Game Code Amendments Approved; Scheduled To Be Effective September 2015

June 11, 2015

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is advising the public that amendments to the 2015-2016 Game Code received final approval from the NJ Fish and Game Council at their June 9, 2015 meeting. 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 amendments received initial approval by the Council at their July 8, 2014 meeting. The Notice of Rule Proposal (DEP Rules site) was published in the March 16, 2015, NJ Register, which commenced a 60-day public comment period. Written comments, along with oral comments received at the March 31, 2015 public meeting, were compiled and reviewed by the Council prior to the final vote.

All proposals were adopted by the Council with the exception of the following:

• The proposal on the prohibition of leaving any staked, anchored or floating waterfowl hunting blinds, located greater than 100 feet from shore at mean high tide, in the field overnight or for extended periods of time was withdrawn by the Division of Fish and Wildlife prior to Council vote. The Division acknowledges that more research is required before this suggestion is revisited.

• The proposal to allow increased trapping opportunities for mink, muskrat and nutria, beaver and river otter on all WMAs prior to January 1 was rejected by the Council.

The final adoption notice will be announced on the Division's web site when available.