Official Site of The State of New Jersey
New Jersey’s White-tailed Deer herd is a major component of the landscape throughout all but the most urbanized areas of the state. White-tailed Deer affect our forests, farms, gardens, backyards, and roadways. From a population reduced to a handful of deer in the early 1900s they rebounded during the 20th Century to a thriving herd today.
Managing deer in the most highly populated state in the nation has many challenges. In addition to regulated hunting, Fish and Wildlife offer numerous other options, such as Community-Based Deer Management permits, DMAP permits (Deer Management Assistance Program), and farmer depredation permits but lack of access to lands which harbor deer is the greatest obstacle to successful deer population management in New Jersey.
Fish and Wildlife closely monitors deer population trends and disease occurrences in New Jersey, sampling annually for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and monitoring outbreaks of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) when they occur.
A healthy deer herd, managed at levels that are compatible with land use and human populations, has great value to the people of the state. In addition to providing a healthy and sustainable food source to many New Jerseyans, deer are photographed, watched, and admired by many residents and visitors alike.
Deer are photographed, watched and hunted by many New Jerseyans and visitors.
Deer Disease
SIGHTING FORM
