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New Jersey

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Garden State Deer Classic Information

New Jersey’s Outstanding Deer Program

New Jersey’s Outstanding Deer Program showcases the fine quality deer produced in the Garden State while recognizing the hunters who harvested them with a bow, crossbow, shotgun or muzzleloading rifle. Our Program follows the measuring standards developed by the Boone and Crockett Club. This scoring system gives credit to antler length, spread, number of points, mass and symmetry.

Joining the program’s regular Open Division is a Youth Division for hunters ages 10–16 with eased entry requirements reduced by 10 points (inches) for all Antler categories and a reduction in the Weight category requirements by 10 or 20 pounds for doe and buck, respectively. (See table below for minimum entry requirements.)

Legally harvested deer must be taken under the Boone and Crockett-defined rules of fair chase. Deer taken from enclosed hunting lands are not eligible.

Applications are due Nov. 1 — NO EXCEPTIONS. No entry fee.

All deer must be scored by an official measurer. Visit our website at dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/outstanding-white-tailed-deer-program/ for program background, rules, score/entry forms plus a list of official measurers. (See page bottom at Entering the Outstanding Deer Program.)

Don’t wait for the approaching deadline to schedule with an official measurer. Racks waiting at the taxidermy shop can be “borrowed” for scoring then returned to the taxidermist for mounting. A rack is easier and safer to transport and measure than a mount. Ask your taxidermist to have the mount completed by Dec. 31 to be ready for the January Deer Classic. (See above.)

Weight categories recognize exceptional body size as determined by the field-dressed weight, all vitals removed. See chart for minimum eligible weights. Bucks must be weighed on a certified scale† (no truck scales**) with the weighmaster’s signature on a letterhead receipt or on the entry form, available on our website. Does must be weighed either on a Fish and Wildlife regional office scale or on a certified scale with signature proof, as above.

Any properly licensed hunter, resident or non-resident, is eligible to enter their deer harvested from the previous year’s hunting seasons. Deer must be taken in accordance with New Jersey wildlife laws and regulations.

Taxidermy Mounts of New Jersey's Outstanding Deer Program Winners
Eric Weisgerber

Official entry consists of the original score sheet, hunter information page plus a clear photo of the hunter with their deer, preferably a field photo from the day of harvest. Forms with instructions are available on dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/entering-the-outstanding-white-tailed-deer-program/.

For questions, email Fish and Wildlife at [email protected]. Qualifying entries for deer harvested during the 2022–23 hunting seasons will be recognized at the 2024 Garden State Deer Classic.

Join Fish and Wildlife in celebrating New Jersey’s outstanding white-tailed deer at the January at the Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show in Edison. See ad below for more information.

The table below lists the top-scoring deer and the hunters who harvested them during the 2020–21 deer hunting seasons, not the most recent 2021–22 hunting seasons. Current season harvests will be honored at the January 2024 Deer Classic and printed in next year’s 2024 Hunting & Trapping Digest.

2022 Garden State Deer Classic Winners*

Rank

Name

Score/Weight

DMZ

Hometown

Youth Division

Youth – Typical Archery

1st

Kyle Horner

121 4/8

17

Cream Ridge

Youth Typical Crossbow

1st

Steven Lutz

127 2/8

48

Columbus

2nd

Gauge Eastwood

121 3/8

11

Frenchtown

3rd

Bryce Ayars

115 5/8

27

Woodstown

Youth – Non-typical Crossbow

1st

Charles Bergamo

130 0/8

35

Franklinville

2nd

Tegan Bachman

128 2/8

34

Woodbine

Youth – Typical Muzzleloader

1st

Dallas Monahan

126 3/8

10

Hampton

Youth – Non-typical Shotgun

1st

Harrison Hurff

149 4/8

27

Pittsgrove

Open Division

200 Pound Buck Archery

1st

Leon Sanders

213

14

Clayton

2nd

Jared Cramer

202

5

Hardwick

3rd

Tony Weeks

201

35

Woodstown

Typical Archery

1st

Jason DelPalazzo

145 3/8

19

Hainesport

2nd

Charles T. Matarazzo, Jr.

142 6/8

5

Blairstown

3rd

Reno Regalbuto

136 7/8

28

Bridgeton

Non-typical Archery

1st

Shane Bedell

148 6/8

5

Hackettstown

2nd

Mark Glaze, Jr.

148 4/8

19

Deptford

3rd

David Solen

143 0/8

49

Deptford

Typical Crossbow

1st

John Longberg

160 2/8

14

Fords

2nd

Martin Morse

151 0/8

29

Greenwich

3rd

Robert Staudt, Jr.

150 2/8

14

Stockton

Non-typical Crossbow

1st

Ryan Bowker

173 1/8

18

Toms River

2nd

Thomas Burns

148 6/8

19

Tabernacle

3rd

Brian J. Brownlie

148 3/8

12

Hillsborough

Typical Muzzleloader

1st

Nicholas K. Zemlachenko

139 5/8

8

Phillipsburg

2nd

Paul W. May, Jr.

133 5/8

34

Ocean View

Non-typical Muzzleloader

1st

Doug Deigert

153 5/8

50

Colts Neck

2nd

Sarah Kerr

148 0/8

17

Chatsworth

Typical Shotgun

1st

Phillip Bronico

151 7/8

7

Phillipsburg

2nd

Brian Fredda

142 3/8

1

Blairstown

3rd

Viginia Murphy

136 2/8

38

Toms River

Non-typical Shotgun

1st

Brian Van Artsdalen

146 7/8

34

Dennisville

2nd

Gregg Gehring

144 0/8

2

Newton

Velvet - Non-typical Crossbow

1st

Jason DelPalazzo

139 7/8

19

Hainesport

Outstanding Deer Program Minimum Requirements

Antler Category

Open Division Minimum

Youth Division Minimum

Typical Shotgun, Bow, Crossbow, Muzzleloader, Velvet

125

115

Non-typical Shotgun, Bow, Crossbow, Muzzleloader, Velvet

135

125

Weight Category



Buck: Shotgun, Bow, Crossbow, Muzzleloader

200 lbs.

180 lbs.

Doe: Shotgun, Bow, Crossbow, Muzzleloader

135 lbs.

125 lbs.

Participants Fishing at Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament
NJDEP Fish and Wildlife

Mark your calendar for the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament!

May 21, 2023

Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park, NJ

Come celebrate the 31st year of the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament! Enjoy a great day of surf fishing with family and friends.

The individual who catches the overall largest fish wins the "Governor's Award" and will have their name engraved on the Governor's Cup, which is permanently displayed at Island Beach State Park. Prizes are awarded to winners in a variety of age group and fish species categories.

All funds raised by the tournament go toward improving beach access, surf fishing instruction programs and equipment plus marine education and restoration projects.

The tournament is sponsored by NJDEP’s Fish and Wildlife and State Parks, Forests and Historic Sites, New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Jersey Coast Anglers Association and New Jersey Beach Buggy Association.

For more information visit: dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/governors-surf-fishing-tournament-sunday-may-2023/ or call (609) 748-4347

Operation Game Thief

Report Abuse of our Outdoor Heritage!

1-855-OGT-TIPS

24 Hours a Day, Seven Days a Week

The person who poaches, pollutes habitat and abuses public land tarnishes the image of sportsmen and robs us of our fish and wildlife as well as tax and license dollars. You can make a difference.

Call OGT to report:

  • Negligent use of firearms
  • Over the limits for game and fish
  • Commercial exploitation of fish and wildlife
  • Pollution of habitat, dumping on state land
  • Destruction of signs and state property
  • Illegal killing, taking or possession of any wildlife

It's Free. It's Confidential. You May Be Eligible for a Reward.

Funded by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs.

Designed to encourage sportsmen to report poaching and wildlife crimes.

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