General Hunting Regulations

Regulations in red are new this year.

­­Safety Zone Awareness: Protecting Your Hunting Privilege

New Jersey hunters enjoy many types of hunting, numerous days afield and generous bag limits. But development and other human encroachment on the forests and fields of the Garden State has changed both wildlife habitat and land suitable for hunting, such that SAFETY ZONE awareness is even more critical for hunters.

What is a SAFETY ZONE?

• The firearm SAFETY ZONE is the area within 450 feet of a building or school playground, even if not occupied. For bowhunters, the SAFETY ZONE around buildings is 150 feet but remains 450 feet from a school playground. See Safety Zones section below.
• The SAFETY ZONE is the place where you, the hunter or trapper, cannot carry a loaded firearm or nocked arrow unless you have written permission in hand.
• The SAFETY ZONE was established by legislation in 1946 as an area to place some physical distance, a buffer, between hunters and homeowners.
• The SAFETY ZONE could be land where there is suitable wildlife ­habitat for adaptable species, like the white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit and Canada goose.
• The SAFETY ZONE is not a magic shield and cannot stop a misdirected projectile from entering the area around a home.

What can you do to heighten your SAFETY ZONE awareness?

1. Post SAFETY ZONE signs.
2. Talk with landowners.
3. Scout hunting property annually to be aware of new construction or other changes.
4. Hunt SMART and remind your hunting partners to Hunt SMART.
5. Know the law. Know the land.

Remember, failure to hunt safely and responsibly is inexcusable. Always be a responsible hunter. Always be aware of your surroundings, the target and what may lie beyond the target. The principles of good conduct learned at your hunter education course are called into practice every time you hunt.

Take special care hunting on “high visibility” property, habitat where our adaptable wildlife species—especially white-tailed deer—are ­flourishing. Here, hunter conduct will be watched closely; the image we portray can have a great impact on the tolerance for our sport. Hunting these special areas carries added responsibility for you, as a hunter, to ­exercise restraint and make superior judgment decisions. See Hunt SMART card.

Archery Equipment

“Bow” means any long bow, recurve bow, compound bow or crossbow capable of firing a single projectile only. Hand-held release devices are permitted. Air bows are not legal for hunting.

All bows must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds at the archer’s draw length, except compounds, which must have a minimum peak draw weight of 35 pounds and crossbows which must have a minimum draw weight of 75 pounds. Crossbows must have a minimum stock length of 25 inches.

Crossbows are legal for bowfishing except for Greenwood Lake. Crossbows are permitted for hunting migratory birds. See below for restrictions when taking game birds in flight.

All arrows used for hunting deer, turkey, coyote, fox or woodchuck must be fitted with an edged head of well-sharpened metal and a minimum width of ¾ inches.

New Jersey does not regulate arrow/bolt length or weight, broadhead cutting edge length or bow sight magnification.

Arrows fitted with heads other than specified for deer, turkey, coyote, fox or woodchuck may be carried in the woods and fields during the small game season or other seasons which overlap with the bow and arrow deer season except that for taking game birds in flight, arrows equipped with an edged head are prohibited. Also, flu flu arrows are required for taking game birds in flight because the arrow is designed to fly only a short distance. For the purpose of discharging a cocked crossbow, hunters may carry a judo point, target point or blunt. Canada geese and turkeys which are not in flight may be taken with standard fletched arrows and an edged head as described above.

Archery Hunting

Sunday bowhunting for deer is legal only on private land and state wildlife management areas.

See Safety Zones section below.

It is unlawful to:

• Use or possess a poison- or drug-containing arrow, dart or device or one with an explosive tip.
• Use an edged head for taking game birds in flight.
• Use a bow one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise during any hunting season.
• Discharge a bow from any vehicle, including ATVs, moving or stationary.
• Discharge a bow on or across a highway or road.
• Have both a bow and a firearm in possession or under control while hunting.
• Transport a cocked crossbow in, or on, a motor vehicle or ATV.
• Cast or project a visible beam or spot onto a game animal.

Baiting

No person shall hunt, shoot or attempt to take any game species from a tree stand or in a structure within 300 feet of a baited area except for deer. Hunters targeting deer while elevated in a standing tree or in a structure of any kind may be within any distance of a baited area. A baited area means where agricultural products, salt or edible lures are placed for the purpose of enticing animals. (NJSA 23:4-24 et seq.)

Growing crops and unharvested crops are not considered baiting nor feeding game birds or game animals.

On national wildlife refuges and national recreation areas, no person shall distribute bait and/or hunt over bait.

Concealing Wildlife Identity

The removal of the skin or feathers or mutilation of any wild bird or mammal in the woods or fields for the purpose of concealing sex or identity is illegal.

Deer Carcass Ban

• Hunters are banned from bringing a whole carcass from any member of the Cervid family such as deer, elk, moose, and caribou (reindeer) into New Jersey from ANY other state or country.
• Hunters are banned from bringing a nontaxidermied head of any member of the Cervid family harvested into New Jersey from ANY other state or country.
• ONLY boned-out meat, cleaned skullcaps and hides, shed antlers, and clean upper canine teeth of any member of the Cervid family may be brought into New Jersey. See Chronic Wasting Disease information.

Deer Lures Ban

No cervid-derived urine or glandular secretion lures may be sold, possessed or used. Synthetic lures and natural lures derived from species other than cervids are permitted. See Chronic Wasting Disease information.

Dogs, Hunting and Training

Allowing dogs to run at large is prohibited. Persons may train dogs without firearms in daylight at any time except during any open firearm deer season.

No person shall train a dog for hunting raccoon or opossum on WMAs other than during the periods of Sept. 1 to Oct. 1 and from Mar. 1 to May 1. Dog training hours shall be one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.

It is illegal to use dogs to pursue or run deer or to track wounded deer. However, a hunter may use the services of a dog handler in possession of a valid NJDEP Fish & Wildlife-issued Tracking Dog Permit with a certified tracking dog for the search and recovery of deer lost during any deer hunting season. See Tracking Dog Permits, Certification section in License Information for certification requirements. Find a dog tracker here: dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/trackingdogpermittees.pdf

Delaware River, Hunting

Hunting on the Delaware River is restricted by state boundaries. A valid hunting license and any appropriate permit/stamp is required for your location.

Drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Drones or unmanned aircraft are prohibited for the purposes of hunting or trapping and may not be used to harass, scout, drive, track, retrieve or rally wildlife.

Falconry

No person shall use a raptor for hunting without a falconry permit and a valid hunting license. No person under 14 years of age may hunt by means of a raptor. Hunting migratory birds with raptors on Sunday is prohibited.

Falconry permits will be issued only to persons who pass a comprehensive examination and who can provide proper facilities for housing a raptor.

Beginning falconers must be sponsored by an experienced falconer.

No person shall possess a firearm while hunting with raptors.

For additional information call (908) 735-6938.

Firearms and Missiles

For the purpose of hunting in New Jersey, firearms refer to a shotgun, muzzleloader (rifled or smooth- bore), air gun and modern rifle. See sections on specific game animals for permitted firearms and ammunition.

It is unlawful to:

• Possess or use silencer or noise suppressor on any firearm (NJSA 2C:39-1 g.)
• Have both a firearm and bow in possession or under control while hunting.
• Possess or discharge a loaded firearm from in, or on, any vehicle, moving or stationary, including ATVs. Such possession is considered proof of pursuing or taking wildlife.
• Transport an uncased firearm in or on a motor vehicle or ATV.
• Discharge a firearm on or across a highway or road.
• Cast or project a visible beam or spot onto a game animal.
• Hunt for or shoot any wildlife by aid of a light, except when hunting raccoon/opossum or when hunting coyote/fox during the Coyote–Fox Special Permit Season.
• Hunt or shoot with the aid of a light attached to or carried in a vehicle.
• Use “smart" rifles or guns equipped with any target tracking system, any electronically-controlled, electronically-assisted or computer-linked trigger or a ballistics computer.
• Be in the woods or fields with a firearm except during prescribed hunting seasons.
• Possess in the woods or fields shot larger than #4 fine shot except for hunting deer, waterfowl, woodchuck (farmers only) and coyote/fox during the Coyote–Fox Special Permit Season. This shall not apply to the lawful use of ammunition for air guns; see Air Guns, below.
• Use rimfire or centerfire rifles to hunt deer.
• Use a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells at one time or that may be fired more than three times without reloading except for during the September Canada Goose Season (see Migratory Bird Regulations) and during a Light Goose Conservation Order season, if any.

Air Guns

“Air gun” means any shoulder-mounted firearm which by the force of a spring, air or other non-ignited compressed gas expels a missile or projectile and has a rifled or smooth barrel, using ammunition no smaller than .177 caliber and no larger than .22 caliber producing projectile velocities of not less than 600 feet per second measured at the muzzle. Title 2C:39-1 f classifies air guns as a firearm. Air gun BBs are not legal for hunting. Air guns are now legal for taking cottontail rabbit, hare and gray squirrel. A Rifle Permit is not required.

IMPORTANT: See Firearms and Missiles, above, for the law regarding silencing mechanisms that also apply to air guns.

Muzzleloaders

It is unlawful to use smokeless powder in a muzzleloader while hunting. Only black powder or black powder equivalents, such as Pyrodex and Triple Se7en, may be used to hunt with a muzzleloading firearm.

Properly licensed and permitted hunters 10 years and older may hunt with a muzzleloading rifle. A valid Rifle Permit must be possessed while hunting with a muzzleloading rifle. Permitted action types include percussion, flintlock and inline. Electronic ignitions are not legal. For muzzleloader barrel types and legal hunting ammunition, see regulations for each game species.

It is unlawful to hunt with a muzzleloading rifle on WMAs except when hunting deer, during the Coyote–Fox Special Permit Season or Muzzleloader Squirrel Season.

Rifles, Modern

A valid Rifle Permit must be in possession while hunting with a modern rifle.

Some modern rifles are allowed when hunting certain wildlife. See Firearms, Bows, and Ammo for Small Game Hunting table in Small Game Hunting. NO rifle woodchuck hunting on wildlife management areas or state parks, forests and recreation areas. Small game hunting with centerfire rifles is limited to not larger than .25 caliber for coyote and fox and .25 caliber or larger for woodchuck. See Small Game Hunting.

A modern rifle magazine need not be pinned (plugged) but may be loaded with no more than three cartridges. Rife permit holders of all ages may hunt with all rifle types as allowed by New Jersey laws.

Shotguns

Shotguns larger than 10-gauge are prohibited for hunting. Shotguns may not be capable of holding more than three shells except for September Canada goose hunting and during the Spring Light Goose Conservation Order (see Migratory Bird Regulations). For information on legal shot sizes, see regulations for each game species to be hunted.

Hunter Harassment

It is illegal to obstruct or attempt to obstruct or annoy a person lawfully taking wildlife as per N.J.S.A. 23:7A-1 et seq. This includes making loud noises or gestures designed to disturb, alarm, drive, attract or affect the behavior of wildlife.

Hunter Orange

Firearm hunters must wear a cap made of solid daylight fluorescent orange or an outer garment containing at least 200 square inches of fluorescent orange material visible from all sides at all times while engaged in hunting. A camo-orange hat alone is not adequate. This applies to all persons while hunting with a firearm for deer, rabbit, hare, squirrel, coyote, fox, railbirds and game birds including while in a tree stand. See exceptions below along with ground blind hunting hunter orange requirements.

Wearing a hunter orange hat is mandatory when firearm hunting for small game on wildlife management areas stocked with pheasant or quail. See list of stocked WMAs in Upland Game Birds.

Ground blind hunter orange display: All firearm and archery deer hunters utilizing a ground blind when a firearm deer season is open 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. Whenever archery and firearms seasons occur at the same time, bowhunters in tree stands also should consider wearing hunter orange.

Exceptions: The hunter orange law does not apply to waterfowl, crow, wild turkey, coyote/fox (during the special permit season) or woodchuck, nor bowhunters except a bowhunter using a deer decoy must wear hunter orange, as above, while transporting a decoy into or out of the woods. During the Six-day Firearm Deer Season, it is recommended that bowhunters wear hunter orange.

National Wildlife Refuges and Recreation Areas

Specifically prohibited:

• distributing and/or hunting over bait
• permanent tree stands or screw-in steps
• possession of a loaded firearm while on any publicly traveled roadway within the area.
• trapping (Delaware Water Gap NRA)
• Sunday hunting.

Property Damage

Do not hunt in unharvested crops unless first obtaining permission from the owner. Anyone causing damage to cultivated crops orchards, fences, buildings or livestock may be arrested. Violators are liable for a fine up to $2,000 and restitution to the property owner in addition to the loss of hunting privileges for five years.

Safety Zones

No firearm hunter or trapper may hunt or carry a loaded firearm within 450 feet of a school playground or any building (even if unoccupied) without written permission, in possession, from the landowner or lessee.

No bowhunter may hunt or carry a nocked arrow within 450 feet of a school playground, or within 150 of a building (even if unoccupied) without written permission, in possession. from the landowner or lessee. Persons authorized to bow hunt within 150 feet of a building must hunt from an elevated position to shoot down toward the ground.

Note: persons authorized to hunt or trap with a firearm within 450 feet or with a bow within 150 feet of a building must be in possession of that written permission while hunting or trapping. Shooting into a safety zone is prohibited. (See Safety Zone Awareness section above for diagram and safety zone explanation.)

Stands and Blinds on State Parks, Forests

The State Park Service has modified its policy on the use of hunting tree stands and ground blinds on state parks, forests and recreation areas where hunting is allowed. To view the updated policy, visit the State Park Service website at NJParksandForests.org/stand-blind_policy.htm. See Public Deer Hunting Land and Deer Special Areas Information for more information.

Sunday Hunting

No person may hunt with firearms or carry a gun in the woods or fields or on the waters on Sunday except on semi-wild and commercial shooting preserve lands for the purpose of shooting stocked game or when using a .22 rifle for dispatching trapped animals.

Sunday bowhunting for deer is legal only on state wildlife management areas and private property.

Persons are allowed to hunt raccoon or opossum on Sunday mornings only between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and one hour before sunrise during the prescribed season.

Trespass Law

Hunters and trappers must have permission (oral or written) from the landowner or lessee prior to entering either posted lands or agricultural lands (which are not required to be posted).

Hunters must obtain permission to enter posted land and agricultural land to recover deer. Hunters and trappers may not enter unposted land after having been forbidden to trespass by the owner, lessee or occupant either by verbal notice or when the land has been conspicuously posted with intervisible signs displayed not fewer than ten to a mile along the exterior boundaries and at all roads, trails and rights-of-way entering such land.

If a hunter or trapper is charged with trespass, they must provide documentation of written permission in court for their defense. See Hunt/Trap SMART Courtesy Card.

Wanton Waste of Game

It is unlawful for any hunter who kills or wounds any white-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, quail, partridge or waterfowl to refuse or neglect to make a reasonable effort to retrieve and lawfully take into possession that animal. It is unlawful for any hunter to harvest any game animal and remove from the carcass the head, hide or antlers and leave the edible portions of the carcass and meat to waste except for a furbearer, crow or woodchuck. See Edible Portions Guide in Deer Hunting Regulations, Small Game Hunting, Upland Game Birds and Migratory Bird Regulations.

It is unlawful for any person to dispose of a game mammal, game bird or wildlife carcass or its parts along or upon a public right-of-way or road or on public or private property without the permission of the owner or tenant or on any wildlife management area or state park. Make every effort to retrieve your harvested game. Entrails may be left discreetly in the field or bagged and properly disposed of in your household trash. Consume all edible portions.

Wildlife, Possession, Sale

No person shall have in possession a deer, migratory game bird or turkey that they did not kill unless it has a label bearing the name, address, phone number, CID and permit numbers of the person who killed the deer, migratory game bird or turkey.

Parts of deer possessed, other than shed antlers, must be from lawfully harvested deer. Proof of lawful harvest (Confirmation Number or seal) should be retained for verification. Road-killed deer with a permit are intended only for consumption; antler possession from these deer is not legal.

It is illegal to capture, kill, injure or have in possession any wild bird other than a game bird. The sale of wild birds or game animals or parts is prohibited except as described in N.J.S.A. 23:4-27. For more specific information, refer to our website, NJFishandWildlife.com. No one may rob a bird’s nest.

All nongame mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians are protected. Penalties for taking these species range from $250–$5,000.

The sale of wild birds and game animals or parts is prohibited in New Jersey with the following exceptions: legally trapped furbearers may be sold plus the sale of white-tailed deer hides, tails and the lower portion of the legs is legal. For questions, contact a regional NJ Fish & Wildlife law enforcement office (see contact information in Law Enforcement and Telephone Directory).

Bobcat pelts from animals legally harvested in other states may be possessed or sold provided a CITES tag from the state of harvest is attached. Fishers legally harvested in other states may be possessed or sold.

Wildlife, Protected

There is no open season for wild bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, bobcat, mourning dove, sandhill crane, king rail or fisher. For more information about bobcat (including incidentally trapped) and fisher, see Trapping Regulations.

See also Wildlife, Possession and Sales, above.

Youth Hunters

A youth hunter is the possessor of a youth hunting license who is at least age 10. Youth licenses are free to youths ages 10–16 upon completion of a hunter or trapper education course. Youth hunters receive a course completion card at the course. See Hunter and Trapper Education Requirements section in License Information; Youth Licenses section in Licenses, Permits & Fees. Visit the Take a Kid Hunting section for information about special youth hunt days.

Youth hunter status continues until Dec. 31 of the year in which the youth turns 16. Youth hunters age 10 through 13 MUST hunt 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 means both the youth hunter and parent/guardian set up together at the same location, hunting as a unit, not hunting independently. See also Youth Licenses section in Licenses, Permits & Fees.