Hiking in NJ During Hunting Season

*Deer hunting is over by mid-February. There is a Turkey Season on Mondays in April, and Saturdays in May. For dates and areas, check here. Also, small game throughout the year, for info, check here.

New Jersey hunting regulations are confusing.

Each park or area can have it's own rules and dates, so you need to check into each park to make sure. Most do allow hunting at least some time during the season - but it may just be for certain dates or areas of the park.

We contacted NJ Fish & Wildlife to see if they have a list of parks that never allow hunting and that would be safe anytime to hike at, but they don't have such a list.

There is no hunting on SUNDAY in New Jersey EXCEPT for certain Wildlife Management Areas and private lands. This is a NEW change for 2009. In the past, the best option was to limit your hiking to Sundays but now if where you hike is a WMA you need to check the NJ Fish and Wildlife list to make sure your park is ok: Lands Open or Closed to Sunday Bow Hunting.

Wear bright colors or blaze/hunter orange when hiking during hunting season. A ballcap, vest, jacket, bright backpack etc... and if you hike with a doggie-pal, consider an orange vest for them as well.

Some options for non-Sunday hiking.

• Cheesequake State Park

• Wells Mills County Park - Ocean County

• Pyramid Mountain (except for the shotgun dates listed here)

• Hacklebarney State Park - day use area (large portion of this park is hunting only)

• Watchung Reservation (Union County) - hunting only certain days in March

• South Mountain (except from 1/19/2010 on Tues and Thurs for three weeks)

• Apshawa Preserve

• Ramapo Valley County Reservation - note that the surrounding areas of Ramapo Mountain State Forest and Ringwood State Forest allow hunting

• Harriman State Park - just over the northern NJ border, no-hunting in most of the park. **updated for 2009, hunting now allowed west of Rt. 17... which only affects a small number of trails**