DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION

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 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 annually participate in the hunting program. Hunting in Deer Management Zone 61 is an opportunity offered to all properly trained and licensed sportsmen. Limits are placed on the numbers 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

1- Application must be made through the N.J. Division of Fish & Wildlife Deer Permit lottery system. Lottery applications are printed in the State's Fall Issue "Hunting Digest" or on the N.J. Division of Fish & Wildlife web site at www.njfishandwildlife.com. Applications are generally available in late August on the N.J. Fish & Wildlife web site or where hunting licensees are sold. (See listed application deadline on the applications). Leftover permits are no longer available for sale.

2- Successful lottery applicants will receive a letter from the County Park System about the same time you receive your Zone 61 permit from the State. Our letter will inform you of the time, date and location of the required County Hunter Orientation Meeting. Hunting areas are selected on a first come, first serve basis (See "Deer Management Zone 61" page on this site for further sign up details).

3- Note - Deer Management Zone 61 is a "No Bait Allowed Zone". All permits are revocable upon violation.

After receiving your state permit you will need to obtain a county hunting permit. County hunting permits will be issued after your attendance at a mandatory orientation session. Group orientation is scheduled as follows:

Bow Permits - Friday, October 19, 2012 at 7 PM
Shotgun/Muzzleloader Permits - Friday, October 19, 2012 at 7 PM

Note - We have combined our Bow and Firearms meetings into one meeting. We value the time of our sportsmen participating in our program.

Location -Canale Training Center
5033 English Creek Ave
Egg Harbor Township NJ 08234
For directions to Canale Training Center click here.

On the nights of each orientation, the session will begin at 7 PM. Specific park and area selection are given on a first come, first serve basis, at the orientation. A waiting list will be available after the arrival of the first hunter. The waiting sportsman will monitor this list. You must stay on location to hold your spot in line. After the orientation, you will be called according to this waiting list to select your area and receive your permit. When you apply for your county permit you must have your state Zone 61 permit, your hunting license, and $5.00 for each county permit. Make sure you have these items with you the night of orientation. If you can not attend a group orientation you have two other options.

1) Send a representative to the group meeting. Your representative must have all of your information, and will only be allowed to sign you up only after all other in-person hunters have been processed. At this point your representative will be given a slip of paper stating your area. You must then come in-person to pick up and sign all of your paperwork. You will also receive a one on one orientation at that time.

2) If you can not attend a group meeting please call (609) 625-8219 after the group meeting date and set up a time to register with Clayton, Kelly, or Greg. Remember some areas may be closed after the group orientations, so have a second area in mind.

Following is important policy information for the 2012/13 and future hunting seasons effecting Deer Management Zone 61.

1. Hunting on Public land is a privilege. As with all organized Park System recreational activities safety and accountability for shared public property and resources are a top priority.
   D.M.Z. 61 permits will continue to be made available exclusively through the State lottery system. Each lottery applicant successfully awarded a permit will now be subject to an annual background check for Fish and Wildlife violations in the preceding ten years. There will be no additional charge to the applicant for this check. Any applicant found convicted of such a violation in New Jersey will be ineligible to participate in the D.M.Z. 61 program. Violation screening will be for convictions in the ten calendar years proceeding the opening day of that years season. Example, an applicant for the season beginning in 2006, must show a violation free record back to January 1, 1997. Inversely an applicant receiving a conviction in 2006 will not again be eligible till after January 1, 2016. Anyone with a conviction dating back to January 1, 1997 should not apply for Zone 61 as your application fees upon being deemed ineligible will not be refunded. Any conviction occurring once a given season has begun will also lead to the pulling of that individuals permit once Park is notified of the conviction.
   The same ten year loss of privilege will also apply to any conviction for a violation of County ordinance Section 97 Article IX - Hunting and Fishing of the Atlantic County Code.

Update FOR 2012/13
New Areas Open!

1. Cologne Tract - Approx. 700 ac’s have been purchased and opened to Zone 61 permit holders. This new property has frontage along Cologne Ave. As well as Presley Ave. The area will be open to Bow, Muzzleloader, & Shotgun hunting with proper permits and registration. This area will be open for up to 18 participants per season. Click here to see map titled “Cologne Hunting Area” or call 625-8219 for more info.
   
2. Lenape B expanded!  200+ additional acres have been added to the Lenape B selection. These new parcels have frontage on Weymouth Road and along Ave. G. This area will be open to Bow, Shotgun and Muzzleloader hunters registering for the Lenape B selection. Click here to see map titled “Lenape" expanded location or call 625-8219 for details.
3. Orientation meetings have been combined. Bow, and Firearms hunters will be coming to one meeting. This is now possible as we receive the participant list earlier in the year. We moved to this format to better accommodate our participants who purchase Bow and Firearms permits as well. This also helps us conserve staff time and lower costs.
4. Sunday Bow hunting. Zone 61 will not be allowing Sunday bow hunting. While Sunday Bow hunting is now authorized on Private and W.M.A’s lands , Zone 61 will remained closed to hunting on Sundays.
5. Crossbows will be allowed as a choice when Bow hunting in Zone 61.

Bow orientation - Friday, October 19, 2012 - 7 PM.
Firearms orientation - Friday, October 19, 2012 - 7 PM.

Note - We have combined our Bow and Firearms meetings into one meeting. We value the time of our sportsmen participating in our program.

Location -Canale Training Center
5033 English Creek Ave
Egg Harbor Township NJ 08234
For directions to Canale Training Center click here.

ZONE 61 SEASON DATES

All open seasons within the park system require possession of a valid New Jersey DFGW Zone 61 Special Permit, the applicable hunting license, and an Atlantic County permit. Sunday hunting is prohibited by State Law.

ZONE 61 SPECIAL NOTES SEASON

*** Zone 61 Permits will only be sold through Special Application Period. No left over permits will be available. ***

1.  Permit Bow Season runs from October 27, 2012 till January 31, 2013, except Sundays and days when the firearms hunt is occurring.
Bow days are as follows:
October 27, 2012 till January 31, 2013 (Except Sundays)

2.  Permit shotgun ~ Antlerless deer hunting in effect all nine (9) days December 3-8 & Dec 12, 13,14, 2012.

3. Plan your removal of potential game wisely. If time and location allows, a Ranger may be able to allow your vehicle access after hunting hours to some locations on a case by case basis. However, daytime access will generally not be granted as it may interfere with other hunters in that area. Always plan to harvest based on your ability and equipment to transport game to your vehicle without special access.

4. It is highly advised to obtain topographic maps of the area you want to hunt in.

5. Your actions will chart the course for future hunting programs. Remember when hunting on public property to share the resource.

6. Please take the time to fill out the "Hunter Response Card" after the season is over. The information collected will be used to manage and improve Zone 61's program.

7. All County laws apply to Zone 61 hunters, in addition to all State laws.

8. See the brief write up on Cologne property.

Number of Deer Harvested in Zone 61
Figures taken from the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife web sight for Zone 61 @ www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/

Season Options

Permit Bow: Offers 73 days afield.

Permit Muzzleloader: Offers 24 days afield.

Permit Shotgun: Offers 9 days afield.

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.

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.