some simple questions about hunting in NJ

[Lunicy 4]

I haven't hunted since i was a kid. And that was in Indiana.

Anyway, I have a few question.

 

I want to hunt next year. I know I need the basic course and such. I want to hunt small game, deer, pheasant, maybe even duck.

 

The NJ fish and game site is a little confusing

 

With my hunting license, I can hunt all of these animals in any WMA (in season) correct?

 

How do I know what is legal to take each animal? I wouldn't mind hunting small game with a 22 if possible. I seen somewhere you can hunt squirrel with a BP pistol? What ammo is legal for deer? Turkey? etc.

 

And what is the deer permit thing about? With a hunting license what can I take. Permits allow extras? Doe? Buck? must it be a certain size/age?

 

I know I kinda jumping into this, but I have no friends that hunt.

 

Thanks for your patience

[EchoMirage 137]

all you can use is a shotgun, black powder and bow, nothing else. no 22 that im aware of. taking the hunter ed. course will answer all of the listed questions. you can always ask any more you have during the meeting.

 

a basic hunting license is good for ONE buck, during shotgun season which is typically the first week in december. then there is 'doe day', where you can get ONE doe, or i believe another buck during that day. it costs extra. duck, pheasant, anything else also costs extra. back when i did it once, you get stamps to put on your basic license.

 

typically the legal size for a buck is the antlers have to be at least 3 inches long, which qualifies as a 'spike' buck.

[Parker 213]

I haven't hunted since i was a kid. And that was in Indiana.

Anyway, I have a few question.

 

I want to hunt next year. I know I need the basic course and such. I want to hunt small game, deer, pheasant, maybe even duck.

 

The NJ fish and game site is a little confusing

 

With my hunting license, I can hunt all of these animals in any WMA (in season) correct?

 

How do I know what is legal to take each animal? I wouldn't mind hunting small game with a 22 if possible. I seen somewhere you can hunt squirrel with a BP pistol? What ammo is legal for deer? Turkey? etc.

 

And what is the deer permit thing about? With a hunting license what can I take. Permits allow extras? Doe? Buck? must it be a certain size/age?

 

I know I kinda jumping into this, but I have no friends that hunt.

 

Thanks for your patience

There are no simple answers about hunting in New Jersey.

 

Complete 2010 Digest - 96 pages of reading and lots of advertisements to sift through. I suggest you read this in its entirety to acquaint yourself.:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2010/dighnt10.pdf

 

Deer - Yes, confusing. You need to be a Rhodes scholar to decipher some of the detail. State is managed by DMZ's (deer management zones). Permits and hunting regs. by zone vary. Depending on zones and season dates outside of the regular 6-day firearm and regular Fall bow season, there are antlerless permits and buck permits available that you can purchase.:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2010/regsets10-11.pdf

 

Small game (pheasant, quail, woodcock, squirrel, rabbit, grouse). For pheasant & quail, you need a Pheasant & Quail stamp in addition to your license. Woodcock (migratory) requires HIP registration and $2 certificate. You can hunt with a .22 but only if trapping or for woodchuck and NO .22's on any WMA's. You can hunt with a .22 if you have access and permission to hunt on private property for woodchuck. You can squirrel hunt with a BP rifle but only in certain areas designated for such. And don't forget you need to take the course and procure a rifle permit. Turkey is assigned by lottery and zones. There is both a Fall and Spring season for turkey.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2010/smgame_summary10-11.pdf

 

Migratory game (ducks/geese) you need a small game license, HIP registration # and certificate ($2) + NJ stamp + Federal stamp. No stamp or HIP necessary for crow, but hunting days/week are limited.:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2010/migregs10.pdf

 

Note: you can do a LOT of hunting in New Jersey, but open your wallet if you want to partake. The state has adopted a Fees'R-Us mentality.

[Lunicy 4]

My lord, I'm gonna have to hire an accountant and a lawyer just to read the hunting regs. I think I got a reasonable grasp on it. Will keep studying. Thanks for the help.

[djg0770 481]

My lord, I'm gonna have to hire an accountant and a lawyer just to read the hunting regs. I think I got a reasonable grasp on it. Will keep studying. Thanks for the help.

 

not just the hunting regs unfortunately.

[Old School 611]

#1 PM me, #2 get a bow. Got two in the freezer right now.

[Parker 213]

My lord, I'm gonna have to hire an accountant and a lawyer just to read the hunting regs. I think I got a reasonable grasp on it. Will keep studying. Thanks for the help.

Yes, things have gotten more complicated over the years when it comes to the regs. but that comes hand in hand with increased game, additional game seasons, additional fireams seasons, etc. For example, 50 years ago you couldn't hunt with a muzzleloader rifle or with a crossbow. Today you can. There were no turkey's to hunt back then either. Today there are. And the state has extended some deer seasons specifically to manage the population, even allowing bowhunting on Sunday's. The documentation of so many regs. makes that compendium what it is today.

 

And there are always those who don't pay heed to the laws, and their exploits are noted unceremoniously in journals like this:

http://naweoa.org/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38:nj-division-of-fish-and-wildlife-monthly-highlights&catid=4:us-news

[Lunicy 4]

#1 PM me, #2 get a bow. Got two in the freezer right now.

We will chat soon. I gotta get my stuff together and get a hunting lic. etc...