Manasquan WMA - Upland Stocking - How can we get the state to add more fields to the stocking program?

[Orangeandtealarrows]

Manasquan is one of the most crowded WMA's when it comes to upland hunting, especially on stocking days.  With that being said they only stock 3 out of the 8 fields on the WMA.  How are we as hunters able to get them to grow utilize the rest of the fields for Pheasant hunting?    It would make it the WMA so much safer.  People were shot and a dog this year because they are limiting the area so much.   I am sure it because of all the rich homes and houses on that side of the river, but that shouldn't have the state use half the less than 1/3 of the WMA.  Make it safe and utilize the land for hunting the reason it was purchased for.  I wouldn't care if it was the same amount of birds even, but safety is my concern.  

 

[vdep217]

Could be an access or time thing as well.  Or the way it's situated leaving the other half for deer hunters.  Best suggestion is try another wma or go on non stock days or later in day.

Someone getting shot is not because of crowds it's carelessness of hunters

Edited December 26, 2024 by vdep217

[Orangeandtealarrows]

36 minutes ago, vdep217 said:

Could be an access or time thing as well.  Or the way it's situated leaving the other half for deer hunters.  Best suggestion is try another wma or go on non stock days or later in day.

Someone getting shot is not because of crowds it's carelessness of hunters

The person that took pellets, IMO it was his own fault.  He for years would always cut one of the fields into a place that no one could see him or his dog when people would be all lined up and then stay within shooting distance of every person staying 40 yards in front of a line of guns.  People would yell at him every time telling him that he was putting himself and them into a bad position because he couldn't be seen.   I was not there when he got pellets.  

 

Personally, I hunt other WMAs mostly but would love for them to utilize the other fields and make it workable for more hunters as it is the closest to my home.  There was probably no less than 70 people there for sunrise Christmas Eve, I am most likely low balling that number and its crowded for hours after.   It is such a shame that we have this protected place for hunters and the state leave those fields empty while people hold hands and walk over each other in area they stock.  

 

Change has to start somewhere, and looking for a way to start the conversation.  I am sure some of the Orange army that ends up there is on here as well.   

[JD48]

Stopped hunting there in the 1980's, place was an accident waiting to happen, that's when they would stock field on top of hill on brick side only, per your map, are they stocking the fields on Wall side only? or am I looking at map wrong?

[Orangeandtealarrows]

24 minutes ago, JD48 said:

Stopped hunting there in the 1980's, place was an accident waiting to happen, that's when they would stock field on top of hill on brick side only, per your map, are they stocking the fields on Wall side only? or am I looking at map wrong?

They still only stock the Brick side.  The area with the diagonal crossing through the area is where they currently stock.  

[JD48]

Thanks, I wish it was set up better also, I live in Point (10 Minutes away) but go to Colliers Mills, 26 miles 1 way

[10deer]

the state is losing so much money on the stocking program  that they not going to do anything for the bird hunting in general there will be a price increase  coming then less hunters again

[JD48]

Don't think a price increase (you mean p&q stamp?) will mean less hunters, I remember when there was no stamp, then they came out with the $5.00 stamp, guys were saying F- that ,I'm not paying or going, then it went to$ 10.00 and such, people bitched, but payed. you love the sport and want to play the game; you have to pay.

[vdep217]

1 minute ago, JD48 said:

Don't think a price increase (you mean p&q stamp?) will mean less hunters, I remember when there was no stamp, then they came out with the $5.00 stamp, guys were saying F- that ,I'm not paying or going, then it went to$ 10.00 and such, people bitched, but payed. you love the sport and want to play the game; you have to pay.

Agreed.  If only to run the dog it's worth it.  I'm probably at around 50 cents a bird between quail and pheasant thus year

[JD48]

1 minute ago, vdep217 said:

Agreed.  If only to run the dog it's worth it.  I'm probably at around 50 cents a bird between quail and pheasant thus year

You and Winnie should be charged double for the stamp!!

[deerkiller18]

State land for the stocked birds is a fiasco  unless you get a piece that the same guys always hunt so they know how to work together. But it is state land so any person can show up and cut through the middle where the regulars do not expect someone to be. Also you need to know where you are shooting. Hard to blame someone who got shot for being in the wrong place. No stocked bird is worth putting pellets in someone 

[Bonefreak]

Surprised they still stock that WMA with all the Karens living around there, as well as the school on Wall side. 

[JD48]

12 minutes ago, Bonefreak said:

Surprised they still stock that WMA with all the Karens living around there, as well as the school on Wall side. 

And the hikers, bird watchers, bike riders, etc. went there one opening day years ago, guy and his girlfriend were camping (tent and all) on side of the hill by the big pines, they left in a hurry

[Bonefreak]

Haven’t been there in many years but if I remember correctly it had decent thick cover for rabbits…would it be worth it to run the beagle there in the late season after the pheasant stocking is over?

[Orangeandtealarrows]

1 hour ago, Bonefreak said:

Haven’t been there in many years but if I remember correctly it had decent thick cover for rabbits…would it be worth it to run the beagle there in the late season after the pheasant stocking is over?

I have seen very few rabbits near the pheasants fields if any that I can remember in recent years.  There is good cover through some of WMA for rabbits.  I imagine late season you would pick a few, I rarely have seen people run beagles.  When I have seen them running the dog they were on the other side of WMA.   Lots of raptors, fox, and coyotes in the area between the river and pretty much hand feeding the pheasant for 1/4 of the year from stocking.   You won't know unless you do it though.