Waterfowl and Migratory Birds in New Jersey

The cost of a New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp increased from $5 to $10 for NJ resident waterfowl hunters and $10 to $15 for non-resident hunters. The fee increase was supported by sportsmen and sportswomen and will provide much-needed funding to protect New Jersey's vulnerable wetlands and wildlife. While the cost of conservation has skyrocketed over the last several decades, the price of the stamp had remained unchanged since 1996.

Waterfowl and Migratory Birds in New Jersey

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New Jersey Waterfowl Hunter Survey

During fall 2023, NJ Fish and Wildlife conducted a comprehensive survey of New Jersey waterfowl hunters. An introductory paragraph and survey link was sent by e-mail to hunters who purchased a NJ Waterfowl Stamp in at least one of the past 3 years and provided an e-mail address. In addition, the survey was sent to over 40,000 individuals who were subscribed to NJFW’s Hunting Listserv. A report of survey results is available at the link below:

2023 NJ Waterfowl Hunter Survey

With hundreds of miles of ocean and bayshore coastline, coastal and inland wetlands, small ponds and large lakes, New Jersey hosts an enormous variety of waterfowl species. Waterfowl can be found in abundance in the varied wetland habitats throughout the state including wood ducks in the beaver swamps of northern New Jersey to snow geese in the vast salt marshes along Delaware Bay.

In fact, New Jersey’s salt marshes and coastal back bay habitats are of global significance given that over one-third of the black ducks in the eastern United States and over two-thirds of North America’s Atlantic brant spend winter in these marshes.

Due to the migratory nature of waterfowl, the research and management activities of Fish and Wildlife’s Waterfowl Ecology and Management Program are generally conducted on a flyway or continental scale requiring the participation of numerous state, provincial, federal (US and Canadian) and non-government partners. New Jersey is a member of the Atlantic Flyway Council which provides the means to participate in promulgating annual hunting regulations and long-term management plans in cooperation with partner states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The primary objective of Fish and Wildlife’s Waterfowl Program is to work in a cooperative manner with the numerous government and non-government agencies responsible for the populations and habitats of migratory game birds.

What Do I Need To Hunt Migratory Birds In New Jersey?

To hunt crows: a New Jersey hunting license.

To hunt woodcock, rail, snipe, coots or moorhens (gallinule): a New Jersey hunting license and Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification.

To hunt ducks, geese or brant: a New Jersey hunting license, HIP certification, Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp and New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp. Both federal and state stamps are required for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older and must be signed in ink across the stamp’s face. Federal stamps are available at U.S. post offices and online. State stamps are available from license agents or purchased and printed from the license website.

Waterfowl Hunting Information

NOTE: Migratory Bird Season information is included in the Hunting & Trapping Digest, published in August. The migratory bird regulations booklet is no longer produced.