Amendments to the Game Code have been proposed for 2026-2027.
The proposed changes include:
-
extensive recodification by organizing the Game Code predominantly by game species
-
updates and modifications to multiple species’ season dates and bag limits
-
modification to the allowable weapons and ammunitions for each game species
-
modification and consolidation of the hunting zones
-
modification of the deer hunting regulation sets, including reducing the number of regulation sets and reverting back to the six-day firearm buck limit of two
-
providing an allowance for the carrying of personal permitted weapons
-
the addition of new hunter safety requirements
A complete summary of the proposed changes can be accessed from the DEP Notice of Rule Proposal.
got an email update from NJfW about proposed changes. one that caught my eye is “provide an allowance for the carrying of personal permitted weapons” anyone else see this.
Haven’t seen it. Paste the text of the email over here?
Public Hearing April 28
Comment by June 5
Amendments to the Game Code have been proposed for 2026-2027.
The proposed changes include:
-
extensive recodification by organizing the Game Code predominantly by game species
-
updates and modifications to multiple species’ season dates and bag limits
-
modification to the allowable weapons and ammunitions for each game species
-
modification and consolidation of the hunting zones
-
modification of the deer hunting regulation sets, including reducing the number of regulation sets and reverting back to the six-day firearm buck limit of two
-
providing an allowance for the carrying of personal permitted weapons
-
the addition of new hunter safety requirements
best I can do
Don’t get too excited - I did a deep AI search on the document and got this:
The document references “personal permitted weapons” in the context of hunting and trapping regulations as follows:
-
Permit Bow Season: Hunters using bows must comply with specifications, including arrows with edged heads of specific dimensions and materials.
-
Permit Muzzleloader Season: Muzzleloader rifles (.44 caliber or larger) loaded with a single projectile and single smoothbore muzzleloaders no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than 20 gauge with specific shot sizes are permitted. Only one muzzleloader may be possessed while hunting deer during this season.
-
Permit Shotgun Season: Shotguns no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than 20 gauge with specific shot sizes or slugs are permitted. Single- or double-barrel smoothbore muzzleloaders with similar specifications are also allowed.
-
Trapping Regulations: A .22 caliber rifle or air guns between .177 and .25 caliber may be used to dispatch legally trapped animals under specific conditions, provided the trapper has a valid rifle permit.
-
Special Wildlife Management Permits: Hunting firearms prescribed by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife may be used to kill wildlife listed on the permit. Rifles for deer management under special permits may include .22, .223, .270, and .45 caliber rifles, with restrictions on ammunition types.
-
Community-Based Deer Management Permits: Agents using rifles or shotguns must pass shooting qualifications and adhere to distance restrictions for shooting deer.
-
Wildlife Damage Control: Farmers or their agents may use shot no larger than No. 4 buckshot to control woodchucks causing damage.
-
Hunter Orange Requirements: Hunters using firearms for species like black bear, coyote, fox, turkey, and deer must wear hunter orange clothing for safety purposes.
-
Prohibited Weapons: Certain weapons, such as smart rifles with target tracking systems, electronically controlled triggers, or ballistics computers, are prohibited for hunting.
-
Weapons for Dispatch: Air guns between .177 and .25 caliber are permitted for dispatching furbearers, except muskrats, under specific conditions.
-
Weapons for Falconry: The possession of hunting firearms while engaged in falconry is prohibited.
-
Weapons for Federal Employees: Federal employees operating under a State of New Jersey Depredation Control Permit or special wildlife management permit may use air guns or rifles as authorized by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife.
These references provide detailed regulations and restrictions on the use of personal permitted weapons for hunting and trapping activities in New Jersey.
The only real “new” permitted weapon I see is .25 cal air gun (used to be limited to .22).
#5. Odd rifle caliber for deer management. .22 & 45. No?
Not just deer mgmt. The special permit is basically a license to kill for professional hunters culling on farms, airports, parks and gov’t property like Ft Monmouth. The pros are given special treatment, can keep up to 10 deer for personal consumption, use firearms not allowed for regular season hunting and put almost any wildlife (deemed destructive, dangerous) on the hit list. The game meat is usually processed and donated to food banks.
Fun fact: Professional hunters (hit men) in NJ are allowed to use suppressors while hunting. Which is weird because NOBODY in NJ gets a tax stamp, unless they are connected. Just like CCW used to be.
New Jersey allows the use of suppressors (silencers) under Special Wildlife Management Permits — but only in very narrow, strictly regulated circumstances. This is a limited exception to the state’s general ban on suppressors.
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and related statutes create a specific carve-out for certain Special Deer Management Permits (a subset of Special Wildlife Management Permits under N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.32, particularly for Community-Based Deer Management or alternative deer control in Special Deer Management Areas)
Professional hunters in NJ are allowed to use suppressors while hunting.
Interesting, did not know this. Id like to know what their rational was for their use.I wonder if this could be used in part for a legal defense for suppression?
What exactly is the definition of a “professional hunter”
Asking for an amateur hunter.
My guess is ‘professional’ would be a licensed pest exterminator. Regardless, I doubt they would be allowed to use suppressors in NJ.
They do. Fort Monmouth culls like twice a year, never hear a shot. Thought it might be they use bows, but nope. I suspected it for a while, but yes, pro contractors for animal control are authorized to use suppressors. I’m sure it is a very exclusive club.
1 Like
That’s what I’m thinking. Or military?
This needs to be relayed to the NJ suppressor suit plaintiff legal team. I’m guessing they already know, but just in case…
1 Like
Already in the complaint:
