New Jersey Deer Forecast: Small-Tract Hunting for Archers

• This whitetail hunting forecast for the state of New Jersey is part of Game & Fish’s “Great States" project identifying the best deer-hunting states in the country. Read more: America's Top Whitetail States

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Don't Overlook the Garden State

New Jersey doesn’t attract much attention from whitetail hunters, but it may be a mistake to overlook the Garden State when it comes to hunting whitetails.

In an age when finding hunting ground can be difficult, oftentimes “overlooked” can actually mean you can find some great whitetail hunting.

Don’t expect that to translate directly to huge whitetails in New Jersey, though. The state has under 20 Boone & Crockett (B&C) bucks in the books. Overall harvest statistics have been trending downward in recent years.

• Did You Know? New Jersey’s deer harvests the past three seasons (including last year’s 35,573) were all under 40,000, according to state statistics, the first seasons under that mark since 1987 (39,228).

While it seems clear there aren’t a lot of record-class animals in Jersey, you can find mature bucks with respectable headgear.

Today, New Jersey is home to approximately 125,000-150,000 whitetails, but it’s more of an estimation than exact number. Furthermore, there are approximately 60,000-80,000 deer hunters each year.

New Jersey hunters do enjoy a long season to chase whitetails. It’s ranked second in Game & Fish’s "America’s Top Whitetail States” rankings for number of hunting days this season. See the stats here.

Those who hunt New Jersey should expect to hunt smaller tracts. This offers a suburban style of deer hunting. Because of this, like other eastern seaboard states, it’s a favorable bowhunting destination.

• That’s a Fact: The highest deer harvest in New Jersey according to state statistics came in 2000, when 77,444 whitetails were taken.

Overall, in recent years, the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife reports mild winters with high-volume mast crops that helped the deer herd through the cold season. Expect good things to happen during this hunting season.

Get more info: Buy your hunting licenses, deer permits, etc. here. Check out the 2024 deer season dates here.

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