The Atlantic County Parks System has historically run a Deer Hunting program in certain prescribed areas within the Atlantic County Park System. In cooperation with the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, Deer Management Zone 61 (Atlantic County Parks) was formed some twenty five years ago with a primary goal of maintaining a stable deer herd while protecting park habitat from over browsing. Just as we humans share our public park lands, a variety of animal and plant species share and depend on our Park lands habitat daily for food and shelter. As land stewards, we attempt to keep deer herd levels in check to the benefit of all species of park wildlife.

The boundaries, season lengths and permit quotas of this program have continually changed to meet the ever changing size and scope of our County Park holdings. In recent years, over 100 area sportsmen and sportswomen annually participate in the hunting program. Hunting in Deer Management Zone 61 is an opportunity offered to all properly trained and licensed hunting enthusiasts. Limits are placed on the number of hunters allowed in certain areas to maximize safety and to minimize impact on other park activities.

State & County DMZ 61 Hunting Permit Process

Steps to obtaining the required permits to Hunt D.M.Z. 61:
Permits must be purchased through the N.J. Division of Fish & Wildlife Deer Permit System. Permits are available on September 11th, 2023 beginning at 10AM thru September 29th, 2023 at 11:59PM. Permits can be bought on the N.J. Fish & Wildlife web site: www.njfishandwildlife.com or any license agents where hunting licenses are sold. Leftover permits are not available for sale.

The permit quotas for Zone 61 are as follows: 60 permits for Permit Bow Season, 60 permits for Permit Muzzleloader Season and 100 permits for Permit Shotgun Season.

Permitees will receive a notification from the Atlantic County Park System the first week of October. Hunting areas will be selected via lottery system. Lottery submissions will be from October 9th - October 11th.  You can call or email the Park Office and let us know your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices for which hunting area you would like to hunt for each permit you possess. Anyone who does not pick an area prior to October 11th will be able to pick an area on a first come/first serve basis. Once the lottery is complete, applicants will be notified of the results via email and/or phone call. Results will be Thursday, October 12th, 2023.  

County permits will be on sale starting Friday, October 13th at 8:00am. County hunting permits are $5.00 for each season selected. Permits can be purchased at:

Lake Lenape Boathouse
6303 Old Harding Highway
Mays Landing, NJ 08330

Important Dates:
Permit Sales (NJ): September 11-September 29, 2023
Lottery Submissions: October 9-October 11, 2023
Lottery Results: October 12, 2023
Permit Sales (County): October 13, 2023

Permit Bow Season: Oct. 28- Dec. 24, Dec. 26-31, 2023
Permit Muzzleloader Season: Nov. 27-28, Dec. 11, 12, 16-23, 26-30, 2023; Jan. 1-5, 2024
Six-day Firearm Season: Dec. 4-9, 2023
Permit Shotgun Season: Dec. 4-9, 13-15, 2023
Winter Bow Season: Jan. 1-31, 2024

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or email at one of the numbers below:

Atlantic County Park Office: 609-625-8219, option 1

Atlantic County Park Rangers: 609-442-9104; 609-287-7324

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS

SEASON DATES and BAG LIMITS:

Permit Bow Season: Oct. 28–Dec. 24 and Dec. 26–31, 2023; Bag limit: unlimited antlerless deer. In addition, hunters who purchase an Antlered Buck Bow Permit may harvest ONE antlered deer.

Permit Muzzleloader Season: Nov. 27-28, Dec. 11,12, 16-23, 26-30, 2023; Jan. 1-5, 2024; Bag limit: unlimited antlerless deer. In addition, hunters who purchase an Antlered Buck Muzzleloader Permit may harvest ONE antlered deer.

Six-day Firearm Season: Dec. 4-9, 2023; Please note: Hunting during Six-Day Firearm Season on Atlantic County Park property (Zone 61) is NOT open to all hunters. ONLY hunters with a current, valid 2023 Zone 61 Permit Shotgun Season permit may hunt the property during Six-Day Firearm Season. Bag limit: two antlered deer. However, if a hunter harvests two antlered deer, they forfeit the opportunity to harvest an antlered deer during the Permit Shotgun. Only one buck may be taken at a time. 

Permit Shotgun Season: Dec. 4-9, 13-15, 2023; Bag limit: unlimited antlerless deer. In addition, hunters who purchase an Antlered Buck Shotgun Permit may harvest ONE antlered deer. However, for hunters who harvested two antlered deer during the Six-day Firearm Season, the bag limit in the Permit Shotgun Season is restricted to unlimited antlerless deer only.

Winter Bow Season: Jan. 1–31, 2024; Bag limit: unlimited antlerless deer and ONE antlered deer. Please note: Hunting during the Winter Bow Season on Atlantic County Park property (Zone 61) is NOT open to all hunters. ONLY hunters with a current, valid 2023 Zone 61 Permit Bow Season permit are allowed to hunt the property during Winter Bow Season.

Deer hunting is prohibited here all other times. The Atlantic County Park office is located at 6303 Old Harding Highway, Mays Landing, NJ 08330.

Additional Rules and Regulations

1. NO BAITING
2. NO DEER DRIVES
3. NO SUNDAY HUNTING
4. MUST HAVE CLEAN HUNTING RECORD (PREVIOUS 10 YEARS). ANY HUNTER WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF COMMITTING A WILDLIFE VIOLATION IN THE LAST 10 YEARS ARE INELIGIBLE.  ANY CONVICTION OCCURING DURING THE CURRENT SEASON WILL LEAD TO YOUR PERMIT BEING REVOKED AND WILL CAUSE YOU TO BE INELIGIBLE TO HUNT D.M.Z 61 FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS. FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE.
5. TWO DEER may be harvested at one time, BUT ONLY ONE BUCK AT A TIME.
6. COYOTES may be harvested in concurrent with valid deer permit season.
7. Use State guidelines for tagging harvest.
8. Estell Manor Park is ONLY OPENED during the six-day and Permit Shotgun Seasons
9. YOUTH DAY is observed at ALL hunt areas, EXCEPT ESTELL MANOR
10. SAFETY ZONES: 450’ FROM A STRUCTURE WITH A FIREARM; 150’ FROM A STRUCTURE WITH A BOW
11. DO NOT BLOCK GATES
12. MUST WEAR SAFETY HARNESS

13. PERMANENT DEER STANDS ARE PROHIBITED; CRANK-INS AND SPIKES ARE PROHBITED; STANDS MUST BE TAKEN DOWN 2 WEEKS AFTER YOUR PERMIT SEASON HAS ENDED. ALL STANDS SHOULD BE PROPERLY IDENTIFIED WITH YOUR CID NUMBER.

14. Hunters have up to the night before their permit season begins to change a hunt area. CALL THE OFFICE IN ORDER TO CHANGE A HUNT AREA.
15. TRAIL CAMERAS ARE ALLOWED. Trail cameras must be removed at the end of your permit season.
16. DO NOT FIELD DRESS ON A ROAD OR TRAIL.
17. ATVs ARE NOT PERMITTED
18. MUST FOLLOW ALL STATE STATUTES AND COUNTY ORDINANCES.

Hunting Areas

Estell Manor Park (North End) – availability: 25 muzzleloader, 25 shotgun;
– open to Six-Day and Permit Shotgun season only

Lake Lenape A-  availability: 27 bow, 27 muzzleloader, 27 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Lake Lenape B- availability: 25 bow, 25 muzzleloader, 25 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Riverbend A – availability: 10 bow, 10 muzzleloader, 10 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Riverbend B- availability: 7 bow, 7 muzzleloader, 7 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Riverbend C- availability: 5 bow, 5 muzzleloader, 5 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Galloway East- availability: 18 bow, 12 muzzleloader, 12 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Galloway West A- availability: 6 bow, 4 muzzleloader, 4 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Galloway West B- availability: 3 bow, 2 muzzleloader, 2 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Pine Forest- availability: 12 bow, 12 muzzleloader, 12 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Pine Ave- availability: 10 bow, 10 muzzleloader, 10 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Cologne- availability: 28 bow, 23 muzzleloader, 23 shotgun; open to all permit seasons

Tree Stand and Climbing Devices

In response to request by participating sportsmen, we have changed the ordinance regarding tree stand removal, ordinance Chapter 97 - Section 10-97-94(B) now reads, No permanent tree stands will be allowed in County Park areas. Portable tree stands are permitted, but are left at the owner's expense and risk during the hunting season. We ask that all portable tree stands be removed at the end of the hunting season.

Note: Also, that park policy requires any sportsmen who is climbing off the ground to adhere to that climbing products manufactures recommendations for safety and safety devices. Non commercially produced climbing devices are not allowed to be used in the Park System.