Deer Hunting in New JerseyTake note of the hunting zones in New Jersey and regulation sets that apply to open season dates (firearm vs. archery) when planning your hunt. Bag limits also differ between zones and dates. Archery - Fall Bow
- Zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 36, 41, 49, 50, 51, 5, 19, 25, 42, 48, 2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47, 6: September 13 – October 3, 2025 and October 4 – 31, 2025
- Zones 30, 55, 63, 65, 1, 3, 4, 18, 22, 26, 21, 23, 24, 34, 43, 45, 46: October 4 – 31, 2025
- Youth Day (All zones): September 27, 2025
- Permit Bow
- Zones 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 36, 49, 50, 51, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 41, 5, 19, 25, 42, 48, 2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47, 6: November 1 – December 24, 2025 and December 26 – 31, 2025
- Zones 30, 55, 63, 65, 1, 3, 4, 18, 22, 26: November 1 – 30, 2025
- Zones 21, 23, 24, 34, 43: November 1 – 22, 2025
- Winter Bow
- Zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 36, 41, 49, 50, 51: January 1 – February 21, 2026
- Zones 5, 19, 25, 42, 48, 2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47, 6, 30, 55, 63, 65, 1, 3, 4, 18, 22, 26, 21, 23, 24, 34, 43: January 1 – 31, 2026
Confirm all archery dates, bag limits, zones, and regulations sets with the NJFW before your hunt.
Firearm - Youth Firearm Day (All Zones): November 22, 2025
- Permit Muzzleloader
- Zones 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 36, 49, 50, 51: November 24 – 26 & 28, 2025 (antlerless only) and December 1 – 2, 15 – 16, 20 – 24, 26 – 31, 2025, and January 1 – February 14, 2026 (either-sex)
- Zones 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 41: December 8 – 13, 2025 (antlerless only) and December 1 – 2, 15 – 16, 20 – 24, 26 – 31, 2025, and January 1 – February 14, 2026 (either-sex)
- Zones 5, 19, 25, 42, 48: December 1 – 2, 15 – 16, 20 – 24, 26 – 31, 2025, and January 1 – 31, 2026
- Zones 2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47, 6, 30, 55, 63, 65: December 1 – 2, 15 – 16, 20 – 24, 26 – 31, 2025, and January 1 – 10, 2026
- Zones 1, 3, 4, 18, 22, 26: December 1 – 2, 15 – 16, 20 – 24, and 26 – 31, 2025
- Zones 21, 23, 24, 34, 43: December 1 – 2, 20, 22 – 24, and 26 – 31, 2025
- Permit Shotgun
- Zones 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 36, 49, 50, 51: November 24 – 26, 28, 2025, and December 8 – 13, 2025 (antlerless only); December 17 – 19, 2025 and January 3 – February 14, 2026 (either-sex)
- Zones 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 41: December 8 – 13, 2025 (antlerless only) and December 17 – 19, 2025 and January 3 – February 14, 2026 (either-sex)
- Zones 5, 19, 25, 42, 48: December 17– 19, 2025, and January 3 – 31, 2026
- Zones 2, 16, 27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 47: December 17 – 19, 2025 and January 10 – 17, 2026
- Zones 6, 30, 55, 63, 65, 1, 3, 4, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 34, 43: December 17 – 19, 2025
- Six-Day Firearm (All Zones): December 8 – 13, 2025
Confirm all firearm dates, zones, bag limits, and regulations sets with the NJFW before your hunt.
| TurkeyTurkey season dates are designated by periods and hunting Monday through Friday vs. Saturdays. Also, pay close attention to the hunting hours on the days you plan to hunt. Youth Day: April 19, 2025 Spring Gobbler Season: - Period Y (Ages 10 – 16): April 19 – May 10 (1/2 hour before sunrise to noon) and May 12 – 23, 2025 (1.2 hour before sunrise to sunset)
- Period A (M-F): April 21 – 25, 2025
- Period B (M-F): April 28 – May 2, 2025
- Period C (M-F): May 5 – 9, 2025
- Period D (M-F): May 12 – 16 and May 19 – 23, 2025
- Period E (Saturdays): April 26 – May 3, 10, and 17, 2025
Fall Either-Sex Season:
- Period N: October 26 and October 18 – November 2, 2025
|
Upland Game BirdsNote there is no Sunday hunting except on semi-wild and commercial preserves. Bobwhite Quail (Wild): Closed Bobwhite Quail (Stocked): November 9 – January 31 Chukar partridge, Hungarian partridge, Pheasant: November 9 – February 17 Youth Upland Bird Day: Saturday, November 2 Youth Pheasant Days: November 4 – 8 Semi-Wild Preserves (Pheasant, Quail, Partridge): November 9 – March 15 Commercial Shooting Preserves Pheasant, Quail, Partridge, Mallard: September 1 – May 1 Crow: August 12 – December 7, and December 16 – March 15 (Monday, Thursday, and Saturday only) | Migratory Birds and New Jersey Waterfowl HuntingSeason dates are designated by zones. Youth Waterfowl Day - North Zone: October 11, 2025
- South Zone: October 11, 2025
- Coastal Zone: November 15, 2025
Statewide Veterans and Active Military Day: November 8, 2025
Statewide Joint Youth and Veterans and Active Military Day: January 31, 2026 Duck & Scaup - North Zone: October 18 – 25, 2025 and November 22, 2025 – January 22, 2026
- South Zone: October 18 – 25, 2025 and November 22, 2025 – January 22, 2026
- Coastal Zone: November 22, 2025 – January 30, 2026
Brant
- North Zone: November 22 – 29, 2025 and December 13, 2025 – January 8, 2026
- South Zone: November 22 – 29, 2025 and December 13, 2025 – January 8, 2026
- Coastal Zone: November 22 – 29, 2025 and December 24, 2025 – January 19, 2026
Canada Goose
- September Season (Statewide): September 1 – 30, 2025
- North and South Zones: November 27 – 29, 2025 and December 23, 2025 – January 22, 2026
- Coastal Zone: November 22, 2025 – January 30, 2026
- Special Winter Season: January 23 – February 14, 2026
Light Goose (Statewide)
- Regular Season: October 16, 2025 – February 14, 2026
- Conservation Order (Statewide): February 16 – April 4, 2026
Woodcock
- North Zone: October 18 – 25, 2025 and October 28 – 29, 2025
- South Zone: November 8 – December 6, 2025 and December 20, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Rails and Galinule: September 1 – November 20, 2025
Snipe: September 6, 2025 – January 8, 2026 Crows: August 11 – November 29, 20252 and December 15, 2025 – March 21, 2026 (Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays) |