hunting along hiking trails

[mike033089]

im looking for actual written "rules" on hunting along hiking trails in state parks or even the Appalachian trail.  i have emailed state parks about other questions they refer to NJfishandwildlife who never responds.  im looking for easy walking to get my son into hunting more.  apparently pushing through thorns with a 5 year old left a bad taste lol.  i was thinking of still hunting along some hiking trails but cant find anything about the legality of carrying a loaded firearm in a state park open to hunting while on the hiking path.  i would assume i would then step off the trail to shoot as you cant shoot across a trail for obvious reasons.

Edited December 17, 2024 by mike033089

[Roon]

Year before last when bear hunt was cancelled and then reopened.

I walked many miles around Crater Lake. Loaded gun came across a few people walking and even a few walking dogs.

Never unloaded gun while walking along trails as it's all huntable property. Gun always in a safe direction and always a conversation with the people before on our way. Watch and know where you are and as always know your target and beyond 

[mazzgolf]

I don't think you'll find anything written down saying "you can walk hiking trails with a loaded gun to hunt". But if you can hunt the property, you can hunt it while walking hiking trails. Look up the state park or forest and see if hunting is allowed, if so, have at it. I've hunted Wharton with a loaded shotgun and walked past horseback riders on trails.

Here's NJ map of all public hunting areas: 

https://njdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2628736187bc49a6ad990a42b1db4fe1

NOTE: I'm almost positive you canNOT hunt the Appalachian Trail (for some reason I think I remember seeing that).

[mazzgolf]

Re: Appalachian trail hunting... I think this is what I was remembering: 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2024 by mazzgolf

[Deerslayer21]

2 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:

Re: Appalachian trail hunting... I think this is what I was remembering: 

 

its huntable. We were actually told to disregard those signs and that some of them are fake.  We hunt it all the time and have actually talked to the wardens while we were hunting it. 

 

[Gman]

below is from AT website,  interestingly my OnX map indicated "no hunting" on some of the AT land.  I can tell you I have used the trail to access some of wayway st park,  I've never seen a deer from the trail. 

Hunting is permitted along approximately 1,250 miles of the A.T. through national forest lands, national recreation areas, and state forests and game lands.

Hunting is prohibited along approximately 900 miles of the Trail through national parks (like Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains), most state parks, and on lands acquired by the National Park Service exclusively for the Trail and still under National Park Service administration, including the outside edges by A.T. corridor boundary signs.