New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife

For more information contact:
Paulette Nelson at (609) 292-9173

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, farmer deer application materials will be available at Division and county agricultural agent offices statewide in mid-July. The application period is August 1-15.

Farmer deer shotgun and farmer deer muzzleloader permits are available in all zones EXCEPT military bases and federal refuges. Farmer deer bow permits will NOT be available in the following zones: 24, 37, 38, 39, 40, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 64.

Qualified farmers may apply for one shotgun permit AND one muzzleloader permit in any deer management zone IN ADDITION TO one bow permit in any management zone where a bow season is prescribed. In addition, a farmer may apply for deer permits as a regular hunting license applicant. The regular deer permit application will be included in the hunting issue of the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Digest available at license agents and Division offices in early August.

The Division reminds applicants that only the owner or lessee of a farm who resides thereon, or the immediate members of his/her family who also reside thereon, may apply for special farmer shotgun, muzzleloader, and bow deer permits. An applicant must be 10 years of age or older to apply for the farmer shotgun and bow permit, and 14 years of age or older to apply for the farmer muzzleloader permit.

The 1998 game code defines a farm as an area of five acres or more producing a gross income in excess of $500 and is tax assessed as farmland.

For current permit information, call the 24-hour permit hotline at (609) 292-9192.