Am I correct in my understanding that I can drive around all day, everyday,  with a .22 long gun properly secured in my truck but if one day on my way home from the range I decide to take a ride down a dirt road in the woods I would be breaking  the law?

No, you are not correct.

If you have a valid NJFID card with you, you may carry a long gun in your trunk, (UNLOADED).

You may not enter a prohibited area such as a school property or a military base where it is otherwise prohibited!

 

Although you also carry ammo for said long gun, make certain is not hollow point ammo since NJ classifies the possession

of hollow point ammo the same as carrying a handgun and the unnecessary deviation rules kick in.

 

Please also understand that even though it is your right as a NJFID card holder to carry a long gun in your trunk, if found by a LEO

that does not know the law, and there are many, you could still go for a ride to jail! I am not trying to talk you out of exercising your legal

rights, just letting you know what could happen!!!

 

Others will now chime in if I am wrong on any points! Which of course I welcome!

OP may be referring to NJ Hunting Regulations / Game Code..... 

 

"A person may not go into the woods or fields with a firearm except during prescribed seasons."

 

 

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2015/dighnt22-33.pdf

OP may be referring to NJ Hunting Regulations / Game Code..... 

 

"A person may not go into the woods or fields with a firearm except during prescribed seasons."

 

 

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2015/dighnt22-33.pdf

Would "the woods" be considered a prohibited place if he was just driving through and not engaged in hunting???

Once again, NJ Statutes seem unclear as to intent! If I am walking around "The Woods" with a loaded rifle or shotgun out of season,

I could see this as a potential problem! If I have an unloaded long arm in my trunk with the proper permit, which is my right! I make a wrong turn into

an area defined by the PRNJ as "woods" am I suddenly a Felon???

^^^ Good questions.. lot of regulations use "possession" and "transport in the vehicle" separately & different places. So they seem to differentiate. Other than that, I have no clue :-(

^^^ Good questions.. lot of regulations use "possession" and "transport in the vehicle" separately & different places. So they seem to differentiate. Other than that, I have no clue :-(

The PRNJ makes the gun laws so hard to understand that the only way to be sure not to violate them is to not own a gun at all!!!! They were obviously designed and written

toward that goal!

Man you hit it right on the head !

OP may be referring to NJ Hunting Regulations / Game Code..... 

 

"A person may not go into the woods or fields with a firearm except during prescribed seasons."

 

 

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2015/dighnt22-33.pdf

this is exactly what I was referring to, so to re-word my original post      "Am I correct in my understanding that I can drive around all day, everyday,  with a .22 long gun, unloaded with gun and ammo properly secured in my truck with proper paperwork but if one day on my way home from the range I decide to take a ride down a dirt road in the woods during off season I would be breaking  the law?

IANAL ...

 

Unless that specific language is also mentioned elsewhere in the code,  this seem to refer to section NJSA 23:4-25. 

I highly doubt anyone would bust you if you are just driving through. In an unlikely scenario you are to be inspected by NJ Fish & Game, totality of situation may be considered. 

 

* Are you driving through woods / fields for a different purpose than hunting ?

* Do you have hunting gear or other stuff suggesting your intent ? 

* Are you driving around intent on protecting poultry, crops, property from likes of woodchucks ? 

 

 

http://law.onecle.com/new-jersey/23-fish-and-game-wild-birds-and-animals/4-25.html

One related clear cut example, if you are traveling within a state Wildlife Management Area (e.g. Collier Mills, Clinton, etc.)with your NJFID, Hunting License, and your 22LR; you should be fine year round since you would be there for use of the rifle(.aka muzzleloader) ranges.

If you have an SKS its ok to go into the woods....

 

A little info goes a long way. Get your hunters license and you can hunt woodchuck from March through September.

 

I have to ask... take a dirt road into the woods? Not many legal places in NJ you can even do that. If your on a marked road, your not technically in the woods.

 

When I go scouting in august-sept  I bring a shotgun to hunt crow....lol..

Would "the woods" be considered a prohibited place if he was just driving through and not engaged in hunting???

Once again, NJ Statutes seem unclear as to intent! If I am walking around "The Woods" with a loaded rifle or shotgun out of season,

I could see this as a potential problem! If I have an unloaded long arm in my trunk with the proper permit, which is my right! I make a wrong turn into

an area defined by the PRNJ as "woods" am I suddenly a Felon???

No not a felony, because it would be a game violation, that's civil not criminal. But it would be a strike against your hunting and fishing privileges in NJ. 2 strikes within a 5 year period will result in loss of hunting, and fishing privileges in the state for 5 years. Also according to the game code you would be fine if your gun was cased, and you had a valid firearm hunting license (and obviously a rifle hunting permit). Because according to the game code a cased and unloaded gun is required for transport during hunting. There's a few seasons you can hunt with a .22lr fox and Coyote special season, and woodchuck. .22 short for coon and possum, .22 short for dispatching trapped game. According to Nappen and the law, you can transport uncased unloaded with a FPID card. Most likely they would give you a ticket for driving in the woods. Only a handful of places in NJ you can legally operate a motor vehicle in "the woods" on public lands. Private property excluded.

 

Also on another note, if you're shining a light into a field, or the woods at night from a vehicle with a firearm in the car, that's also a violation of the game code.