Gray squirrel
Small-game huntingStatewide where permitted
No Sunday hunting; closed December 7–12 and December 16, 2026. Check weapon and orange requirements.
THE SEASON ATLAS / NJNew Jersey
New Jersey
hunting seasons.
Explore 2026 & 2027 season sources, publication status, and game species for your next hunt.
NJ / UNITED STATES
PLAN WITH THE SEASONS
Your 2026 field calendar.
2026–27 regulations available
The agency has published a 2026–27 guide or season schedule. Only selected dates are transcribed here; check the original regulations and individual public-land rules.
Official 2026 information ↗1 verified date entry
Selected agency dates are indexed below. This is not a complete legal calendar. Unit rules, tags, sex and age restrictions, closures, and special hunts can change which dates apply. Use the source beside each entry.
New Jersey game species & hunting information.
These species and groups appear in agency hunting resources. Their presence in the state does not mean every public area offers a hunt. “Native” describes origin, “reintroduced” describes restoration, and “migratory” describes movement; these are not population counts. Origin is left unverified when the reviewed source does not establish it.
Big game
White-tailed deer
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Wild turkey
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Black bear
Origin not verifiedBear Management Zones 1–5 only; permit, minimum-weight, cub and bait restrictions apply.
Agency species information ↗Small game
Gray squirrel
Origin not verifiedRegulation-listed category; verify local occurrence and identification. Sunday and firearm-season closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Cottontail rabbit
Origin not verifiedRegulation-listed category; verify local occurrence and identification. Sunday and firearm-season closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Hare
Origin not verifiedRegulation-listed category; verify local occurrence and identification. Sunday and firearm-season closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Jackrabbit
Origin not verifiedRegulation-listed category; verify local occurrence and identification. Sunday and firearm-season closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Woodchuck
Origin not verifiedRegulation-listed category; verify local occurrence and identification. Sunday and firearm-season closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Furbearers
Coyote
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Red fox
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Gray fox
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Opossum
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Raccoon
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Upland birds
Pheasant
Origin not verifiedListed in upland regulations; released-bird opportunities and site-specific stamp rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Chukar
Origin not verifiedListed in upland regulations; released-bird opportunities and site-specific stamp rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Hungarian partridge
Origin not verifiedListed in upland regulations; released-bird opportunities and site-specific stamp rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Bobwhite quail (stocked)
Origin not verifiedWild bobwhite are closed statewide. Stocked quail may be taken at Greenwood Forest and Peaslee WMAs and authorized preserves.
Agency species information ↗Migratory birds
Ducks
MigratoryOnly duck species authorized by the agency are included; closed species and species-specific bag limits are excluded. Some populations are resident.
Agency species information ↗Mergansers
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Sea ducks
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Coot
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Canada goose
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Snow goose
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Brant
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗American woodcock
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Snipe
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Rails
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Gallinules
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Other game
Crow
Origin not verifiedAgency crow-hunting category; special dates and permitted days apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Check the details.
Then head for the horizon.
Confirm the unit, season, license, method, bag limit, and current closures with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife. Public-land rules may be more restrictive than statewide seasons.