Migratory Bird Regulations

Regulations in red are new this year.

Major Changes for the 2023–24 Season

• The Canada goose bag limit is increased to 3 birds in the North and South Zones. The bag limit remains at 2 Canada geese in the Coastal Zone.
• The mallard bag limit is increased to 4 birds (no more than 2 hens).
• The brant bag limit is reduced to 1 bird. Hunters should carefully check season dates for brant while duck hunting.
• Hooded mergansers remain part of the aggregate bag limit of 5 mergansers.
• Sea ducks can only be hunted when the regular duck season is open in each zone and are included with the bag limit of 6 ducks.

Waterfowl Stamps

Both the New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp Certification and Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp) are required for all waterfowl hunters 16 years and older and must be signed in ink. New Jersey Stamp Certifications are available from license agents and from the Licenses and Permits button on NJ Fish & Wildlife’s website. Federal stamps are available from some U.S. post offices and online at www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp/buy-duck-stamp.php.

Harvest Information Program (HIP)

All hunters, including Apprentice License holders, must obtain a HIP certification before hunting ducks, geese, brant, coot, woodcock, rails, snipe or gallinules. Hunters may purchase a HIP certification from a License Agent or Online at NJFishandWildlife.com/licensesalessite.htm. Both methods allow hunters to go hunting immediately after registering.

HIP certification should be carried in the hunter’s license holder and are valid from Sept. 1 to April 15 the following year. Information collected for HIP is confidential and used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for conducting migratory bird harvest surveys.

Migratory Bird Zones

All migratory bird zones are described in detail at dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/migratory-bird-hunting-zones-and-closure-areas/

Special Sea Duck Area

Waters of the Atlantic Ocean seaward from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Demarcation Lines (jetty and inlet mouths). For more detailed information see: njdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bb6f4b9488d94933bbce24b0fc800760. To aid in safety and to conserve birds, crippled birds may be shot from craft under power in the Special Sea Duck Area only.

Special Winter Canada Goose Season Hunting Areas

The two hatched areas are open to hunting. Visit njdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4bc7b1944d9f46239c6f926a3c780048 for detailed Special Winter Canada Goose Season hunting areas and all migratory bird hunting zone boundaries.

Summary of Federal Regulations

The following is a synopsis of Federal Regulations that pertain to the hunting of migratory game birds. More information can be found at: dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/waterfowl_federal_regs.pdf or by calling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Office at (908) 787-1321.

No persons shall take migratory game birds:

• By the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area, where a person knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited. Baiting means the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them. Baited area means any area on which salt, grain, or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered, if that salt, grain, or other feed could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them. Any such area will remain a baited area for ten days following the complete removal of all such salt, grain, or other feed.
• With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance;
• With a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells. Exceptions: In New Jersey, shotguns capable of holding no more than 7 shells are permitted during the September Canada goose season and the Light Goose Conservation Order.
• From or by means, aid, or use of a sinkbox or any other type of low floating device, having a depression affording the hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water;
• From or by means, aid, or use of any motor vehicle, motor-driven land conveyance, or aircraft of any kind, except that paraplegics and persons missing one or both legs may take from any stationary motor vehicle or stationary motor-driven land conveyance;
• From or by means of any motorboat or other craft having a motor attached, or any sailboat, unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or the sails furled, and its progress there from has ceased. Exception: crippled birds may be shot from craft under power in the Special Sea Duck Area.
• By the use or aid of live birds as decoys; although not limited to, it shall be a violation of this paragraph for any person to take migratory waterfowl on an area where tame or captive live ducks or geese are present unless such birds are and have been for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to such taking, confined within an enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such birds from the sight of wild migratory waterfowl;
• By the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds. Exceptions: In New Jersey, hunters can use electronic calls during: crow season, September Canada goose season and the Light Goose Conservation Order.
• By means or aid of any motor driven land, water, or air conveyance, or any sailboat used for the purpose of or resulting in the concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up of any migratory bird.

Tagging requirement—No person shall put or leave any migratory game birds at any place (other than at his personal abode), or in the custody of another person for picking, cleaning, processing, shipping, transportation, or storage (including temporary storage), or for the purpose of having taxidermy services performed, unless such birds have a tag attached, signed by the hunter, stating his address, the total number and species of birds, and the date such birds were killed. Migratory game birds being transported in any vehicle as the personal baggage of the possessor shall not be considered as being in storage or temporary storage.

Custody of birds of another—No person shall receive or have in custody any migratory game birds belonging to another person unless such birds are properly tagged.

Species identification requirement—No person shall transport within the United States any migratory game birds, except doves and band-tailed pigeons, unless the head or one fully feathered wing remains attached to each such bird at all times while being transported from the place where taken until they have arrived at the personal abode of the possessor or a migratory bird preservation facility.

New Jersey State Regulations

State laws and regulations may be more stringent but not more lenient than those prescribed in federal regulations (50 CFR Part 20). See General Hunting Regulations.

Restrictions:

1. Migratory bird hunting is not permitted on Sunday in New Jersey.
2. No person may take rails or snipe while possessing shot other than non-toxic shot.
3. The starting time to hunt waterfowl on opening day of pheasant season (Nov. 11, 2023) is 8 a.m. on wildlife management areas stocked with pheasant and quail except the tidal waters or marshes of those WMAs. See Upland Game Birds for pheasant and quail stocked WMAs. The starting time to hunt waterfowl on opening day of the pheasant season conforms to the regular start time (e.g. 1⁄2 hr. before sunrise) on private land, tidal marshes, WMAs not stocked with pheasant and quail, and the tidal marsh portions of pheasant and quail stocked WMAs.
4. There shall be no open season for hunting any game birds or animals including migratory waterfowl:
   • In or on the shores of the Shark River in Monmouth County.
   • In that portion of the Manasquan River from the ocean inlet upstream to Route 70 bridge.
   • On Herring Island and that portion of Barnegat Bay lying between northern and southern tips of Herring Island easterly to adjacent shoreline of Mantoloking Boro, Ocean County.
   • On Parker Creek and Oceanport Creek, Monmouth County, or the shores thereof, southwest or upstream of the Conrail R.R. bridge.
   • On the non-tidal portions of Cox Hall Creek WMA in Cape May County.
   • In the waters or shoreline of Barnegat Inlet westward from the COLREGS Demarcation Line; to the north end of Broadway in Barnegat Light; then northwest to Red Buoy 14 in the channel (39.763783 N; 074.109283 W); then northeast to the westernmost section of rock jetty at Island Beach State Park. These areas are also explicitly mapped in the Hunting & Trapping Explorer: NJFishandWildlife.com/hunt.
5. It is unlawful for any person to leave the edible portions (defined as the breast meat) of migratory birds (excepting crows) to waste. Edible portions (see illustration, below) do not include meat that has been damaged by the method of taking; bones, sinew and meat reasonably lost as a result of butchering, boning, or close trimming of bones; or viscera.
6. Waterfowl hunting on Delaware River is governed by state boundaries and restricted to respective state seasons.
7. Permanent blinds may not be constructed on some state wildlife management areas.
8. Arrows with flu-flu type fletching are required for taking flying game birds. Arrows with edged heads are prohibited for taking flying game birds.

Edible Portions Guide

Edible portions do not include meat from the head or neck; meat that has been damaged by the method of taking; bones, sinew, and meat reasonably lost as a result of butchering, boning, or close trimming of bones, or viscera. Edible portions do not include meat from diseased or scavenged carcasses. See Wanton Waste of Game in General Hunting Regulations.

For rabbit and squirrel:

• Front shoulders
• Thighs
• Backstrap
  

For game birds such as turkey:

• breast, legs and thighs

For game birds other than turkey:

• breast

Spring Light Goose Conservation Order

The NJ Light Goose Conservation Order Permit will be available January 2024 ONLY from the Internet sales site. As part of the permit process, hunters will be required to report their activity and harvest as requested on the permit. Check NJ Fish & Wildlife's website in late winter for more details.

Falconry—Special season dates and bag limits apply. Contact Fish and Wildlife at (908) 735-6938.