Deer Hunting Seasons
Archery Deer Seasons 2023–24 |
||||||
Sunday deer hunting ONLY legal for Archery deer seasons and only on WMAs and private property. Hunting hours: half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset. NOTE: only ONE antlered buck per season per hunter is allowed. Special Area Zones 37, 38, 39, 53, 54, 61, 64, 66, 67, and 68: see Deer Special Areas Information for details. * Any antlered deer taken in zones marked with an asterisk must have at least 3 antler points on one side of rack. |
||||||
Season |
Regulation Set |
Zones |
Dates |
Bag Limits |
Additional Information |
|
Fall Bow |
7 |
8 | 7, 8, 9*, 10, 11, 12, 13*, 14, 15, 17, 36, 41, 49, 50, 51 |
Sept. 9–Sept. 29, 2023: Must take ONE Antlerless Deer FIRST before pursuing an Antlered Buck (Does not apply to Youth License Holders) Sept. 30–Oct. 27, 2023: First deer can be of either sex |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
Deer MUST be tagged immediately. All harvests must be reported by 8 p.m. on day of harvest. Deer must be reported prior to pursuing additional deer, except in zones where it is legal to take two deer at a time. |
6 |
5, 19, 25, 42, 48 |
9 antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
||||
5 |
2, 16, 27*, 28*, 29*, 31*, 35*, 47* |
5 antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
4 |
6 |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
3 |
30*, 55, 63*, 65 |
Sept. 30–Oct. 27, 2023 |
2 antlerless OR 1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
|||
2 |
1, 3*, 4, 18, 22, 26 |
1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
0 |
21, 23, 24, 34*, 43, 45, 46 |
1 deer only (may be either sex) |
||||
Youth Day Archery |
ALL |
ALL Zones Listed in Fall Bow above |
Sept. 23, 2023 |
1 deer only (may be either sex) |
Must be accompanied by licensed, non-hunting adult. Earn-A-Buck and Antler Point Restriction regulations DO NOT apply. (See Take a Kid Hunting for details.) |
|
Permit Bow |
8 |
10, 11, 13*, 14, 15, 36, 49, 50, 51 |
Oct. 28–Dec. 24, |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
To harvest an antlered deer, a Buck Permit - Bow is also required. Buck Permit is valid in any zone for which hunter has a zone-specific Archery Permit or DRS Multi-Zone Permit. Only 1 buck is permitted. Deer MUST be tagged immediately. All harvests must be reported by 7 p.m. on day of harvest. Deer must be reported prior to pursuing additional deer, except in zones where it is legal to take two deer at a time. |
|
7 |
7, 8, 9*, 12, 17, 41 |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
||||
6 |
5, 19, 25, 42, 48 |
9 antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
||||
5 |
2, 16, 27*, 28*, 29*, 31*, 35*, 47* |
5 antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
4 |
6 |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
3 |
30*, 55, 63*, 65 |
Oct. 28–Nov. 26, 2023 |
2 antlerless OR 1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
|||
2 |
1, 3*, 4, 18, 22, 26 |
1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
0 |
21, 23, 24, 34*, 43, 45, 46 |
Oct. 28–Nov. 18, 2023 |
1 deer only (can be either sex) |
|||
Winter Bow |
7 |
8 | 7, 8, 9*, 10, 11, 12, 13*, 14, 15, 17, 36, 41, 49, 50, 51 |
Jan. 1–Feb. 17, 2024 |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
Deer MUST be tagged immediately. All harvests must be reported by 7 p.m. on day of harvest. Deer must be reported prior to pursuing additional deer, except in zones where it is legal to take two deer at a time. |
6 |
5, 19, 25, 42, 48 |
Jan. 1–Jan. 31, 2024 |
9 antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
|||
5 |
2, 16, 27*, 28*, 29*, 31*, 35*, 47* |
5 antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
4 |
6 |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
3 |
30*, 55, 63*, 65 |
2 antlerless OR 1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
2 |
1, 3*, 4, 18, 22, 26 |
1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
||||
0 |
21, 23, 24, 34*, 43, 45, 46 |
1 deer only (can be either sex) |
Firearm Deer Seasons 2023–24 |
||||||
No Sunday Hunting for deer during any firearm season. Special Area Zones 37, 38, 39, 53, 54, 61, 64, 66, 67, and 68: see Deer Special Areas Information for details. * Any antlered deer taken in zones marked with an asterisk must have at least 3 antler points on one side of rack. |
||||||
Season |
Regulation Set |
Zones |
Dates |
Bag Limits |
Additional Information |
|
Youth Day Firearm |
ALL |
ALL Zones Listed Below |
Nov. 18, 2023 (See Take a Kid Hunting for details.) |
1 deer only (can be either sex) |
Must be accompanied by licensed/permitted, non-hunting adult. Antler Point Restriction regulation DOES NOT apply. (See Take a Kid Hunting for details.) |
|
Permit Muzzleloader |
8 |
10, 11, 13*, 14, 15, 36, 49, 50, 51 |
Antlerless Only: Nov. 20–22, 24 and Dec. 4–9, 2023 Either Sex: Nov. 27–28; Dec. 11, 12, 16–23, 26–30, 2023; Jan. 1–Feb. 10, 2024 |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
To harvest an antlered deer, a Buck Permit — Muzzleloader is also required. Buck Permit is valid in any zone for which hunter has a zone-specific Muzzleloader Permit. Only 1 buck is permitted. Deer MUST be tagged immediately and reported by 7 p.m. on day harvested. Any coyote harvested must be reported by 8 p.m. Reporting of gray fox harvests requested. Deer harvest must be reported prior to pursuing additional deer, except in zones where it is legal to take two deer at a time. |
|
7 |
7, 8, 9*, 12, 17, 41 |
Antlerless Only: Dec. 4–9, 2023 Either Sex: Nov. 27–28; Dec. 11, 12, 16–23, 26–30, 2023; Jan. 1–Feb. 10, 2024 |
||||
6 |
5, 19, 25, 42, 48 |
Nov. 27–28; Dec. 11, 12, 16–23, 26–30, 2023; Jan. 1–31, 2024 |
9 antlerless deer and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
|||
5 |
2, 16, 27*, 28*, 29*, 31*, 35*, 47* |
Nov. 27–28; Dec. 11, 12, 16–23, 26–30, 2023; Jan. 1–5, 2024 |
5 antlerless and 1 antlered |
|||
3 |
4 |
6, 30*, 55, 63*, 65 |
2 antlerless OR 1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
|||
2 |
1, 3*, 4, 18, 22, 26 |
Nov. 27–28; Dec. 11, 12, 16–23, 26–30, 2023 |
1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
|||
0 |
21, 23, 24, 34*, 43, 45, 46 |
Nov. 27–28; Dec. 16–23, 26–30, 2023 |
1 deer only (can be either sex) |
|||
Permit Shotgun |
8 |
10, 11, 13*, 14, 15, 36, 49, 50, 51 |
Antlerless Only: Nov. 20–22, 24 and Dec. 4–9, 2023 Either Sex: Dec. 13–15, 2023; Jan. 6–Feb. 10, 2024 |
Unlimited antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
To harvest an antlered deer, a Buck Permit — Shotgun is also required. Buck Permit is valid in any zone for which hunter has a zone-specific Shotgun Permit. Only 1 buck is permitted, see exception below. Note: Shotgun Buck Permit becomes VOID if 2 antlered deer were harvested during Six-day Firearm Season. Deer MUST be tagged immediately and reported by 7 p.m. on day harvested. Any coyote harvested must be reported by 8 p.m. Reporting of gray fox harvests requested. Deer harvest must be reported prior to pursuing additional deer, except in zones where it is legal to take two deer at a time. |
|
7 |
7, 8, 9*, 12, 17, 41 |
Antlerless Only: Dec. 4–9, 2023 Either Sex: Dec. 13–15, 2023; Jan. 6–Feb. 10, 2024 |
||||
6 |
5, 19, 25, 42, 48 |
Dec. 13–15, 2023; Jan. 6–31, 2024 |
9 antlerless and 1 antlered (2 deer may be taken at a time) |
|||
5 |
2, 16, 27*, 28*, 29*, 31*, 35*, 47* |
Dec. 13–15, 2023; Jan 13–20, 2024 |
5 antlerless and 1 antlered |
|||
3 |
4 |
6, 30*, 55, 63*, 65 |
Dec. 13–15, 2023 |
2 antlerless OR 1 antlerless and 1 antlered |
||
0 |
2 |
1, 3*, 4, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 34*, 43, 45, 46 |
1 deer only (can be either sex) |
|||
Six-day Firearm |
ALL |
ALL zones listed above |
Dec. 4–9, 2023 |
2 antlered deer Only 1 buck at a time may be taken. Once harvest of first antlered deer is reported, the hunter may pursue a second antlered deer. |
NOTE: If 2 bucks are harvested, the buck bag limit for the Permit Shotgun Season becomes ZERO. Deer MUST be tagged immediately and reported by 7 p.m. on day harvested. Any coyote harvested must be reported by 8 p.m. Reporting of gray fox harvests requested. |
For the detailed deer management zone boundary descriptions, go to our website at dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/deer-management-zone-descriptions/
NOTE: Map is for reference only. Use a county map while following zone boundary descriptions, see Hunting & Trapping Explorer at NJFishandWildlife.com/hunt.
