Question: If I hunt in a zone that is open for the early fall bow season and I shoot antlerless deer, can I then hunt in a more restrictive zone when it opens for the statewide fall bow season?
Answer: Yes, but ONLY IF you haven’t reached the bag limit for that zone.

Question: Do I have to put a tag on my deer before I move it out of the woods?
Answer: Yes. You MUST tag your deer before moving it. NOTE: Do not use the green tag that is attached to your license. You MUST use either a homemade tag or one of the tags found in the Digest or on this website. If making your own tag, please include the following information: full name, CID number, date, hunting season, DMZ, county, township, gender of deer and points if applicable.

Question: What do I do if my deer runs onto a neighboring property that I haven’t obtained permission to be on? Can I go onto that property to retrieve my deer?
Answer: NO. You must obtain permission from the landowner before retrieving your deer. If not, you could receive a citation for trespassing.

Question: Can a neighboring hunter have a tree stand on a property line?
Answer: Yes, a hunter can have a tree stand next to a property line as long as the hunter is not within a safety zone without prior written permission. The safety zone is determined by the distance from an “occupiable building”, not a property line.

Question: What is the new Deer Regulation Set Multi-Zone Permit?
Answer: The Deer Regulation Set Multi-Zone Permit is an optional permit that enables a hunter to save money if he/she wants to hunt antlerless deer in two or more zones in Regulation Set 7 OR Regulation Set 8. For example, instead of buying 3 separate zone permits for $28 each in Regulation Set 7 OR Regulation Set 8, the hunter can now buy one Deer Regulation Set Multi-Zone Permit for $56 and be able to hunt in ALL zones in Regulation Set 7 OR Regulation Set 8. The Deer Regulation Set Multi-Zone Permit is available for Permit Bow, Permit Shotgun, and Permit Muzzleloader. You must still buy an antlered buck permit for the season of your choice to pursue bucks in these zones.

Question: Can I hunt on Green Acres properties?
Answer: Although a property may have signage stating that it is Green Acres, you still must obtain permission to hunt. Not all Green Acres property allow hunting. You must contact the agency that manages the property and ask if hunting is allowed. These properties are usually posted with signs that identify the managing agency.

Question: How do I report a deer for a youth hunter?
Answer: For non-permit seasons (Fall Bow, Six-day Firearm, Winter Bow, Youth Bow Day, Youth Firearm Day) you need to choose “Non-Tag Harvest” when reporting. You must choose this option because there isn’t a tag on the youth license. For Permit Seasons (Permit Bow, Permit Shotgun, Permit Muzzleloader) harvest reporting procedure is the same as an adult license, using the tags on the Youth Permit.

Question: I made a mistake reporting my deer harvest. What do I do?
Answer: Please call 609-223-6072 or email NJDEER@njdepwptest.net to have a deer harvest report corrected.

Question: I am having an issue with my hunting profile and can’t report my deer harvest, who do I contact?
Answer: Please email njdfwlicenses@njdepwptest.net or call 609-292-2965 for assistance with your profile in the license system.

Question: What is the hunter orange requirement when deer hunting from ground blinds?
Answer: Regardless of whether you are hunting with a bow or a firearm, during an open firearm deer season, you MUST display 200 square inches of hunter orange that is visible from all sides. The orange must be atop the blind or within 5 feet of the blind and be displayed higher than the blind or at least 3 feet off the ground, whichever is higher.

Question: Can I shoot a coyote or fox while deer hunting?
Answer: Yes, beginning on the opening day of the statewide Fall Bow season. Deer hunters may take coyote or fox as long as they are not hunting from a tree stand or structure within 300 feet of a baited area and as long as they haven’t reached their bag limit of deer. All harvested coyotes must be reported by 8 pm on the Automated Harvest Report System. Reporting of gray fox is also requested. Hunters may not shoot a coyote or fox while deer hunting in the early fall bow season prior to the statewide fall bow opening day.

Question: I hunt out of state. Can I bring my deer carcass back into New Jersey?
Answer: No. The importation of whole deer carcasses and intact heads into New Jersey is prohibited to prevent Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) from entering New Jersey. Meat with no bones, finished taxidermy heads, bleached skulls and skull caps, hides, cleaned antlers, jaws, and buglers can be brought back into New Jersey. Skull plates, antlers, or skulls from which residual brain tissue has been removed should be soaked in a 30 percent bleach solution for 15 minutes. Other states including New York and Pennsylvania also have the same requirements. Read more information about CWD here.

Question: Can I use deer-derived urine-based lures in New Jersey?
Answer: No. The sale, possession, and use of lures and scents made from deer including deer urine and deer glandular secretions is now banned, even if the product is labeled as being “certified CWD free”. Infectious prions that cause CWD can be found in these fluids. ONLY synthetic scents or lures made from species not in the deer family are legal for deer hunting in New Jersey. Read more information about CWD here.

Question: I found a dead deer that was hit by a car. Can I keep the rack?
Answer: No. It is illegal to possess antlers from roadkill or naturally deceased deer. You can only possess antlers from legally hunted deer that have a confirmation number or metal possession seal.

Question: How do I know which Deer Management Zone I am hunting in?
Answer: To determine your Deer Management Zone please see the NJ Hunting and Trapping Explorer. For information on how to use the NJ Hunting and Trapping Explorer visit the tutorial video.

Question: Can I hunt in NJ if I’ve been convicted of a felony?
Answer: You need to check with the prosecutor of the county in which you were convicted, and with the prosecutor of the county in which you wish to hunt.

Question: Can I target practice on my own property?
Answer: We do not regulate target practice except on lands managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, known as Wildlife Management Areas or WMAs. Check with your local law enforcement to see if there are any ordinances relating to target practice or the discharge of weapons in your municipality.