New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

January 29, 2001

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife, the 2001 Turkey Hunting Permit Application and Season Information Supplement will be available at license agents and Division offices statewide in early February. As a result, the application period for filing 2001 turkey permit applications has been extended to February 28. All applications must be postmarked by February 28.

"There are significant changes regarding permits for the 2001 New Jersey Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season," said Division Director Bob McDowell. "As a result, hunters are urged to consult the supplement prior to applying for a permit."

This year, for the spring gobbler hunting season, the permit allotment for each Turkey Hunting Area was divided into Private Land Turkey Hunting Permits and General Turkey Hunting Permits. By creating these separate permit types, an additional 6,470 permits were generated statewide, mostly for private land.

Wild turkey hunting permit quotas have always been based on hunter density per square mile of turkey habitat to maintain safety and provide quality hunting experiences. Because turkey hunting in the Garden State has become so popular, competition for permits in the early part of the spring season has become intense especially in certain Turkey Hunting Areas with large amounts of public land. This competition made it difficult for hunters with access to private land to obtain permits in these zones.

"By creating the private land permit and allocating permits in each zone based on relative amounts of private and public land, the competition for permits will decrease and hunter density will be more evenly distributed," said Fish and Game Council Chairman John Bradway. "The goal of the Fish and Game Council is to offer New Jersey sportsmen and women as many turkey hunting opportunities as possible, while maintaining a safe and enjoyable hunting atmosphere. This change in the permit system accomplishes both goals."

Private Land Turkey Hunting Permits are valid only for hunting on properly posted private lands on which the hunter possessing the permit has authorization to hunt. General Turkey Hunting Permits may be used on both public and private lands within a specific Turkey Hunting Area but except E period, do not allow for hunting on Saturdays. As an incentive to encourage hunters with access to private land to apply for the private land permit, this permit has four 6-day hunting periods that include four Saturdays. Since there are more Private Land Turkey Hunting Permits available than General Turkey Hunting Permits in most zones, applicants are urged to apply for the private land permits whenever possible.

Hunters with a 2001 firearm or archery license may apply for up to two spring season Private Land and/or General (public land) Turkey Hunting Permits, as well as one Fall Season Permit. The structure of the fall season remains the same as last year; it is not broken down into private/public land periods. The price per permit for adults is $21; the cost per permit for youths under the age of 16 is $12.

Farmers may apply for both the Farmer Turkey Hunting Permit and the regular General Turkey Hunting Permit. The farmer permit application period is also Feb. 1-28. These application forms are currently available from county agricultural agents, Division offices statewide and on line in PDF format.

In the event permits are available after the mail-in lottery, they will be sold at selected Division offices throughout the state. Call the 24-hour computerized permit hotline at (609) 292-9192 in mid-April for more information regarding these sales.

Wild turkey season dates for 2001 are as follows:

Spring Season General Hunting Periods:

A. Monday, April 23 - Friday, April 27, 2001
B. Monday, April 30 - Friday, May 4, 2001
C. Monday, May 7 - Friday, May 11, 2001
D. Monday, May 14 - Friday, May 18, 2001 and Monday, May 21 - Friday, May 25, 2001
E. Saturday, April 28; Saturday, May 5; Saturday, May 12; and Saturday, May 19, 2001

Spring Season Private Hunting Periods:

J. Monday, April 23 - Saturday, April 28, 2001
K. Monday, April 30 - Saturday, May 5, 2001
L. Monday, May 7 - Saturday, May 12, 2001
M. Monday, May 14 - Saturday, May 19, 2001 and Monday, May 21 - Friday, May 25, 2001

Fall Season:

H. Monday, October 29 - Wednesday, October 31, 2001
I. Thursday, November 1 - Saturday, November 3, 2001