New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chapter 25 - DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RULES
Subchapter 5 - 2020-2021 GAME CODE
Section 7:25-5.28 - White-tailed deer muzzleloader rifle permit season
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) The Director with the approval of the Council may authorize the issuance of permits for the taking of deer with a muzzleloader rifle or smoothbore muzzleloader loaded with a single projectile anywhere within this State or at any State or Federal installation.
(b) If the anticipated harvest of deer has not been accomplished during this season, additional days of muzzleloader rifle permit deer hunting may be authorized by the Director, in consultation with the Council. Such authorization and the date thereof shall be announced by press and radio.
(c) Bag Limit: Only one antlered deer may be taken Statewide during the muzzleloader rifle permit season, regardless of the number of permits obtained. Two deer, one antlered and one antlerless or two antlerless, may be taken in zones in Regulation Sets 1, 3, and 4, and in Zone 37. The standard bag limit is two deer, one antlered and one antlerless, in zones in Regulation Set 2. One deer, antlered or antlerless, may be taken in zones in Regulation Set 0. In zones in Regulation Set 5, the bag limit is one antlered deer and five antlerless deer. In zones in Regulation Set 6, the bag limit is one antlered deer and nine antlerless deer. One antlered and an unlimited number of antlerless deer may be taken in zones in Regulation Sets 7 and 8, and in Zones 39, 53, 61, 66, 67, 68, and 70, except as noted below and at (c)1 and 2 below. Only one deer may be taken at a time until the season limit is reached except in zones in Regulation Sets 7 and 8, and in Zones 39, 54, 61, 66, and 68 where the limit is two deer at a time until the season concludes. In zones in Regulation Set 7, only antlerless deer may be taken on applicable muzzleloader season permits during the Wednesday through Friday before the six-day firearm season, and the dates concurrent with the six-day firearm season as specified at N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.27(a). In Zone 68, only antlerless deer may be taken during the dates concurrent with the six-day firearm season, as specified at N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.27(a). In zones in Regulation Set 8, only antlerless deer may be taken during the Monday through Wednesday and Friday of Thanksgiving week and the Wednesday through Friday before the six-day firearm season, and the dates concurrent with the six-day firearm season as specified at N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.27(a). All confirmation numbers are valid on the date of issuance and only in the zone for which the special season permit was issued. Immediately upon harvest, the muzzleloader rifle permit season permit harvest report stub must be completely filled in with the exception of the confirmation number and every deer is to have a tag affixed to the carcass bearing the hunter's CID, date of harvest, zone of harvest, antler points if applicable, and confirmation number if registered. This tag shall remain attached until such time as the deer is processed for consumption. The deer shall be registered via an AHRS prior to the attempt to take an additional deer, except as referenced in this subsection and no later than 7:00 P.M. local time of the day of harvest. Hunters must record the confirmation number given via the AHRS, which replaces the legal possession tag. Hunters must use an antlered deer harvest report stub from their antlered muzzleloader permit which is designated for use during the permit muzzleloader season, when registering an antlered deer. The antlered muzzleloader permit with antlered deer harvest report stub, which is valid only for the harvest of one antlered deer, must be purchased in addition to an antlerless muzzleloader permit. The antlered muzzleloader permit with antlered deer harvest report stub may be used in any zone for which the hunter has already purchased an antlerless permit. The antlered muzzleloader permit with antlered deer harvest report stub must be purchased prior to the season opener or at the time of the purchase of the initial antlerless muzzleloader permit if the season has already begun. The possession of a deer after 7:00 P.M. local time on the date killed without a legal confirmation number shall be deemed illegal possession under the AHRS. The confirmation number shall be valid on the day of issuance and all registration requirements apply.
(d) Duration of the muzzleloader rifle permit season is as set forth at (d)1 through 15 below. There is no season in Zone 64. Legal hunting hours shall be 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset local time.
(e) Antlerless permits for muzzleloader rifle permit season are valid only in the designated deer management zones or other designated areas and are not transferable. Antlerless multi-zone regulation set permits are valid for use in any deer management zone within the designated regulation set and are not transferable. Antlered muzzleloader permits with antlered deer transportation tag may be used in any zone for which the hunter has already purchased an antlerless muzzleloader permit for use during this season.
(f) Method: The taking of two deer, one antlered and one antlerless, or two antlerless, except as noted at (c)1 through 3 above, or the taking of deer as designated for special hunts is authorized to holders of valid permits for muzzleloader rifle permit season in designated deer management zones. The taking of two deer, one antlered and one antlerless, or two antlerless or the taking of deer as designated for special hunts is authorized to holders of valid farmer permits for muzzleloader rifle permit season only on the farm occupied and designated on the permit application.
(g) Permits for muzzleloader rifle permit season consist of back display which includes a "deer transportation tag" or proper and valid supplemental tag. The back display portion of the permit will be conspicuously displayed on the outer clothing in the case of the farmer muzzleloader season permit.
(h) Muzzleloader Rifle Permit Season limited quota, special deer permits shall be applied for as follows:
(i) Pursuant to the provisions of 23:3-56.1, occupant and non-occupant Farmer Muzzleloader Rifle Permit Season Permits shall be applied for as follows:
(j) Muzzleloader Rifle, Occupant and Farmer Muzzleloader Rifle and Non-occupant Farmer Muzzleloader Rifle Season Permits shall be used as follows:
(k) The Deer Management Zone Map is on file at the Office of Administrative Law and is available from that agency or the Division. The Muzzleloader Rifle Deer Season Permit Quotas are as follows:
MUZZLELOADER RIFLE PERMIT SEASON PERMIT QUOTAS | |||
Deer Mgt. Zone No. | Season Dates Code | Permit Quota | Portions of Counties Involved |
1 | 1 | 1,500 | Sussex |
2 | 1 | 2,510 | Sussex |
3 | 1 | 1,180 | Sussex, Passaic, Bergen, Morris |
4 | 2 | 1,270 | Sussex, Warren |
5 | 4 | 3,510 | Sussex, Warren |
6 | 1 | 1,760 | Sussex, Morris, Passaic, Essex, Warren |
7 | 3 | 1,690 | Warren, Hunterdon |
8 | 3 | 2,920 | Warren, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset |
9 | 3 | 530 | Morris, Somerset |
10 | 3 | 1,760 | Warren, Hunterdon |
11 | 3 | 1,090 | Hunterdon |
12 | 3 | 1,860 | Mercer, Hunterdon, Somerset |
13 | 3 | 365 | Morris, Somerset, Union |
14 | 3 | 1,020 | Mercer, Somerset, Middlesex, Burlington |
15 | 3 | 1,260 | Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex |
16 | 1 | 1,240 | Ocean, Monmouth |
17 | 4 | 845 | Ocean, Monmouth, Mercer, Burlington |
18 | 1 | 660 | Ocean |
19 | 4 | 1,570 | Camden, Burlington |
21 | 1 | 1,350 | Burlington, Ocean |
22 | 1 | 350 | Burlington, Ocean |
23 | 1 | 1,420 | Burlington, Camden, Atlantic |
24 | 1 | 700 | Burlington, Ocean |
25 | 4 | 1,265 | Gloucester, Camden, Atlantic, Salem |
26 | 1 | 1,860 | Atlantic |
27 | 1 | 1,050 | Salem, Cumberland |
28 | 1 | 1,330 | Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester |
29 | 1 | 965 | Salem, Cumberland |
30 | 1 | 610 | Cumberland |
31 | 1 | 435 | Cumberland |
34 | 1 | 1,720 | Cape May, Cumberland |
35 | 1 | 1,460 | Gloucester, Salem |
36 | 3 | 800 | Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Union, Somerset, Middlesex, Passaic |
37 | 5 | 480 | Burlington, Ocean (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst) |
38 | 6 | 200 | Morris (Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge) |
39 | 7 | 100 | Monmouth (Earle Naval Weapons Station) |
41 | 3 | 590 | Mercer, Hunterdon |
42 | 4 | 500 | Atlantic |
43 | 1 | 255 | Cumberland |
45 | 1 | 590 | Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May |
46 | 1 | 528 | Atlantic |
47 | 1 | 440 | Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester |
48 | 4 | 780 | Burlington |
49 | 3 | 120 | Burlington, Camden, Gloucester |
50 | 3 | 510 | Middlesex, Monmouth |
51 | 3 | 410 | Monmouth, Ocean |
53 | 9 | 100 | Ocean (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst) |
54 | 10 | 50 | Morris (Picatinny Arsenal-ARRAD Com) |
55 | 1 | 210 | Gloucester |
56 | Not designated | ||
57 | Not designated | ||
58 | Not designated | ||
61 | 1 | 60 | Atlantic (Atlantic County Park System) |
63 | 1 | 280 | Salem |
64 | 0 | Monmouth (Monmouth Battlefield State Park) | |
65 | 1 | 390 | Gloucester, Camden |
66 | 12 | 15 | Atlantic (Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center) |
67 | 13 | 350 | Sussex (High Point State Park) |
68 | 4 | 100 | Burlington (Parker Preserve) |
70 | 1 | Not designated | |
Total | 50,913 |
(l) See (d)1 through 13 above for corresponding season date codes.
(m) Permit quotas in Zones 37, 38, 39, 53, 54, 61, 66, 67, and 68 are contingent upon approval by appropriate land management agencies for those zones.
(n) Muzzleloader rifle permit season permits not applied for by the deadlines enumerated in (h)4 and (i)4 above, may be reallocated to shotgun season applicants.