N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.25

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:25-5.25 - White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fall bow season

(a) Duration of the fall bow season is as set forth at (a)1 and 2 below. Legal hunting hours shall be 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

1. Opening the fourth Saturday prior to the last Friday in October through the last Friday in October, in zones in Regulation Sets 0, 1, 2, and 3; and in Zone 54.

2. Opening the second Saturday in September through the last Friday in October, in zones in Regulation Sets 4 through 8; and in Zones 37, 39, 53, 66, and 68.

3. A special youth deer hunting day with bow and arrow will be held on the Saturday prior to the opening day of the fall bow season as specified in (a)1 above. The season will be open in all zones that are open for the fall bow season. Youth hunters must possess a current and valid youth bow license or be less than 16 years of age on the season date and qualified to hunt without a license under the farmer license exemption. All youth hunters must be under the direct supervision of a non-hunting adult (21 years of age or older), who must possess a proper and valid bow license. Direct supervision means the youth hunter and the supervising adult are together at the same location. The youth hunter may not hunt independently of the supervising adult. Any bow and edged arrowhead approved for deer hunting may be used. Legal hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset EST. All other hunting requirements for the fall bow season shall apply, except as noted in (b)3 below.

(b) Bag Limit: Only one antlered deer may be taken Statewide during the fall bow season. Hunters must use an antlered deer transportation tag from their bow and arrow or all around sportsman license, which is designated for use during the fall bow season, when registering an antlered deer. The standard bag limit is two deer, either one antlered and one antlerless or two antlerless in zones in Regulation Sets 1 and 3. The standard bag limit is two deer, one antlered and one antlerless, in zones in Regulation Set 2. 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. In zones in Regulation Sets 4, 7, and 8 and zones 37, 39, 53, 54, and 68, the bag limit is one antlered deer and an unlimited number of antlerless deer. In zones in Regulation Set 0, the bag limit is one antlered or one antlerless deer. In Regulation Sets 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and in Zones 39, 53, and 68, an antlerless deer must be taken before an antlered deer from the second Saturday in September through the first Friday in October except for youth hunters, as defined in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.1(d)15. All deer must be legally registered either at a deer check station or via the automated harvest report system. Only one deer may be taken at a time until the season limit is reached except in zones in Regulation Sets 6, 7, and 8, and in Zones 37, 39, 53, 54, 66, and 68, where the limit is two deer at a time until the season concludes. Properly licensed hunters who harvest their first antlerless deer during the bow season subject to the provisions of this section will be assigned a confirmation number via an automated harvest report system as designated by the Division. This confirmation number will be valid for the taking of additional antlerless deer, as applicable by zone bag limit specified above. The confirmation number may be used in any zone that is open for the season subject to the limitations of this section. After taking a second deer in any zone in Regulation Sets 0, 1, 2, or 3, hunters may not hunt deer during the fall bow season in the zones in Regulation Sets 0, 1, 2, or 3. All confirmation numbers are valid on the date of issuance in all zones that are open for this season. Deer shall be tagged immediately with completely filled in "transportation tag" and shall be transported to a deer checking station before 8:00 P.M. local time on the day killed to secure a legal possession tag. The legal possession tag must be securely affixed or locked on the deer before the deer is transported or removed from the authorized deer checking station. Hunters are responsible for legal possession tags being securely affixed or locked before leaving the deer check station. The supplemental tag shall be valid on the day of issuance and all registration requirements apply. If the deer check station system is no longer in use, then with the exception of the confirmation number, the possession tag on the license shall be filled out immediately upon killing. Additionally, 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 automated harvest report system, as designated by the Division, in lieu of a deer check station prior to the attempt to take an additional deer, and no later than 8:00 P.M. local time of the day of harvest. Hunters must record the confirmation number given via this system, which replaces the legal possession tag.

1. The possession of a deer after 8:00 P.M. on the date killed without a legal confirmation number shall be deemed illegal possession under the deer check station system. Possession of a deer after 8:00 P.M. on the date killed without a legal confirmation number shall be deemed illegal under the AHRS. It is unlawful to attempt to take or continue to hunt for more than the number of deer permitted. Should the hunter be unable to access the AHRS by the designated time, the deer shall be immediately reported by telephone to the nearest Division of Fish and Wildlife law enforcement regional headquarters and registered via the AHRS the next day. Within 48 hours of registering a deer with the AHRS and upon request from the Division, a hunter shall be required to produce the head of the deer harvested or produce records relating to the location of the head.

2. In Zones 3, 9, 13, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 47, and 63, it shall be illegal to kill, take, or attempt to take any antlered deer which does not have a minimum of three antler points on one side.

3. The bag limit for the special youth hunting day provided in (a)3 above is one deer of either sex and any age. The requirement that hunters take an antlerless deer first is waived for this day. All tagging and deer checking requirements shall apply. The provisions of (b)2 above, requiring that antlered deer must have at least three antler points on one side, is waived for the special youth hunt on this day only.

(c) This season shall be open only to holders of a valid and current bow and arrow hunting license or all around sportsman license that contains an attached fall bow and arrow deer harvest report stub. If the anticipated harvest of deer has not been accomplished during this season, additional days of bow and arrow deer hunting may be authorized by the Director, in consultation with the Council. Such authorization and dates thereof shall be announced by press and radio.

1. If the yearly antlered harvest in any deer management zone in the deer management zones in Regulation Sets 4 through 8 is below the stated buck goal specified in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.29(r) by 15 percent, the Council may, upon consultation with the Director, suspend the requirement to take an antlerless deer before an antlered deer in any deer management zone as is determined to be appropriate to provide for harvest which will meet the stated goals. The Council, upon consultation with the Director, may also reinstate the requirement, as needed, if the antlered harvest exceeds the buck goal by 15 percent. Such actions will be made by publication of a notice of administrative change in the New Jersey Register, as well as by posting notice on the Division's website at www.njfishandwildlife.com, and in the Hunting and Trapping Digest.

(d) Authority: The authority for the adoption of the foregoing section is found in N.J.S.A. 23:4-42, 23:4-43, 23:4-45, 23:4-47 and other applicable statutes.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.25

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 2264(a), effective 9/8/2015

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 2921(a), effective 9/5/2017

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 683(b), effective 5/3/2021 (operative May 8, 2021)