The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife will offer leftover wild turkey hunting permits at selected Division offices throughout the state beginning Saturday, April 2, 2005. This special over-the-counter sale will enable hunters who did not apply for a permit, were not selected in the lottery, or who wish to obtain an extra permit an opportunity to do so.

On April 2, the leftover spring season permits will be sold between 9 a.m. and 12 noon at five Division field offices. Additionally and as long as the supply lasts, leftover permits will be sold Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at four Division field offices and the Trenton office beginning Monday, April 4, 2005.

For the Saturday (April 2) sale, the following five offices will be open: Pequest, Northern Region, Central Region (Assunpink WMA), Southern Region and Nacote Creek. Beginning Monday, April 4, permits will only be available at the Pequest, Northern Region, Central Region, Trenton and Southern Region offices. Please note that the Nacote Creek office will be open for permit sales on Saturday, April 2, 2005 ONLY. The Nacote Creek office will no longer sell permits after that date. Instead, hunters must visit the Southern Region, Trenton or Central Region offices.

Persons interested in purchasing an unclaimed permit must bring their 2005 hunting license and cash or check for $21 (for each adult permit) or $12 (for each youth permit).

Hunters need not be present to purchase permits over-the-counter. A person may purchase a permit for a hunter who is unable to attend the sale if they have the absent hunter’s valid hunting license. However, a hunter on line is limited to purchasing permits for a maximum of three individuals. Photocopies of licenses are not acceptable.

The following zones are available over-the-counter on Saturday, April 2, and thereafter for as long as the supply lasts.

ZONE     PERIOD
  1     A, B, C, D, E, G
  2     A, B, C, D, E, G*
  3     A, B, C, D, E, G
  4     B, C, D, E, G**
  5     A, B, C, D, E, G*
  6     A, B, C, D, E, G
  7     A, B, C, D, E, G
  8     B, C, D, E, G*
  9     B, C, D, E
10     A, B, C, D, E, G*
11     C, D, E
12     B*, C, D, E
14     B*, C, D, E
15     B*, C, D, E
16     A, B, C, D, E
20     B, C, D, E
21     B**, C, D, E
22     B*, C, D, E

* Less than 30 permits left
** Less than 15 permits left

Spring Season Hunting Periods:

A. Monday, April 18 – Friday, April 22, 2005
B. Monday, April 25 – Friday, April 29, 2005
C. Monday, May 2 – Friday, May 6, 2005
D. Monday, May 9 – Friday, May 13, 2005
E. Monday, May 16 – Friday, May 20, 2005 and also Monday, May 23 – Friday, May 27, 2005
G. Saturdays: April 23 and 30, May 7, May 14 and May 21, 2005

Youth Turkey Hunting Day is Saturday, April 16, 2005. Youths must have a 2005 Spring Turkey Season hunting permit in order to hunt. This date is considered a one-day early extension of the regular permit that the youth holds.

Over-the-Counter Sales Locations Are:

Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center, nine miles west of Hackettstown on Rt. 46 in Oxford, Warren County

Northern Region Office, westbound Rt. 78, take exit 13 to Rt.173; eastbound Rt.78, take exit 12 to Rt.173 in Hampton, Hunterdon County

Southern Region Office, one mile south of Rt. 73 on Blue Anchor Rd. in Sicklerville, Camden County

Central Region Office (Assunpink WMA), exit 11 off Rt. 195, head north, at second intersection turn right. The office is at the corner of East Branch and Eldridge Rds. Located in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth County

Nacote Creek Research Station, (Saturday, April 2, 2005 ONLY) two miles north of Smithville on Rt.9 in Port Republic, Atlantic County

Main Office, 501 East State Street (3rd floor) in Trenton, Mercer County beginning Monday, April 4, 2005. There are no Saturday sales at the Trenton office.

For more information on over-the-counter turkey permit sales, please call the 24-hour computerized permit hotline at 609-292-9192.