzzleloading rifle or smoothbore muzzleloader may be in possession while deer hunting, but not both simultaneously.

Blinds and Tree Stands

• All firearm and archery deer hunters utilizing a ground blind when an archery and firearm deer season are open at the same time, must display 200 square inches of hunter orange atop the blind and visible from all sides or within five feet outside the blind and higher than the blind or at least three feet off the ground, whichever is higher. During these overlapping seasons, bowhunters in tree stands also should consider wearing hunter orange. In addition, firearm hunters must always use hunter orange on a ground blind, except while turkey and waterfowl hunting.
• A ground blind is defined as a temporary, man-made structure used for the purpose of concealing from sight a person who is hunting. A ground blind is not a naturally occurring feature that a hunter merely uses for concealment.
• To view the New Jersey State Park Service updated policy on stands and blinds, visit: NJParksandForests.org/stand-blind_policy.htm.

Decoys and Electronic Devices

• Persons may hunt with the aid of deer decoys statewide in those zones open for deer hunting only during the Fall Bow, Permit Bow and Winter Bow seasons. When carrying or moving deer decoys for the purpose of hunting, persons must wear a fluorescent hunter orange hat or outer garment consisting of at least 200 square inches of fluorescent hunter orange material, which shall be visible from all sides as currently required for firearm deer hunting.
• It is unlawful to hunt for deer with the aid of an electronic calling device or any device that casts a beam of light upon the deer.

Incidental Coyote/Fox Opportunity

• Properly licensed deer hunters may legally harvest coyotes or fox incidental to legal deer hunting during the Six-day Firearm, Permit Muzzleloader and Permit Shotgun seasons only if the coyote or fox is encountered before the hunter has taken the season bag limit of deer. Incidental hunting of coyote or fox while deer hunting may resume the following day, provided that the season remains open and the season bag limit of deer has not been reached.
• Only applicable projectiles used for deer hunting may be used to take coyote and fox while deer hunting in the seasons listed.
• Coyote MUST be reported using the AHR system; gray fox should also be reported. To report harvest, call 1 (855) 448-6865 or visit NJFishandWildlife.com/licensesalessite.htm with mobile device or computer.

I Harvested a Deer, Now What??

Congratulations on a successful hunt! The completion of any successful deer hunt requires three things:

• Filling out and attaching a Deer Transportation Tag to your harvest before moving the deer.
• Reporting your harvest through the Automated Harvest Report System and receiving a Confirmation Number.
• Recording your harvest on the green tag attached to your license or permit.

NOTE: If you don’t recover your deer or are unable to access the AHRS by the designated times on the day of harvest, call the nearest NJ Fish & Wildlife Law Enforcement office and leave a message (see Telephone Directory) Please leave your name, CID number, phone number, and a brief message explaining your situation. Then report your deer the next day. Your harvest is not legal until you receive a Confirmation Number from the AHRS.

Step 1: Complete Your Deer Transportation Tag

DO NOT MOVE THE DEER UNTIL you fill out a deer transportation tag and attach to deer!

To download a deer transportation tag, click here. Tags can be cut out, photocopied or you can create your own.

In zones where two deer may be taken at a time, each deer must have its own transportation tag with the following information:

A. Name

B. CID#

C. Date of Harvest

D. Season of Harvest

E. Deer Management Zone, County, Township, and Deer Management Unit

F. Confirmation # after reporting the harvest.

G. Type of Weapon Used

H. Antlered or Antlerless Category

I. If Antlered, record Right and Left Antler points

Attach the tag to the deer. You may now remove the deer from the field.

Step 2: Report Your Harvest

Report your harvest and receive a confirmation number…

Use the AHRS by visiting: NJFishandWildlife.com/ahrs.htm

You can use your smart phone or computer. You will need the last four digits of your SSN or your Driver License number to access your account.

OR

Call in your harvest in at: (855) I HUNT NJ or (855) 448-6865

Have your CID number ready and verify that they are reporting your deer on the correct tag.

Record your Confirmation Number on your green Antlerless/Buck Tag.

Keep these tags attached to your license/permit.

* Retain your Confirmation Number for as long as the deer or its parts are in your possession.

Step 3: Keep a Record of Your Harvest(s)

Throughout the seasons it is important to keep an annual record or log of deer harvested and corresponding confirmation numbers. Use the green tag attached to your license/permit. Do NOT separate the ”tag” from your license. For each harvest, record the information identified below including the confirmation number. Download a Supplemental Harvest Log in the event you fill the spaces on the tag attached to your license.

Be sure to keep a record of your harvests with you at all times when hunting.

NOTE: A hunter may be required to produce the head of the deer — or produce records relating to the location of the head such as the butcher or taxidermist who has possession of the deer's head — upon request by a Conservation Police Officer within 48 hours after a deer harvest is reported.

For Antlered Deer:

A. Fill in the ZONE

B. Fill in the DATE of harvest (If late recovery, use the date the deer was shot)

C. Fill in POINTS ON RIGHT SIDE AND LEFT SIDE if it’s a buck

D. If you are reporting the deer in the field, once completed, fill in the confirmation number.

For Antlerless Deer:

A. Fill in the ZONE

B. Fill in the DATE of harvest (If late recovery, use the date the deer was shot)

C. Fill in SEX OF DEER (Doe, Button Buck, Shed or Male deer with antlers less than 3 inches)

D. If you are reporting the deer in the field, once completed, fill in the confirmation number.

There is room for two deer on the antlerless tag. If additional deer are harvested, download and fill out the Supplemental Harvest Log.