NJ Permit Bow Deer Season Opens Oct. 25

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

Oct. 22, 2003

NJ PERMIT BOW DEER SEASON OPENS OCT. 25

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Division of Fish and Wildlife, reminds hunters that the 2003 New Jersey Permit Bow Season for deer will open statewide on Saturday, Oct. 25. Bag limit and season length varies by zone, and hunting hours are half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Hunters should review current regulations in the August hunting issue of the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Digest before going afield.

Archery deer hunting through the permit bow season provides another outstanding opportunity for hunters. With the regular bow season off to a great start, hunters may continue to harvest deer by purchasing additional permits. Permits are available at selected license issuing agents and will be available on a continuing basis throughout the season. A list of license agents selling deer permits is available in the Fish and Wildlife Digest and on the Division's website at www.njfishandwildlife.com/agentlst.htm. It is important to remember that although multiple permits can be purchased during the permit bow season, hunters are limited to taking only one antlered buck.

“Last year, hunters harvested 9,051 deer during the permit bow season,” said Martin McHugh, director of the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “Bow hunters obviously enjoy their sport and extend their season as long as possible when given the opportunity.”

The general season format is Oct. 25 to Nov. 22 and Nov. 27 to 29. However, the season is extended from Nov. 27 to Dec. 31, (excluding Dec. 25), in the following zones: 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 36, 41, 42, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 63.

To purchase a permit at a license agent, a hunter must present his or her valid 2003 hunting license and $28 for each permit. Youth hunters must present their valid youth hunting license and $12 for each permit. Hunters do not need to fill out applications for permits, nor do they need to submit stubs from their licenses.

All 2003 hunting licenses include tear-off antlered buck stubs. A hunter who takes an antlered buck must date, initial and attach a buck stub along with a transportation tag to the deer before transporting it to the deer check station. Upon checking the deer, the buck stub and the transportation tag must be surrendered to the check station operator. Conservation officers have noticed that some hunters are leaving their buck stubs attached to transportation tags completed for antlerless deer. Hunters should carefully examine both sides of their license when completing and detaching transportation tags for antlerless deer to ensure that they do not detach a buck stub from the license until needed to tag a buck.