• Legal hunting hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. No firearm deer hunting on Sunday. Limited Sunday bowhunting allowed.

• Note: Only one antlerless permit, per zone, may be purchased in each permit season. If a hunter purchases an antlerless permit for more than one zone in a season, the Antlered Buck Permit is valid for a ONE TIME USE in only ONE of the corresponding zones for that season. Properly licensed hunters are still limited to ONE antlered buck per season, regardless of the number of antlerless permits purchased.

Season bag limit is one deer of either sex.

Nov. 19, 2016—Firearm Only—

Season bag limit is one deer of either sex for qualified youth hunters only. Any deer harvested by a qualified youth hunter accompanied by a similarly licensed, non-shooting adult mentor is NOT included as part of the bag limit for the Fall Bow or Six-day Firearm Season.

Season bag limit is one deer of either sex if the Antlered Buck Bow Permit is purchased. However, if the hunter chooses not to purchase the Antlered Buck Bow Permit then the bag limit is one antlerless deer only. (See Note above.)

Season bag limit is one deer of either sex if the Antlered Buck Muzzleloader Permit is purchased. However, if the hunter chooses not to purchase the Antlered Buck Muzzleloader Permit then the bag limit is one antlerless deer. (See Note above.)

Season bag limit is two antlered deer. However, if a hunter harvests two antlered deer, he/she forfeits the opportunity to harvest an antlered deer during the Permit Shotgun Season. Only one buck may be taken at a time.

Season bag limit is one deer. This deer may be antlered if the Antlered Buck Shotgun Permit is purchased. However, if the hunter chooses not to purchase the Antlered Buck Shotgun Permit, or harvested two antlered deer during the Six-day Firearm Season, then the bag limit is one antlerless deer only.

Season bag limit is one deer of either sex.

At Peaslee & Greenwood WMAs Only: Nov 12-Dec 3; Dec 12, 13, 15-31 and Jan 2-21

Quail may be hunted only at Peaslee and Greenwood Forest WMAs. Pheasand & Quail Stamp required.

Season closed in remainder of the state.

All coyote must be reported within 24 hrs

Sep 10-Nov 11 in DMZ Regulation Sets 4-8

Oct 1-Nov 11 in DMZ Regulation Sets 0-3

Deer hunters may harvest coyote and fox during all open deer seasons with restrictions as specified under Small Game Hunting.

Sunday hunting for coyote/fox is not legal. All such hunting must end at 11:59 pm Saturday night and may resume at 12:01 am Monday morning.

Predator calling device must be in possession.

Rifle permit required in possession when hunting with any legal rifle, allowed only during daytime hunting hours.

During night hunting (1/2 hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise), only 10 or 12 gauge shotguns are permitted.

Maximum shot size is #4

South of Rt 70: Nov 12-Dec 3, Dec 12, 13, 15-31

Pheasant – 2

Pheasant & Quait Stamp required on designated areas

Hare – 1

Jackrabbit – 1

Mar 1-Sep 27

Quail – 4

• The black duck daily bag limit was increased to 2 birds.
• The brant season will be concurrent with the duck season with a bag limit of 2 birds.
• The pintail daily bag limit was reduced to 1 bird.
• 2017 is the second year for the new federal regulatory process where migratory bird season dates are set earlier in the year.

Each year, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) develops migratory bird hunting regulations with input and consultation with the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific Flyway Councils. The Flyway Councils are comprised of representatives from state and provincial wildlife agencies that work with the Service to cooperatively manage North America’s migratory bird populations.

Beginning last year, the Service and Flyway Councils developed a new schedule for migratory game bird hunting regulations. This cycle results in season dates and bag limits being set much earlier than was possible under the previous process that had been used since the 1950s. This new process will make hunting season planning more convenient for migratory bird hunters.

During the annual regulatory cycle, biologists gather, analyze, and interpret biological survey data and provide this information through published status and administrative reports. To determine the appropriate frameworks for each species, biologists consider factors such as population size and trend, geographical distribution, annual breeding effort, the condition of breeding and wintering habitat, the number of hunters, and the anticipated harvest. Although survey results still govern decisions for annual hunting seasons, the new process will no longer consider the current year’s survey data but rather be based on predictions derived from long term biological information and established harvest strategies.

New Jersey is an important migration and wintering area for American black ducks which are often referred to as the “bread and butter” duck of salt marsh hunters. After more than 30 years with a 1-black duck bag daily limit, hunters in New Jersey and the U.S. will have a 2-bird limit in 2017. Three developments led to this change:

1) Both eastern Canada and the eastern U.S. have seen the number of duck hunters decline since the 1980s, as well as the harvest of black ducks.
2) Due to the implementation of surveys in the 1990s, wildlife managers have much better biological information on black ducks than they had during the first 20 years of restrictive black duck bag limits. These monitoring data suggest the black duck population is stable.
3) The biological data now available has enabled biologists to construct a black duck population model that is the basis for anInternational Black Duck Harvest Strategy (pdf, US FWS site).

Additional detailed information on this topic can be found at:
www.njfishandwildlife.com//news/2017/blkduckregs17-18_2.htm

Resident Population (RP) Canada geese are overabundant throughout most of the United States and cause significant damage problems. As a result, additional hunting methods including the use of electronic calls, unplugged shotguns, extended hunting hours, and liberal bag limits are allowed during September hunting seasons. September seasons target RP geese since very few Atlantic Population or migrant geese arrive in New Jersey prior to October. Hunters need to remember that these special regulations only apply to the September Canada goose season (September 1-30, 2017). Hunters that choose to use unplugged guns during the September Canada goose season are reminded to reinstall magazine plugs before pursuing other game species.

Biologists in Atlantic Flyway states annually estimate the percent of young brant in the fall flight by conducting productivity surveys each November. Productivity surveys are carried out by examining brant flocks with spotting scopes and discerning plumage differences between young and adult birds. Young production during 2016 was good with 25% of birds in the fall flight being comprised of juveniles. This fall flight ratio is 40% above the long term average (17.9% young). Results for 2016 were very encouraging given that the previous 4 years (2012-15) had less than 10% young birds in the fall flight each year.

A total of 161,660 brant were estimated in the 2017 Mid-Winter Survey. As a result of the Mid-Winter and productivity surveys, the brant season will be 60 days with a 2-bird bag and be concurrent with the duck season in all zones.

All hunters pursuing migratory birds including ducks, geese, brant, coot, woodcock, rails, snipe or gallinules, are reminded to obtain a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. The process is the same as last year. Migratory bird hunters can get their HIP certification one of three ways: online by visiting the Division’s license sales web site, at any license agent, or by calling the toll-free NJ telephone sales line at 888-277-2015.

The 2017-18 New Jersey migratory bird hunting season dates follow. Due to the earlier timing of annual regulation process, the NJ Migratory Bird Regulations leaflet is no longer published. Migratory bird regulations will be included in the 2017 Hunting and Trapping Digest and be available at Division offices and license agents in August.

Smallmouth Bass

Apr 15-Jun 15 Catch & Release only (all waters)

Jun 16-Dec 31

Muskellunge

Mar 20-May 20 are Catch & Release only for Echo Lake Reservoir, Mercer Lake, Mountain Lake, Monksville Reservoir

Mar 1-Apr 30 Catch & Release only

May 1-Dec 31