The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is advising the public that amendments proposed for the 2013-2014 Game Code have been posted on the DEP website. The Game Code includes regulations governing hunting and trapping in the state; amendments may include adjustments to season dates, bag/creel limits, or the means by which game and furbearers may be taken and possessed.

The Notice of Rule Proposal was published in the April 15, 2013, NJ Register, which commenced a 60-day comment period. Written comments can be submitted via US mail or online, and oral comments may be made at the April 30, 2013 public meeting to be held at the NJ State Museum in Trenton at 6:30 pm. Please see www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices/20130415a.html for more information and instructions for written comments. Comments must be submitted by June 13, 2013.

The proposed amendments to the 2013-2014 Game Code include the following:

• The addition of air guns as allowed weapons for the take of rabbit, hare and squirrels
• The addition of Hungarian partridge as a species that may be legally harvested when stocked on Semi-wild and Commercial Hunting Preserves and when encountered incidentally on adjacent properties
• The inclusion of quail for take on Youth Upland Bird Hunt Day on specific Wildlife Management Areas
• Expansion of the last two weeks of spring turkey hunting from half-day to full-day hours
• The reallocation of beaver trapping permits to Beaver Management Zones experiencing beaver damage problems
• The expansion of otter trapping to include previously closed otter management zones
• The inclusion of greater cable diameters on specific coyote traps for increased efficacy
• Allowing turkey hunters to harvest coyotes incidental to legal turkey hunting
• The expansion of options in sporting arms and ammunition for coyote hunting to increase efficacy. Rifles of specified caliber with specific ammunition will be allowed during the day and larger shot size will be allowed for shotguns during night hunting
• The reorganization of Deer Regulation Sets, which define season lengths and bag limits, to better achieve management goals and distribute hunting opportunity

The full proposal can be found at http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/proposals/20130415a.pdf on the DEP website.