NJ F&G just made a announcement regarding the rifle permits

 

EDIT: If you have already taken the online course just bring your voucher and proceed to the written test. If you havent taken the online course then you must take one of the other courses.

 

New decision on whether or not current shotgun hunters need to take a rifle class: "It has been determined that students who previously completed the Shotgun Hunter Education Course would have to complete either the Rifle/Muzzleloader Course or the new Firearms Course to be eligible to obtain a Rifle Permit.

 

Therefore, those current shotgun hunters interested in using a rifle or muzzleloader in the upcoming hunting seasons must either:

1. Take the new combined Firearms Course, or

 

2. Complete a stand-alone Rifle/Muzzleloader Course which will be offered during the regular hunter ed season (but held separately from our regular classes) this year and in 2015.

 

Posting of these classes will be on the regular Hunter Education Course Schedule webpage, and students will register through the existing process. After the 2015 course season all students will have to complete the Firearms Course if they wish to hunt with rifle and/or muzzleloader."

So we're back to needing a separate class for a rifle permit...   if you're an existing shotgun license holder without a previous rifle permit

 

I wonder what changed their mind 

It's NJ!

I just called F&G and they said

If you have already taken the online course just bring your voucher and proceed to the written test. If you havent taken the online course then you must take one of the other courses.

 

Ogfarmer, so if I sign up for any of the upcoming shotgun test, will that include testing for rifle too!? There is no rifle option listed and the website states:

 

"Beginning in 2014 the NJ Hunter Education Program offers two courses; previously there were separate Shotgun and Rifle/Muzzleloader courses. These are now combined."

 

"The Shotgun Hunter Education Course and the Rifle/Muzzleloader Course have been merged in one Firearms Course."

 

If am reading this right, new applicants will have a chance to get certified for rifle,shotgun and muzzleloader under one umbrella, correct?!

Yes it will be combined