2013-2014 NJ Game Code Proposals

[BowhunterNJ]

Notice of Rule Proposal

2013-2014 Game Code N.J.A.C. 7:25-5

 

PUBLIC NOTICE

Take notice that the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is proposing amendments. A statement of the substance of the proposal follows: The Game Code, N.J.A.C. 7:25-5, states when, under what circumstances, in what location, by what means, and what amounts and numbers, game-birds, game animals and fur-bearing animals may be pursued, taken, killed or had in possession. The proposed amendments include the following:

 

the addition of air guns as allowed weapons for the take of rabbit, hare and squirrels

the addition of Hungarian partridge as a species that may be legally harvested when stocked on semi-wild and commercials hunting preserves and when encountered incidentally on adjacent properties

the inclusion of quail for take on youth upland bird hunt day on specific Wildlife Management Areas

expansion of the last two weeks of spring turkey hunting from half-day to full-day hours

the reallocation of beaver trapping permits to beaver management zones experiencing beaver damage problems

the expansion of otter trapping to include previously closed otter management zones

the inclusion of greater cable diameters on specific coyote traps for increased efficacy

allowing turkey hunters to harvest coyotes incidental to legal turkey hunting

the expansion of options in sporting arms and ammunition for coyote hunting to increase efficacy. Rifles of specified caliber with specific ammunition will be allowed during the day and larger shot size will be allowed for shotguns during night hunting

the reorganization of deer regulation sets, which define season lengths and bag limits, to better achieve management goals and distribute hunting opportunity

The proposal is scheduled to be published in the New Jersey Register dated April 15, 2013. A copy of the proposal is available from: the DEP web site, http://www.njfishandwildlife.com, and LexisNexis Customer Service at (800)223-1944 or www.lexisnexis.com/bookstore. Be advised that there may be a fee for obtaining a copy of the proposal from some sources.

 

A public hearing(s) concerning the proposal is scheduled as follows:

 

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

New Jersey State Museum

Auditorium

205 West State Street

Trenton, NJ 08625

 

Written comments may be submitted electronically by June 13, 2013 at http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/comments; or

In hard copy to:

 

Dave Chanda

NJ Department of Environmental Protection

2013 Game Code Comments

Division of Fish and Wildlife

Mail Code 501-03

P.O. Box 420

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420

 

http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices/20130415a.html

[deerslayer01]

so you're saying we can use air rifles to hunt squirrels

[Stevo]

These are proposals and not law yet. But I have never seen one not become law lol.

 

Yes airguns for squirrel and rabbit. Coyote and fox season rimfire and centerfire rifles. Same rules apply as Groundhog as far as caliber and bullet weight go.

 

I hope they don't limit the rifles to private land only.

[BowhunterNJ]

Sounds like they are upping the shot size for shotguns too, which is a great thing!

Likewise, I hope they don't limit rifle use to private land, but I can see doing it for daylight hours only.

[briarpatch]

heres a link to the full proposal:

 

http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/proposals/20130415a.pdf

[BHC]

I don't like what I saw for the zone I hunt......Adding to the permit shotgun season from one day to three days, and deleting a week of muzzleloader season

[Matty]

Some of the "proposals" are great! However, the "doe only" September bow season is NOT great.

 

I am ALL for proper doe management, it NEEDS to take place for healthy herds and habitat.

 

You want to increase antlerless harvests? Seek out postive incentives for the hunters to take them where they need to be taken. Free buck tag after a certain number of doe harvests from a problem area. Something like that...

 

Without the incentive of a nice early season buck, participation will decline and antlerless harvests will drop as a result. Who came up with this idea anyway? I'd like to insult their intelligence, but they wouldn't get it.

[billford]

what more incentive do you need for an early doe season than you get to kill a few deer?if you dont want to kill does , dont go out in sept. id like to see us allowed to use 160s as a land trap,but i dont see that happening anytime soon.

[briarpatch]

I believe Matty is spot on with this one. True, there are some meat hunters that were out there, regardless of whether or not the incentive to take a buck (maybe in velvet) was offered. Not all the hunters who participate in the early season fit that mold. Some number of hunters will no longer hunt those three weeks, in the absence of the incentive, and the doe harvest numbers will go down.

 

I do like the idea of offering a free buck tag (after a certain number of does harvested) as an incentive......or simply allow them to utilize the buck tag they already get for fall bow once they hit an individual quota