NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - White-tailed Deer in New Jersey

White-tailed Deer in New Jersey

Permit Bow Season Opens Saturday, October 31
Permits available at license agents and online. (Permits can be printed at home!)
Check Permit Availability

Uncertain Of A Shot? Use A Deer Tracker! (Feature Article)

DEP, NJDOT Remind Drivers to Be Extra Cautious as Deer Mating Season Begins, Daylight Hours Get Shorter - DEP News Release
Public Asked to Be Alert for EHD in Deer
Urine-Based Deer Lures Advisory

New Jersey's deer herd is a major component of the landscape throughout all but the most urbanized areas of the state. Deer affect our forests, farms, gardens, backyards and roadways. From a population reduced to a handful of deer in the early 1900s they rebounded during the 20th Century to a thriving herd today.
A healthy deer herd, managed at levels that are compatible with current land use practices and the human population, has great value to the people of the state. Deer are photographed, watched and hunted by many New Jerseyans and visitors from elsewhere. Deer hunters spend more than 100 million dollars each year as they enjoy approximately 1.5 million recreation-days hunting deer. Money spent in the course of deer hunting benefits a wide variety of New Jersey businesses.
And for hunters looking for a place to hunt, New Jersey offers more than 750,000 acres of public land (state, federal, county and municipal) available to the deer hunter. Visit the Public Deer Hunting Land page for a breakdown of state Wildlife Management Areas, state parks and state forests by Deer Management Zone. The page also has links for maps and information on hunting land.

The "Take a Kid Hunting" program provides unique opportunities.
Click photo to enlarge.

New Jersey produces some quality deer, including on public land!
Click to enlarge
Courtesy Craig Lemon
2020-2021 Deer Hunting Information

Fall Bow, September 12 (Early Zones Only, Regulation Sets #4-8)
Youth Deer Bow Hunt, September 26
Fall Bow, October 3 (Statewide)
Permit Bow Season, October 31
Youth Deer Firearm Hunt, November 21
Permit Shotgun/Muzzleloader, November 23 (Varies by zone)
Six-day Firearm Season, December 7-12
Winter Bow, January 1, 2021

NOTE: New Format for Deer Hunting Regulations!
The nine Regulation Sets have been reformatted into two tables - one each for archery and firearm hunting. Regulation Sets (groups of deer management zones with the same season length and bag limits) still exist in the Game Code and are used when developing deer management strategies.

2020-2021 Deer Hunting Regulations - Archery (pdf, 500kb)

2020-2021 Deer Hunting Regulations - Firearms (pdf, 495kb)

Firearms, Bows and Ammunition Legal for Deer Hunting Chart

What Do I Need to Hunt Deer in New Jersey? (pdf, 575kb)

Deer Management Zone Descriptions

Deer Management Zone Descriptions (pdf, 110kb)

NJ Hunting and Trapping Explorer - Know your hunting DMZ/Unit/Township

General vs. Permit Deer Seasons (pdf, 590kb)

What Do I Need to Hunt Deer in New Jersey? (pdf, 570kb)

Deer Permit Information

Public Deer Hunting Land
Lands Open or Closed to Sunday Bow Hunting

Reporting a Deer - Automated Harvest Report System (AHRS)
NJ Hunting and Trapping Explorer - Know your hunting DMZ/Unit/Township
Deer Harvest Report Card (for recording information prior to using the AHRS and tagging harvested deer, pdf, 120kb)

Certified Deer Tracking Dog Permit Information
Application Form (pdf, 100kb)

New Jersey Deer Showcase

Outstanding White-tailed Deer Program

Garden State Deer Classic

Suburban Deer Management

Community-Based Deer Management
Community Based Deer Management Manual for Municipalities (pdf, 320kb)

Deer Management Assistance Program

An Evaluation of Deer Management Options - Northeast Deer Technical Committee, May, 2009 (pdf, 955kb)

An Integrated Approach for Managing White-Tailed Deer in Suburban Environments (pdf, Cornell University Study, 2014)

Deer Management Position Statement (Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society)

Deer Health Information

Biology of the White-tailed Deer

Deer Fibromas (Warts)

White Deer - Piebald and Albino Deer

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in New Jersey

Mange in Deer

Chronic Wasting Disease Information
Urine-Based Deer Lures Advisory
Guidance On Hunting Deer, Elk or Moose in States Where CWD is Present (Updated 12/21/18)

General Deer Information

White-tailed Deer - Natural History and Autumn Behavior

Wildlife Populations: White-tailed Deer (pdf, Environmental Trends Report, NJDEP Division of Science and Research)

Feeding Wild White-tailed Deer

“Don’t Feed the Wildlife” (USDA Site)

Wounding Rates of White-tailed Deer with Modern Archery Equipment (Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies)

Guidelines for Rating Deer Range and Condition in NJ

Information on Lead in the Meat of Wild Game

Bald Eagles and Lead: A Deadly Mix (pdf, 280kb)

ADDITIONAL LINKS

Farmer Info

Hunters Helping the Hungry

Deer Crash Reduction Program

Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics

Regulations

Wildlife Management Areas

Forms

Feature Articles

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