November 8, 2018
The pheasant/quail season opens at 8:00 a.m. Saturday with 24 Wildlife Management Areas and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area stocked with birds. Quail are stocked on two WMAs. Stocking continues weekly (except Dec. 3-14) through the end of December. A Pheasant/Quail Stamp is required and small game hunters must wear a hunter orange hat on WMAs stocked with pheasants or quail. Hunters should consult pages 54-57 in the Hunting Digest for additional regulations and information.
Hunters can increase their enjoyment by focusing on days pheasants and quail are available and the fields they are stocked on. The stocking schedule and stocking maps are available on the Fish and Wildlife website and linked below.
NOTE: Changes have been made to the number and location of pheasants stocked within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. A number of locations that were traditionally stocked will not be stocked this year due to being planted with soybeans which are typically harvested by November, leaving the fields barren and without cover. The Fish and Game Council voted to redistribute those pheasants to other WMAs (according to the Division’s Pheasant Allocation Formula) where adequate cover provides a more enjoyable hunting opportunity. Check the Pheasant Stocking Maps for this year's stocked fields.
Pheasant Stocking Schedule (pdf, 85kb)
Pheasant Stocking Maps
Quail Stocking Schedule (pdf, 75kb)
Quail Stocking Maps
Small Game Hunting In New Jersey
2018 Hunting Digest