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April 11, 2001

DIVISION & COUNCIL ANNOUNCE PROPOSED CHANGES
TO 2001-02 GAME CODE

For more information contact:
Larry Herrighty at 609-292-6685

The New Jersey Fish and Game Council and the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife have announced the Council's proposed changes to the 2001-02 Game Code. The Fish and Game Council is responsible for adopting annual revisions to the game code which describes procedures, dates, locations and harvest limits regarding the hunting, trapping and possession of game birds, game mammals and furbearers in the state.

The Fish and Game Council will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed changes on Tuesday, June 5 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Mercer County Community College Communications Building, Room 110, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

"The public is encouraged to review and comment on the proposed amendments and participate in the conservation and management of New Jersey's wildlife resources," said Fish and Game Council Chairman John Bradway.

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A summary of proposed amendments to the 2001-2002 Game Code follows:

1. Pheasant boundaries have been adjusted, including slight modifications to major zone boundaries to account for new highways, name changes, etc. Cocks-only pheasant zones in South Jersey are eliminated.

2. Turkey Season

a. Youth turkey hunters no longer must be accompanied by parent/guardian. Any licensed hunter over 21 may take youth hunters afield.

b. There will be a youth turkey hunting day on Saturday, April 13, 2002. Youth hunters under the direct supervision of a non-shooting adult (21 years or older), may use either a shotgun or bow and arrow, and must possess a current and valid Youth Hunting License and a valid permit for the hunting area. All other hunting requirements for the regular Spring Wild Turkey Gobbler Season will apply.

c. The general & private turkey hunting permits are eliminated. An additional week has been added onto the front of the season to allow more permits to be available. This will allow a fifth day for the "G" Saturday segment. Quotas for zones with an abundance of private land have been increased.

d. In an effort to increase participation, the Fall turkey season for 2002 will be one 6-day segment Monday, October 28 - Saturday, November 2, 2002. During this time, there will be no fall turkey hunting in Turkey Hunting Areas 12, 14, 15, 16, 21 and 22.

3. Coyote Season

The February 2002 Coyote season will include night hunting with shotgun only. In order to gauge participation, the permit requirement is re-instituted for both day and night hunting.

4. Deer Seasons

a. A youth deer hunt is proposed for Saturday, November 17, 2001. Youth hunters who are accompanied by a properly licensed adult (who cannot carry a firearm) may hunt for one deer of either sex with either a shotgun or muzzleloader, in all zones open for the Six-day Firearm Season. For example, a youth hunter hunting with a muzzleloader must also have a rifle permit, and the adult mentor must also have a rifle permit and firearm license. Even youths aged 14 through 16, who could normally hunt without an adult, must have an adult mentor on this day. Earn-a-Buck requirements are waived for this youth deer hunting day.

b. In an effort to simplify deer regulations, eight sets of regulations regarding season dates and bag limits have been established and will apply to all but special area zones. The most conservative "Set 1" applies to Zone 4 only. The most liberal "Set 8" will apply to Earn-a-Buck zones. For more information see the Regulation Sets document which is in PDF format. (PDF files are viewable and printable with the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free from Adobe's Web site.)

c. Deer permits for zones that have not sold out in the lottery or over-the-counter sales in the past several years will now be sold at regular license issuing agents. This will provide more convenient "one-stop shopping" for interested hunters. Sales will begin on Saturday, September 1, 2001. Permits for seven regular deer management zones and permits for special hunts conducted at military bases, refuges and parks will be sold through the normal lottery process. Demand for permits in these zones traditionally has exceeded availability. The application period for these zones will be June 1 through August 31.

d. The type of gunpowder that is legal to use with muzzleloaders will be defined. Legal powder will be "black powder, pyrodex or black powder equivalent." At issue is the new muzzleloader being advertised by Savage Arms which can use modern powder and boasts modern efficiency. It is the Council's intent not to allow the use of modern powder muzzleloaders or any similar firearm that may be developed in the future.

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The previous proposals and all amendments to the 2001-02 Game Code will be published in the May 21 New Jersey Register, followed by a 30-day public comment period. Consult this publication for specific information on season dates, permit quotas, special area hunting regulations, zone boundary changes and other details.

The proposed season dates are available in PDF format. PDF files are viewable and printable with the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free from Adobe's Web site.

Proposed NJ Hunting Seasons for 2001-2002

NOTE: Copies of the proposed 2001-02 Game Code will be available for review at the Division's main and regional offices after May 21. In addition, interested individuals may obtain a copy of the proposed amendments by sending a business-sized, self-addressed, stamped envelope (for 66-cents) to: Game Code, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 400, Trenton, NJ 08625-0400. Written comments may be submitted no later than June 20, to Director Bob McDowell at the above address.