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 July or 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 23rd, 2009 at 7 PM
Shotgun/Muzzleloader Permits - Friday, October 23rd, 2009 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 - Atlantic County Pistol Range
175 Betsy Scull Rd.
Egg Harbor Township

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 are important policy updates for the 2009/10 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.

CHANGES FOR 2009/10
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 “ Deer Run Hunting Area” 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 - Fri. Oct. 23rd 2009 - 7 PM. Atlantic County Pistol Range
Firearms orientation - Friday Oct. 23rd 2009 - 7 PM. Atlantic County Pistol Range

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 the Lottery. No left over permits will be available. ***

1. Permit Bow Season runs from Oct. 31, 2009, till January 30, 2010, except Days when the firearms hunt is occurring.
Bow days are as follows:
Oct. 31 - Nov. 2 - 28 - Dec. 3,4,5 2009- Jan 9th - 30 (Except Sundays)

2. Permit shotgun ~ Antlerless deer hunting in effect all nine (9) days December 7 Through 12 and December 16,17,18 , 2009.

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.

ZONE 61 SAFETY ZONES

Estell Manor Park - View Map
1. All areas south of Sandhole Road.

Lake Lenape - View Map
1. Zone B- the area south of a line posted at approximately mile marker 16 on Route 559 (Weymouth Road) to the shoreline of the lake.
2. The Acagisca Group Camping area.

Riverbend - View Map
1. Posted area surrounding the County Range Facility, which includes the shot fall zone. Four hundred fifty feet (450') safety area surrounding all homes adjoining Park property.

Pine Forest - View Map
1. Safety zone is the first 500 feet of our property walking in from our gate.
2. Road and woods boundary along the golf course creating a 450-600 foot buffer between activities.

Galloway Tract - View Map
1. Four hundred and fifty feet (450') Safety area surrounding all homes adjoining Park property.

Pine Ave. - View Map
1. 450 feet safety area around adjoining homes.

Cologne Tract - View Map
1. 450 feet safety area around adjoining homes.

ZONE 61 PARKING

Estell Manor Park - View Map
Tin Box Road gate
Artesian Well Road gate
Duck Farm Road gate

Lake Lenape (only adjacent to Park property) - View Map
Route 559 (Weymouth Road)
Vehicle access area with required permit.
Route 322 gate

Riverbend (only adjacent to Park property) - View Map
Mays Landing- Somers Point Road
Betsy Scull Road
Pine Avenue
Lida Avenue

Galloway Tract (only adjacent to Park property) - View Map
Seaview Avenue-along County boundary only.
Highland Avenue-along County boundary only
Great Creek Road

Pine Forest - View Map
Parking at front gate to facility on Route 559
Along Route 559
First, hunt the able area starts back 500+ feet into property. (Set back due to a safety zone for a house.)

Pine Ave. - View Map
Parking along frontage of Pine Ave.

Cologne Tract - View Map
Cologne Ave. Presley Ave.

ZONE 61 SITE DESCRIPTIONS

Estell Manor Park - View Map
Open for Firearms only. The Estell Manor Park is located on Boulevard Route 50, 3.5 miles south of Mays Landing. The hunting area is bounded by Route 50, the South River, and Sandhole Road. This area has been combined into one zone area in 2004.

AREA: ALL
# of HUNTERS: 25

Lake Lenape
Open for Bow, Firearm, and Muzzleloader. The Lake Lenape property is divided into two areas. Each area will have multiple hunters assigned to it, as follows:

AREA A HUNTERS PER AREA 27
AREA A HUNTERS PER AREA 21

Riverbend - View Map
Open for Bow, Firearm, and Muzzleloader. Riverbend is divided into three areas. Two areas are located along Betsy Scull Road. Access to Area C can be obtained from Lida Avenue. Each area will have multiple hunters assigned to it, as follows:

AREA A HUNTERS PER AREA: 6
AREA B HUNTERS PER AREA: 7
AREA C HUNTERS PER AREA: 5

Galloway Tract - View Map
Open for Bow, Firearm, and Muzzleloader. The Galloway Tract has frontage on Great Creek Road, Highlands Avenue, Seaview Avenue, and Jimmie Leeds Road. The park will be open as one area, with no more than 22 hunters assigned to it.

Pine Forest - View Map
We have combined the traditionally Bow only Pine Forest Tract with the 92 ac former E H T PAL property into one area. This combined area has parking at two locations on Rt. 559 and an access route from Betsy Scull Road. These combined parcels will be considered the Pine Forest area. We have opened this area to 12 hunters per season for Bow, Shotgun and Muzzleloader Seasons. Additional instruction will be given at both orientation meetings on Parking, Game Removal , and reporting Trespasser's.

Pine Ave. - View Map
Open for bow, shotgun and muzzleloader. The Pine Ave. Tract is currently 410 acres with paved frontage on Pine Ave. The 2004/2005 season was the first year in our program for this area. Permits will be assigned for up to 10 hunters per season for this new area.

Cologne Tract - View Map
Opening in 2009 this approx. 700 ac tract is open to Bow, Muzzleloader and Shotgun hunting with proper registration and a valid Zone 61 permit for the corresponding season. This are is open to 18 hunters per season.

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 51 days afield.

Permit Muzzleloader: Offers 21 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.