Take a Kid Hunting

Deer, Waterfowl, and Turkey Youth Hunt Days

Take this great opportunity to introduce youths to hunting!

All youth hunters must have a valid youth hunting license. See Youth Licenses, Licenses, Permits & Fees.

• Supervision: The youth hunter MUST be 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 is defined as both the youth hunter and the adult mentoring hunter set up together at the same location, hunting as a unit, not hunting independently. The adult does not need a zone or area permit to supervise, only their valid license. The adult CANNOT hunt on any youth days but may call for the youth. Youth hunters do not need a harvest number to report harvests during youth hunts or non-permit deer seasons.

For additional harvest reporting requirements, see Deer Hunting Regulations.

WMA Youth Pheasant Hunt Days

All youth hunters must have a valid youth hunting license. See Youth Licenses, Licenses, Permits & Fees.

• Nov. 2 and Nov. 4-8 Rain or Shine!

The NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's R3 and Hunter Education Program's Take a Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt will allow properly licensed and supervised youth hunters (see table, below) to hunt any of the 10 stocked wildlife management areas (WMAs) on Saturday, Nov. 2 and Monday–Friday, Nov. 4–8.

In a cooperative effort between the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, volunteer hunting mentors with trained bird dogs will guide youth hunters on a Saturday, Nov. 2 pheasant hunt. This experience will increase the young hunters’ opportunity for harvesting a pheasant in a setting which encourages responsible and safe hunting practices.

All guided morning hunt participants must pre-register and be accompanied to the check-in by a parent or guardian who are welcomed and encouraged to follow the hunters through the fields. All pre-registered hunters will receive an information packet. One guided hunt session will be offered, starting at 7 a.m.

A limited number of youth hunters will be allowed on each WMA during the guided morning hunts. To register, go to dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/youth-pheasant-hunt-registration-form/ and select one WMA where you wish to hunt. For each WMA, when registration reaches capacity, the WMA will disappear from the online registration and the youth will need to select one of the remaining options. Priority will be given to first time participants. Register early; spaces fill quickly!

Online registration for the Nov. 2 guided youth hunt opens Sept. 5 and closes Oct. 15. Late registrations will not be accepted. Pheasant hunt information will be emailed to registered youth hunters during the open registration period. For questions, email [email protected].

Guided, Morning Hunt: pre-registration required.

Open, Afternoon Hunt: Any properly licensed and supervised youth hunter (see Who can hunt? top of table, Take a Kid Hunting) will be permitted to hunt on the listed WMAs on November 2 from 1 p.m. until sunset. No registration required.

Open, All Day Hunt: Any properly licensed and supervised youth hunter (see Who can hunt? top of table, Take a Kid Hunting) will be permitted to hunt on the listed WMAs on Nov. 2 and Nov. 4–8 from 8 a.m. until sunset. No registration required.

Semi-wild Preserves Youth Upland Bird Hunt Day

All youth hunters must have a valid youth hunting license. See Youth Licenses, Licenses, Permits & Fees.

• Saturday, November 2, 2024

Properly licensed and supervised youth hunters (see Who can hunt? top of table, Take a Kid Hunting) are permitted to hunt on licensed semi-wild hunting preserves for pheasant, quail and/or partridge on Saturday, November 2 from 8 a.m. to sunset. Take advantage of this great opportunity for hunters belonging to semi-wild preserves to ­introduce youth hunters to upland bird hunting without competition from adult hunters who may not hunt on this day.