New Jersey Deer Season 2023-2024 New Dates, Regulations & Bags!

Deer hunting season is an exciting and highly anticipated time of year for many hunters in New Jersey. With separate seasons for archery, muzzleloader, shotgun, and youth hunts, there are plenty of opportunities to get out in the woods and fields in search of white-tailed deer. Here is a comprehensive overview of the New Jersey deer season 2023-2024, including dates, bag limits, licenses, permits, and key regulations.

New Jersey Deer Hunting Season Dates 2023-2024

New Jersey offers deer hunting opportunities from September through February each year. Here are the seasons and dates for 2023-2024:

New Jersey Deer Hunting Regulations

Hunters must abide by the following general statewide regulations:

• Legal Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
• Reporting Harvests: All harvested deer must be reported through the NJ Automated Harvest Report System (AHRS) at 855-448-6865 or online at NJFishandWildlife.com. Hunters will receive a confirmation number to keep with the deer.
• Firearms: Only shotguns, muzzleloader rifles, revolvers, and long, recurve, compound bows permitted. See NJ hunting regulations for details.
• Hunter Orange: Required for all firearm deer seasons. Also required for ground blinds during bow season.

In addition to statewide regulations, rules and bag limits may vary by Deer Management Zone. Be sure to consult the hunting regulations for the zone you will be hunting in.

New Jersey Deer Management Zones

New Jersey is divided into deer management zones, with boundaries and correlating regulation sets designed to help manage deer populations locally.

There are 8 zones in the state:

• Zone 1: Northwest region including Sussex and parts of Warren County

• Zone 2: North region including Morris, Passaic, parts of Warren and Sussex Counties

• Zone 3: Central region including Hunterdon and Somerset Counties

• Zone 4: Western region including Mercer County and parts of Hunterdon, Morris and Somerset Counties

• Zone 5: South region including Middlesex and Monmouth Counties

• Zone 6: Southeast region including Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem Counties

• Zone 7: Delaware region including parts of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties

• Zone 8: Coastal region including parts of Atlantic, Ocean and Cape May Counties

See zone map and descriptions at NJ Fish & Wildlife. Use the NJ Hunting & Trapping Explorer to determine your deer management zone and access regulations.

New Jersey Deer Hunting License and Permits

To hunt deer in New Jersey, you must have:

• A hunting license or apprentice hunting license
• Deer permits specific to the season
• Harvest Report Confirmation Number for each deer taken

Licenses: All hunters must have a valid hunting license. Youth hunters under 16 need an apprentice hunting license.

Deer Permits: In addition to your hunting license, you need deer permits for the zone and season you are hunting in, which can include:

• Zone-specific antlerless permits
• Antlered buck permits
• Special youth permits

You can purchase permits starting September 11, 2023. See permit regulations for limits.

New Jersey Deer Hunting Bag Limits

Deer bag limits help manage deer populations. Hunters should be familiar with zone-specific bag limits:

• Only one antlered buck may be taken per season, regardless of permits purchased
• Antlerless bag limits vary by zone and season
• In most zones, the annual limit is 6 deer total
• Additional antlerless permits may be purchased to take more antlerless deer in some zones

Consult New Jersey deer hunting seasons and bag limits by zone found in the NJ hunting digest.

Key Things New Jersey Deer Hunters Should Know

In addition to licenses, permits, and bag limits, deer hunters in New Jersey should be aware of the following:

• Report all harvests through AHRS and keep confirmation numbers
• Attach transportation tag to harvested deer before moving it
• Hunter orange required during all firearm seasons
• Coyotes and foxes may be harvested incidentally while deer hunting during certain seasons
• Consider using a certified tracking dog if needed to recover your harvest
• Know the boundaries of the deer management zone and regulations where you hunt
• Be familiar with general rules, legal firearms and ammunition, wanton waste laws, etc.
• Purchase antlered buck permits in time to match your season

Review the New Jersey deer hunting digest thoroughly and follow all regulations to have a safe, legal, and ethical hunt. With smart preparation and planning, you will be ready for New Jersey’s deer season. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

Dates & Regulation source: DEP NJ

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James Ellis

James Ellis, the passionate creator of DeerSeason.Org, is dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for wildlife. With over a decade of experience in exploring the world of deer, his writing reflects an extensive understanding of these magnificent creatures

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