The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds bow hunters the 2014 New Jersey Fall Bow Deer Season opens on Saturday, September 13 in certain zones. After the early opener, the statewide season kicks off on Saturday, October 4 and runs through October 31. Permit bow season then starts up on November 1; permits are now on sale online and at license agents.

Bow Season Reminders

The Automated Harvest Report System (AHRS) is to be used for reporting deer during all deer hunting seasons. More information about the system is found on the AHRS page and on pages 32-33 in the 2014-15 NJ Hunting & Trapping Digest.

Hunters are reminded of the requirement to report complete harvest location information. In addition to Zone and County, Township and Unit information is particularly important. Hunters are urged to have this information available before going to their hunting location to speed the reporting process when they access the AHRS, whether by phone or online.

The online Deer Hunting Location Viewer enables hunters to pinpoint their hunting location, providing them with Zone, County, Township and Unit information.

Complete harvest location information is very important when determining changes to deer hunting regulations. Hunters are asked to make every effort to have this data BEFORE going into the field. If location information is determined after a harvest is reported, report it to:

Dan Roberts at 908-735-7040 for Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties
Jodi Powers at 609-259-6965 for Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties
Joe Leskie at 609-748-2043 for Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties

Sunday bow hunting is allowed on state Wildlife Management Areas and on private property ONLY. It is extremely important that all hunters know the boundary lines of the property they are hunting.

New Jersey has more than 750,000 acres of public lands open for deer hunting. A current listing of lands specifically identified for deer hunting can be found at www.njfishandwildlife.com/huntland.htm. Online maps of Wildlife Management Areas are also available and can be viewed at www.njfishandwildlife.com/wmaland.htm.

Hunters do need to be aware of Safety Zone restrictions regardless of their hunting location (see page 89 of the Digest or the Safety Zone Information Flyer (pdf, 58kb).

Young hunters will have their own special day again as the popular Youth Bow Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, September 27.