The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife will offer leftover fall turkey permits at selected Division offices throughout the state beginning Monday, September 27, 2004. This special over-the-counter sale will enable hunters who did not apply for a permit, were not selected in the lottery, or who wish to obtain an extra permit an opportunity to do so. The Fall Turkey Hunting Season is Monday, October 25 – Saturday, October 30, 2004.

As long as the supply lasts, leftover permits will be sold Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at four Division field offices and the Trenton office. There will be no Saturday sales for fall turkey permits.

Adults interested in purchasing an unclaimed permit must bring their 2004 hunting license and cash or check for $21 per permit. Youth hunters must bring their youth license, hunter education certificate or previous year’s youth license and cash or check for $12 per permit.

The following Turkey Hunting Areas (THA) are available for over-the-counter sale at the Pequest, Northern Region, Central Region (Assunpink WMA), Southern Region and Trenton offices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10. THA 9 has a limited number of permits available (less than 30) and will be sold only at the Northern Region and Pequest offices. Additionally, there are less than five (5) permits available for THA 20 and they will be sold at the Southern Region Office ONLY. Hunters should note this year that the Nacote Creek Office will NOT be open for the sale of fall turkey permits.

It is not necessary for the hunter to appear in person, but the individual buying the permit must have the hunter’s 2004 hunting license and necessary fee. An individual standing in line is limited to purchasing permits for a maximum of three people. Photocopies of licenses will NOT be accepted.

Additional permits can be purchased for any hunting area with permits still available. Hunters may buy as many permits as they wish, however, in the interest of fairness, hunters may only purchase one permit per license as long as there is a line.

Youths who did not apply through the mail-in lottery and are still able to hunt using their Youth Hunting License may purchase a permit for any area that is open for the Fall Turkey Hunting Season, even if the area sold out in the lottery. This applies only to their FIRST 2004 Fall Turkey Season Permit. Any subsequent permit purchased must be for a zone that still has permits remaining.

Permits will be sold on a first come, first served basis at the following offices:

Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center, nine miles west of Hackettstown on Rt. 46 in Oxford, Warren County

Northern Region Office, westbound Rt. 78, take exit 13 to Rt.173; eastbound Rt.78, take exit 12 to Rt.173 in Hampton, Hunterdon County

Southern Region Office, one mile south of Rt. 73 on Blue Anchor Rd. in Sicklerville, Camden County

Central Region Office (Assunpink WMA), exit 11 off Rt. 195, head north, at second intersection turn right. The office is at the corner of East Branch and Eldridge Rds. Located in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth County

Main Office, 501 East State Street (3rd floor) in Trenton, Mercer County.