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New Jersey Six-day
Firearm Harvest and Permit Bow Harvest
(02/134) TRENTON
-- According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife an estimated
5,658 antlered bucks were harvested statewide during the
six-day firearm season (from Tuesday, December 10 through
Saturday, December 14). Combined with the opening day harvest
of 4,863, the total 2002 season estimate is 10,521 deer
- a 5.5 percent increase over the 2001 harvest of 9,977.
A little more than 50 percent of the season's
harvest was taken from Hunterdon (1,725), Sussex (1,180),
Warren (1,290) and Burlington (1,135) counties. The six-day
firearm season generates nearly 250,000 recreation-days
for deer hunters statewide, while generating millions of
dollars in business to local retailers such as sporting
goods stores, gas stations and food vendors.
In addition, an estimated 8,603 deer have
been harvested to date during the permit bow season. The
season ended in most zones on November 30, however, it will
continue in Zones 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 36, 41,
42, 49, 50, 51 and 61 until December 31, 2002.
Nearly 50 percent of the 2002 harvest has
been reported from Hunterdon (1,788), Somerset (791), Sussex
(825) and Warren (844) counties. A total of 9,726 deer were
taken during the 2001 Permit Bow season.
Combining the Fall Bow, Permit Bow (through
November 30), Youth Day and Six-day Firearm season estimates,
a total of 31,232 deer have been harvested statewide in
2002 compared to 33,470 taken during the equivalent period
in 2001.
Estimates for the Permit Muzzleloader and
Permit Shotgun seasons through December 20 will be available
in late December or early January.
The antlered buck harvest has increased
during 2002 in seven of the eight experimental Quality Deer
Management Zones (QDM) as compared to the 2001 harvest with
the exception of Zone 27. All antlered bucks taken during
any season in any QDM zone must have at least three antler
points on one side.
Sportsmen are reminded that the Earn-A-Buck
restriction in Zones 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 36,
50 and 51 is no longer in effect for the balance of the
2002-03 deer season as of December 15, 2002.
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