Deer Hunting R EGUL ATIO N S - Division of ...

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Deer Hunting R EGUL ATIO N S - Division of ...
Deer Hunting
     R EG U L AT I O N S

                                                                                                                           Six-day Firearm
                                                                                                                           Deer Season

                                                                                                                                  Dec. 9–14, 2019
                                                                                                                                  Dec. 7–12, 2020
                                                                                                                                (Season always opens the second
                                                                                                                                   Monday after Thanksgiving.)

                                                                                                                       with simple instructions above the viewer’s map
                                                                                                                       to determine the deer management zone (zone),
                                                                                                                       county, township and deer management unit (unit)
                                                                                                                       where you hunt. Write down all of this information
                                                                                                                       and keep it accessible while in the field for when you
                                                                                                                       must report your deer harvest.

                                                                                                                       Key Concepts and Definitions

                                                                                                       JeffCrawn.com
                                                                                                                       • Antlered deer is defined as any deer with at
                                                                                                                         least one antler measuring at least three inches
                                                                                                                         in length as defined below.
                                                                                                                       • Antler length is defined as the maximum length
                                                                                                                         of a deer antler measured from the lowest outside
                                                                                                                         edge of the antler burr along the outer curve to
     Regulations in red are new this year.               telephone. Hunters will be assigned a Confirmation               the most distant point of what is or appears to be
                                                         Number in place of the metal possession seal for-               the main antler beam. For the purposes of this
     Legal Deer Hunting Hours: half hour before          merly provided at check stations. This Confirmation              definition, the antler length does not include the
     sunrise to half hour after sunset                   Number, like the metal seal, must be kept with the              pedicel or portion of skull between the skull plate
                                                         deer and its parts.                                             and base of the antler point.
     ONLY ONE ANTLERED DEER           may be taken per     Note: Only one deer at a time may be taken dur-             • Antler point is defined as any point at least one
     season statewide regardless of the number of ant-   ing any permit season even if you possess both an               inch long from its tip to its base line, and the
     lered buck permits in possession, except two deer   antlered and antlerless permit, except in those                 length must exceed the width at some location
     may be taken during the Six-Day Firearm Season.     zones in Regulation Sets 6, 7 and 8 where two deer              at least one inch down from the tip.
     To be legal, all deer harvested must be reported    at a time may be harvested during the Fall Bow,               • Antlerless deer is defined as any deer that does
     using Fish and Wildlife’s Automated Harvest         Permit Bow, Permit Shotgun, Permit Muzzleloader                 not have an antler length measuring at least three
     Report System (see page 36), either online or by    and Winter Bow seasons.                                         inches. For the purposes of this definition, adult
                                                           NOTE: Sunday bowhunting for deer is legal                     male deer that have shed their antlers, button
                                                         only on state wildlife management areas and                     bucks and adult males with antlers less than three
                                                         private property.                                               inches are considered antlerless deer.
          Feral Hogs                                                                                                   • Antlered Buck Muzzleloader Permit, Antlered
                                                                                                                         Buck Shotgun Permit or Antlered Buck Bow
                                                         Feral Hogs                                                      Permit refers to the antlered buck permits avail-
                                                         With the ongoing presence of feral hogs in the                  able for purchase which are valid only when used in
                                                         Gloucester County area, New Jersey Division                     conjunction with the antlerless, zone-specific deer
                                                         of Fish and Wildlife will allow deer hunters in                 season permit. The antlered buck permits contain
                                                         Deer Management Zones 25 and 65 to hunt feral                   an antlered deer Harvest Report (formerly called
         Report sightings,                               hogs during the regular deer seasons. Feral hogs
                                                         must be checked. Hunters who harvest a feral hog
                                                                                                                         a transportation tag) and allows for the pursuit
                                                                                                                         and harvest of an antlered deer only.
         rooting evidence or                             must call (908) 735-6938 to schedule a time to                • Antler Point Restriction zones include Zones 3, 9,
         other damage caused                             check in the hog.                                               13, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 47, 63 and 67. The har-
                                                                                                                         vest of antlered deer from these zones during any
         by feral hogs!                                  Deer Management                                                 open season is restricted to deer with at least one
         USDA APHIS Wildlife Services at                                                                                 antler having a minimum of three antler points as
         (908) 735-5654 x 2                              Zone Boundaries                                                 defined above. The goal of the antler point restric-
                                                                                                                         tion strategy, as part of Quality Deer Management,
         Deer hunters must report the harvest of         Deer management zone (DMZ)
                                                                                                                         is to reduce harvest pressure on the 1½ year-old
         feral hogs to New Jersey Division of Fish       boundary descriptions are now
                                                                                                                         antlered deer in the expectation that they will
         and Wildlife at (908)735-6938.                  available by scanning this QR code with your
                                                                                                                         survive to produce larger antlers as older animals.
                                                         mobile device or by visiting our website at NJFis-
         For more information on                                                                                       • Special Areas Deer Management zones include
         Feral Hogs in New Jersey,                       handWildlife.com/pdf/deerzones.pdf. Review the
                                                                                                                         Zones 37, 38, 39, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 61, 64, 66,
         visit our website by scanning                   map on page 42 for general DMZ borders and
                                                                                                                         67, 68 and 70. They are generally small, publicly-
         this code or go to NJFishand-                   the Regulation Set color-coding scheme.
                                                                                                                         owned properties administered by county, federal
         Wildlife.com/qr/hogs.htm.                         For quicker results, use the Deer Hunting Loca-
                                                                                                                         or state agencies (other than Fish and Wildlife)
                                                         tion Viewer at NJFishandWildlife.com/ahrs.htm
                                                                                                                         where deer season dates, bag limits or regulations
32   |   New Jersey Hunting & Trapping Digest                                NJFishandWildlife.com                                                                     2019 Issue
Deer Hunting R EGUL ATIO N S - Division of ...
Deer Hunting
                                                                                                                                      R EG U L AT I O N S
  differ from those of the surrounding deer manage-          bow permits (nor two shotgun permits nor two            zone-specific antlerless season permit, but only one
  ment zone. See page 44 for details.                       muzzleloader permits) for Zone 24.                      buck may be harvested per season. Adult deer per-
• Youth Hunter status applies to the possessor of         • It is unlawful to use a bow and arrow for hunting       mits are $28; youth deer permits are $12.
  a valid Youth Hunting License (or the immediate           deer while using a firearm license (except during the
  member of a qualified occupant farmer who is at            Six-day Firearm Season) and unlawful while using
  least 10 years of age) and continues until Dec. 31        a shotgun or muzzleloader deer permit. A bow and          Antlered Buck
  of the year in which he or she turns 16 years of age.     arrow license and permit (when required) must
  The Youth Bow Deer Hunt Day is Saturday,                  be in possession using this hunting equipment. In         Permit Deadline!
  Sept. 21, 2019. The Youth Firearm Deer Hunt               addition, during the overlapping Six-day Firearm
  Day is Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. The bag limit             Season, bowhunters with a valid Permit Bow Sea-          Antlered Buck Permits must be pur-
  for youth hunters on this day is one deer of either       son zone permit in those zones governed by Regula-       chased by 11:59 p.m. on the following
  sex. Antler Point Restrictions and Earn-A-Buck            tion Sets 4–8 may continue to hunt using their bow       dates: Oct. 26 for Permit Bow; Nov. 25
  requirements do not apply for deer taken on this          and arrow license and must register their harvest        for Permit Muzzleloader and Dec. 11 for
  day by youth hunters. See page 24 for details.            with their zone permit Harvest Report Number.            Permit Shotgun seasons, UNLESS you are
  See page 31 for a cut-out Harvest Report Card.            Hunters without a Permit Bow Season zone permit          buying your first zone-specific antlerless per-
                                                            who want to use a bow during the Six-day Firearm         mit AND an Antlered Buck Permit at the same
                                                            Season MUST also possess a valid Firearms Hunt-          time after these dates. See Antlered Buck
Licenses and Permits                                        ing License and register their harvest using Harvest     Permit Deadline! page 18.
• See License, Permits and Stamps, page 8, for              Report Number on their firearm license.
 details and for Hunter Education requirements.           • The zone-specific Bow, Muzzleloader and Shot-
• Additional hunting licenses may not be purchased          gun Permits are valid ONLY for the pursuit and         Firearms, Ammunition
  in order to harvest additional deer.                      harvest of ANTLERLESS deer. Hunters who
• Although hunters may purchase multiple deer               want to pursue and take an antlered deer during
                                                                                                                   and Sights
  permits, they are limited to only one zone-               any of these seasons must purchase an Antlered         • See page 26 and chart on page 34 for general hunt-
  specific ANTLERLESS permit per zone dur-                   Buck Bow, Antlered Buck Muzzleloader or Ant-            ing regulations which also apply to deer hunting.
  ing each of the permit seasons. For example, a            lered Buck Shotgun Permit. Hunters may purchase        • All firearms must be cased and unloaded while
  hunter may buy an ANTLERLESS muzzleloader                 only one Antlered Buck Permit per season. An            being transported in vehicles, including on all-
  permit for each of Zones 18, 21 and 24. A hunter          Antlered Buck Permit must be used in conjunction        terrain vehicles. A muzzleloader is considered
  may purchase a bow permit, a muzzleloader per-            with zone-specific antlerless permit. The Antlered       unloaded when, in the case of a percussion cap rifle or
  mit and a shotgun permit for Zone 24; however,            Buck Permit is not zone-specific; it is valid for use    shotgun, the percussion cap has been removed from
  they may not purchase two ANTLERLESS                      in any zone for which the hunter already holds a        the nipple; in the case of a flintlock, when the powder

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                                                                                                                                                                             33
Deer Hunting
     R EG U L AT I O N S
     Regulations in red are new this year.                                                  • Only one muzzleloading rifle or smoothbore

       is removed from the pan and a boot or cover made
                                                                                              muzzleloader may be in possession while deer
                                                                                              hunting, but not both simultaneously.
                                                                                                                                                               WARNING:
       of nonmetallic material is placed over the frizzen.                                  • Only black powder or black powder equivalents,                   Tree Stand Hunters
     • Hunters using or possessing any shotgun slug                                           such as Pyrodex and Triple Se7en, may be used with
       in the field during the deer seasons must have a                                        a muzzleloading firearm when engaged in hunting.
       shotgun with adjustable open iron or peep sights                                       Modern smokeless powder is strictly prohibited                 Hunters are cautioned to
       or a scope affixed to the shotgun.                                                       while hunting game with a muzzleloading firearm.                avoid placing treestands
     • Telescopic sights of any magnification (scope                                         • Special Areas Deer Management Zones may                        in or near ash trees
       power) are permitted for deer hunting on all fire-                                      have regulations that differ from the statewide                 weakened by the Emerald
       arms, including muzzleloader rifles and smooth-                                         regulations. See page 44 for details.                          Ash Borer beetle. First
                                                                                                                                                             detected in New Jersey
       bore muzzleloader shotguns. No permits are
                                                                                                                                                             in 2014, beetle damage
       required for telescopic sights.
     • Any sight or device that casts a beam of light upon
                                                                                            Blinds and Tree Stands                                           is not always evident
                                                                                                                                                             although a tree's structural integrity might
       the deer is prohibited.                                                              All firearm and bow and arrow deer hunters utiliz-                already be seriously compromised. Evaluate
     • Shotgun shells containing single spherical projec-                                   ing a ground blind when a bow and firearm deer                    any tree carefully but note that ash trees may
       tiles referred to as pumpkin balls are prohibited.                                   season are concurrently open must display 200                    die quickly, concealing their risky status. For
     • While deer hunting with a shotgun, it is illegal                                     square inches of hunter orange atop the blind and                more information and ash tree ID tips, visit
       to have in possession any ammunition not autho-                                      visible from all sides or within five feet outside the            www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/
       rized for deer hunting.                                                              blind and higher than the blind or at least three feet           emeraldashborer.html.
     • Muzzleloaders are legal during the Six-day Fire-                                     off the ground, whichever is higher. During these
       arm season where the hunter must also possess                                        concurrent seasons, bowhunters in tree stands also
       the annual Rifle Permit. See page 12.                                                 should consider wearing hunter orange.
     • When hunting during the overlapping firearms                                            A “ground blind” is defined as a temporary, man-
       seasons for deer and when in possession of the                                       made structure used for the purpose of concealing
                                                                                                                                                          Baiting
       proper permits for the current seasons, hunt-                                        from sight a person who is hunting. A ground blind            Baiting is allowed for deer hunting. Hunters may
       ers may carry the firearms legal for the current                                      is not a naturally occurring feature that a hunter            hunt for deer while in a tree, on the ground or in
       seasons. For example, when Six-day Firearm and                                       merely uses for concealment.                                  a structure and from any height and any distance
       Permit Muzzleloader seasons run concurrently, a                                        The State Park Service has modified its policy on            from the bait pile. Hunters should check with the
       hunter may be in possession of a shotgun and either                                  the use of hunting tree stands and ground blinds on           landowner or administrative agency before placing
       a muzzleloading rifle or smoothbore muzzleloader.                                     state parks, forests and recreation areas where hunt-         bait on their hunting area as baiting is not allowed
     • Double-barreled muzzleloading rifles are not                                          ing is allowed. To view the updated policy, visit the         on properties such as national wildlife refuges.
       permitted during the Six-day Firearm or Permit                                       State Park Service website atNJParksandForests.
       Muzzleloader seasons.                                                                org/stand-blind_policy.htm.

         Firearms, Bows and Ammunition Legal for Deer Hunting
         Season(s)                                      Weapon Type                                Gauge, Caliber or Draw Weight                         Projectile(s)               Firearm sights; Bow releases
          Permit Bow
          Winter Bow
           Fall Bow

                                                                                           35 pounds pull at archer’s draw length (long and   Arrows must be fitted with a well-
                                                                                                                                                                                   Handheld release devices are
                                        Bow: long, recurve, compound or crossbow.          recurve bows) or peak weight (compound bow) or     sharpened metal broadhead with a
                                                                                                                                                                                   permitted
                                                                                           75 pounds minimum draw weight (crossbow)           minimum width of ¾"

                                        Muzzleloader: rifle or smoothbore,
          Muzzleloader

                                        single-barrel, single-shot. Flintlock,             Rifle: not less than .44 caliber
            Season
            Permit

                                                                                                                                              Must be loaded with a single pro-
                                        percussion and in-line ignitions permitted.        Smoothbore: not smaller than 20 gauge and not                                           Telescopic sights permitted
                                                                                                                                              jectile only
                                        Electronic ignitions are not legal. Double-        larger than 10 gauge
                                        barrel firearms prohibited.
                                                                                           35 pounds pull at archer’s draw length (long and   Arrows must be fitted with a well-    NOTE: bowhunters must possess
                                        Bow: long, recurve, compound or crossbow.          recurve bows) or peak weight (compound bow) or     sharpened metal broadhead with a     both a firearm and a bow and
                                                                                           75 pounds minimum draw weight (crossbow)           minimum width of ¾"                  arrow license during this season.
               Six-day Firearm Season

                                                                                                                                              Slugs: lead, lead alloy or copper    Shotgun must have an adjust-
                                                                                           Not smaller than 20 gauge and not larger than      rifled slug or sabotted slug
                                        Shotgun: single or double barrel, rifled bore                                                                                               able open iron or peep sight or a
                                                                                           10 gauge, capable of holding no more than three
                                        or smoothbore                                                                                         Buck shot: sizes not smaller than #4 scope affixed if hunter is hunting
                                                                                           shells
                                                                                                                                              (0.24") nor larger than #000 (0.36") with or in possession of slugs
                                                                                                                                              Muzzleloading rifle: single
                                        Muzzleloader: single-shot, single barrel rifle      Muzzleloading rifle: single shot not less than
                                                                                                                                              projectile
                                        OR single or double-barrel smoothbore shot-        .44 caliber
                                        gun. Flintlock, percussion and in-line ignitions                                                      Smoothbore: buck shot not smaller Telescopic sights permitted
                                                                                           Smoothbore: single or double-barrel not smaller
                                        permitted. Electronic ignitions are not legal.                                                        than #4 (0.24") nor larger than #000
                                                                                           than 20 gauge and not larger than 10 gauge
                                                                                                                                              (0.36") or a single projectile
                                                                                                                                              Slugs: lead, lead alloy or copper    Shotgun must have an adjust-
                                                                                           Not smaller than 20 gauge and not larger than      rifled slug or sabot slug
            Permit Shotgun

                                        Shotgun: single or double barrel, rifled bore                                                                                               able open iron or peep sight or a
                                                                                           10 gauge, capable of holding no more than three
                                        or smoothbore                                                                                         Buck shot: sizes not smaller than #4 scope affixed if hunter is hunting
               Season

                                                                                           shells
                                                                                                                                              (0.24") nor larger than #000 (0.36") with or in possession of slugs
                                        Muzzleloader: single or double-barrel                                                                 Buck shot: sizes not smaller than
                                                                                           Not smaller than 20 gauge and not larger than
                                        smoothbores only (no rifles.) Flintlock, per-                                                          #4 (0.24") nor larger than #000                      —
                                                                                           10 gauge
                                        cussion and in-line ignitions permitted                                                               (0.36") or a single projectile

34   |     New Jersey Hunting & Trapping Digest                                                                      NJFishandWildlife.com                                                                  2019 Issue
Decoys and                                                   antlered deer each during the Fall Bow and Win-
                                                             ter Bow seasons. Hunters who want to pursue
                                                                                                                    %R%TTPI
Electronic Devices
                                                                                                                    %(E]
                                                             and harvest an antlered deer during the Permit
                                                             Bow Season must purchase a buck permit valid
• Persons may hunt with the aid of deer decoys
                                                             only when used in conjunction with the zone-spe-
  statewide in those zones open for deer hunting
                                                             cific antlerless Bow Permit. For permit purchas-
  only during the Fall Bow, Permit Bow and Win-
  ter Bow seasons. When carrying or moving deer
  decoys for the purpose of hunting, persons must
                                                             ing deadline, see Deer Season Permits, page 18.
                                                           • Bowhunters may take antlered deer with their                Deer Love
  wear a fluorescent orange hat or outer garment
  consisting of at least 200 square inches of fluores-
                                                             bow during the Six-day Firearm season, pro-
                                                             vided that they have a current and valid fire-           New Jersey Apples!
                                                             arm license in addition to an archery license,
  cent orange material, which shall be visible from all                                                                Apples are a favorite feed
                                                             or have an All-around Sportsman License. Bow
  sides as currently required for firearm deer hunting.
• It is unlawful to hunt for deer with the aid of an
                                                             hunters who bag an antlered deer during the            source among New Jersey deer.
                                                             Six-day Firearm Season with their bow must
  electronic calling device or any device that casts
  a beam of light upon the deer.
                                                             use the Harvest Report for the Six-day season           Buy direct from the farmer!
                                                             from their firearm or All-around Sportsman
                                                             License only. However, during the overlapping                           For information of local sources of
Bag Limits                                                   Six-day Firearm Season, bowhunters with a valid                         New Jersey apple farmers offering
                                                                                                                                     deer feed, contact: The New Jersey
                                                             Permit Bow Season zone permit in those areas
• For all seasons except Six-day Firearm, properly                                                                                   Apple Industry Advisory Council at
                                                             governed by Regulation Sets 4–8 may continue
  licensed and permitted hunters are limited to                                                                                      (609) 292-8854 (ask for Bill Walker)
                                                             to hunt using their bow and arrow license and
  taking one antlered buck per season, regardless
                                                             must register their harvest with their Permit Bow
  of the number of antlerless, zone-specific permits
                                                             Season zone permit Harvest Report Number.
  purchased, when applicable.
                                                           • Firearm hunters legally may take two antlered deer
• During fall bow in early season zones, the hunter
                                                             during the Six-day Firearm Season on a firearm or
  need only harvest one antlerless deer to satisfy the
                                                             All-around Sportsman License. Hunters will be
  antlerless-first requirement and may then harvest
                                                             assigned a Confirmation Number upon reporting
  a buck in any zone where the early season is open.
                                                             their first Six-day Firearm Season buck using the
• Bag limits for the fall bow and winter bow seasons
                                                             new Automated Harvest Report System, allow-
  are as prescribed for each zone (see Regulation Sets,
                                                             ing the immediate pursuit and harvest of a second
  page 38) except that once a hunter has met the
                                                             buck. Hunters who want to harvest an antlered
  bag limit in a given regulation set, he or she may not
                                                             deer during the Permit Shotgun or Permit Muz-
  harvest additional deer from any zone in that regu-
                                                             zleloader seasons must purchase a buck permit for
  lation set or in one of identical or more restrictive
                                                             the corresponding season, valid only when used
  bag limits. However, the hunter may subsequently
                                                             in conjunction with the zone-specific antlerless
  hunt in a zone with a more liberal (greater) antler-
                                                             Shotgun or Muzzleloader permit. If hunters take
  less bag limit as described in the regulation sets.
                                                             a second antlered deer during the Six-day Firearm
• Bowhunters may take two antlered deer legally
                                                             Season, their Shotgun Permit Season bag limit is
  on a Bow or All-around Sportsman License, one

    Deer Hunting—General Seasons vs. Permit Seasons
  New Jersey has six distinct deer hunting sea-             muzzleloader) for the deer management zone in          All deer permits (Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Bow
  sons, all of which require a hunting license and          which you are hunting. These deer permits are          permits and their respective Buck permits) are
  three that also require a zone-specific permit.           valid only for taking antlerless deer. To harvest an   valid for the duration of the season—even when
                                                            antlered buck during any permit season, the hunter     the season crosses into the new year. Numer-
  General Deer Seasons                                      must purchase a buck permit (one per person per        ous deer management zones have seasons that
                                                            season) which is not zone-specific but may be          begin in November/December and end in Janu-
  Three general seasons include the Fall Bow,               used only in a zone for which the hunter possesses     ary/February of the following year.
  Winter Bow and Six-day Firearm (buck) state-              the antlerless zone permit. (See page 33.)
  wide seasons open to any hunter bearing a valid                                                                  All Rifle Permits (not the deer muzzleloader per-
  license corresponding to the season. During these         During the Permit Bow Season hunters must              mit) are valid for the fiscal year from July 1–June 30.
  statewide seasons, hunters are not restricted to          possess a valid Bow and Arrow or All-around
  hunting particular deer management zones but              Sportsmen license plus a Bow Permit for the            Find Regulations by Season
  still must abide by the specific season dates and         specific zone being hunted.
                                                                                                                   Know the deer management zone where you will
  bag limits regulated on a zone-basis. Consult the         During the Permit Shotgun and Permit                   hunt — use the Deer Hunting Location Viewer at
  Regulation Sets beginning on page 38.                     Muzzleloader seasons hunters must possess a            NJFishandwildlife.com/ahrs_deer_viewer.htm to
  For these general seasons, a deer Harvest                 valid Firearm or All-around Sportsmen license plus     determine zone if unsure. Go to the Regulation
  Report is an integral part of every hunting               either a Shotgun or Muzzleloader Permit for the        Sets table on page 38. Zones numbers are listed
  license valid for taking deer.                            specific zone being hunted. For the Permit Muzzle-     below each regulation set column heading. Con-
                                                            loader season, the hunter must also possess a          firm season dates and bag limits according to the
  Permit Deer Seasons                                       valid Rifle Permit. (See Muzzleloaders page 27.)       chosen sporting arm and the corresponding dates.
                                                                                                                   Several deer seasons may be open concurrently.
  Three permit seasons include the Permit Bow,
  Permit Shotgun and Permit Muzzleloader zone-
                                                            Expiration Dates
  specific seasons open to any hunter bearing a             All licenses (Firearm, Bow and Arrow and All-
  valid license corresponding to the season plus            around Sportsman licenses) are valid for the cal-
  an appropriate deer permit (bow, shotgun or               endar year from January 1 through December 31.
                                                                                                                                                                             35
Deer Hunting
     R EG U L AT I O N S
       then restricted to antlerless deer only. For purchas-   In the field:                                              After Harvesting a Deer
       ing deadlines, see Deer Season Permits, page 18.        Upon retrieval, the deer is considered to be in
     • Remember, although two antlered bucks may be            your possession. The hunter must:                         Even when in possession of deer that have been
       taken during the Six-day Firearm Season, when           1. Immediately fill out the Harvest Report that            reported already, each deer must be tagged with
       that occurs, the antlered buck bag limit for the           is part of your license or permit (or a Har-           their assigned Confirmation Number, when appli-
       Permit Shotgun Season is then zero. Hunters                vest Report card found on page 31) with                cable, and other information. See Mandatory Har-
       may choose: take either two antlered bucks dur-            the exception of the Confirmation Number (a             vest Report and Tag Requirements on this page for
       ing Six-day Firearm Season, or one antlered buck           number automatically assigned by the system            tagging details. See page 31 for a Harvest Report
       during Six-day Firearm Season and one antlered             which replaces the metal possession seal). Leave       Card for use when each of your license or permit
       buck during Permit Shotgun Season (while pos-              the Harvest Report attached to the license.            Harvest Reports have been filled. Be discreet when
       sessing an Antlered Buck Permit.) The antlerless           The Harvest Report is not used as a tag. See           transporting your deer to the butcher, taxidermist
       bag limit for these permit seasons will be one, two        item 2 below for tagging details.                      or home; rinse away excess blood, turn the field-
       or unlimited depending on the zone and season.                                                                    dressed side to face in toward your vehicle and push
                                                               2. Hunters are required to tag all deer upon
       See Regulation Sets, page 38.                                                                                     the tongue back into the deer’s mouth.
                                                                  harvest and before transporting the deer. The
     • Note: Only one deer at a time may be taken
                                                                  tag must include the hunter's CID, both the
       during any permit season even if you possess
       both an antlered and antlerless permit, except
                                                                  date and zone of harvest, antler points and            Deer Recovery with
                                                                  confirmation number, if applicable. Make
       in those zones in Regulation Sets 6, 7 and 8
                                                                  your own tag or use the Deer Harvest Report
                                                                                                                         Tracking Dogs, Restricted
       where two deer at a time may be harvested dur-
                                                                  Card on page 31.                                       Dog handlers in possession of a New Jersey Divi-
       ing the Permit Bow, Permit Shotgun and Permit
                                                                                                                         sion of Fish and Wildlife-issued Tracking Dog Per-
       Muzzleloader seasons.                                   3. Report your harvest via the Automated Har-
                                                                                                                         mit may assist hunters to recover legally harvested
                                                                  vest Reporting System (by phone or online as
                                                                                                                         deer during the day or night. For a list of authorized
                                                                  printed on every hunting license and permit)
     Mandatory Harvest Report                                     by 8 p.m. during the Fall Bow Season or by
                                                                                                                         handlers with certified tracking dogs, go to www.
                                                                                                                         NJFishandWildlife.com/deer_trackingdog.htm.
     and Tag Requirements                                         7 p.m. for all other seasons. If unable to access
                                                                                                                         For tracking dog permit information, see Track-
                                                                  the Automated Harvest Reporting System by
     All hunters are required to report harvested deer                                                                   ing Dog Permits under Permits, Other, page 14.
                                                                  the designated time, the deer shall be reported
     on the day killed using the Automated Harvest
                                                                  immediately by telephone to the nearest Fish
     Report System and now must immediately tag
     your deer.
                                                                  and Wildlife Law Enforcement office (see page            After Reporting Your Deer –
                                                                  41 for Law Enforcement listings). The hunter
                                                                  must continue to attempt accessing the Auto-
                                                                                                                         Possession or Sale
     Before you go hunting:                                       mated Harvest Report System until they receive         • The Confirmation Number assigned by the Auto-
     1. Before your hunt, verify that you have the
                                                                  a Confirmation Number for that deer.                      mated Harvest Report System must be retained
        correct year’s license and proper, valid zone
                                                               4. Record your assigned Confirmation Number                  until all venison is consumed and as long as you
        permit. This is essential—both to report your
                                                                  on your Harvest Report or card. Keep this                keep any deer parts, including antlers. Persons with
        harvest and to comply with the law!
                                                                  report in your license holder – Do not attach to         deer mounts should write their name, assigned
     2. Use the Deer Hunting Location Viewer at
                                                                  the deer. Retain your Confirmation Number as              Confirmation Number, date of kill and season of
        NJFishandWildlife.com/ahrs_deer_viewer.htm
                                                                  long as the deer or its parts are in possession. To      harvest on back of the mount for future reference.
        with easy instructions above the viewer’s map.
                                                                  report the harvest of additional antlerless deer       • It is illegal to sell deer meat, deer antlers or any
        Use this app to determine the deer management
                                                                  during the same season (and zone, if applicable)         part of a deer except deer hides, tails and the
        zone (zone), county, township, and deer manage-
                                                                  reuse the same Harvest Report Number from                lower portion of the legs. However, nonprofit
        ment unit (unit) where you hunt. Write down all
                                                                  that season’s antlerless Harvest Report for all          organizations conducting wild game dinners for
        this information and keep it accessible while in the
                                                                  other antlerless deer taken in this season. Since        social and fundraising events may offer game or
        field for when you need to tag and report a deer.
                                                                  the license or permit report only has space for          furbearer meat (the sale of which is otherwise
                                                                  two Confirmation Numbers, use the Harvest                 prohibited) provided that the meat has been
                                                                  Report Card in this Digest (page 31) and on              harvested, stored and processed in accordance
                                                                  our website, or make your own card on which              with applicable laws and regulations.
                                                                  to record your harvest data and Confirmation
                                                                  Number for each deer.
                                                                                                                         Spotlighting
                                                               NOTE: A hunter may be required to produce the
                                                                                                                         Spotlighting deer during hours of darkness from
                                                               head of the deer—or produce records relating to
                                                                                                                         a vehicle is illegal while in possession of a weapon
                                                               the location of the head such as the butcher or taxi-
                                                                                                                         capable of killing deer, whether the weapon is cased,
                                                               dermist who has possession of the deer’s head—
                                                                                                                         uncased or in a locked compartment. This does not
                                                               upon request by a conservation police officer within
                                                                                                                         apply to the regular use of headlights when traveling
                                                               48 hours after a deer harvest is reported.
                                                                                                                         in a normal manner on public or private roads.
                                                                 Harvest Reports from 2019 permits are valid for
                                                               the entire length of the Permit Bow, Permit Muzzle-
                                                               loader and Permit Shotgun seasons, including Janu-
                                                               ary and February 2020, if the zone specified on the            Warning to Violators
                                                               original permit is open for hunting during these dates.
                                                                 When regulations allow taking multiple deer,              Be advised:
                                                               hunting may resume after each deer is reported              two violations of wildlife
                                                               and a Confirmation Number assigned.                          management area regulations
                                                                 The online license system, including the Harvest          will result in loss of all sport-
                                                               Reporting section, is optimized for smartphones             ing licenses and privileges for
                                                               and other mobile devices. Mobile device users must           a period of five years.
                                                               provide a valid email address and phone number.
36                                                                                  NJFishandWildlife.com                                                             2019 Issue
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