Title 50

SECTION 32.49

32.49 New Jersey.

§ 32.49 New Jersey.

The following refuge units are open for hunting and/or fishing as governed by applicable Federal and State regulations, and are listed in alphabetical order with additional refuge-specific regulations.

(a) Cape May National Wildlife Refuge - (1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of waterfowl, coot, moorhen, rail, snipe, and woodcock on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) The snipe season on the refuge begins with the start of the State early woodcock south zone season and continues through the end of the State snipe season.

(ii) We allow the use of dogs consistent with State regulations.

(iii) We prohibit falconry.

(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of rabbit and squirrel on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section apply.

(ii) We allow rabbit and squirrel hunting following the end of the State's 6-day firearm season for white-tailed deer, until the close of the regular rabbit and squirrel season.

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: Tree stands must be marked with the owner's New Jersey Conservation Identification Number.

(4) Sport fishing. We allow saltwater sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We allow fishing from 1 hour before legal sunrise to 1 hour after legal sunset.

(ii) We close the Atlantic Ocean beach annually to all access, including fishing, between April 1 and September 30.

(iii) We prohibit fishing for, or possession of, shellfish on refuge lands.

(b) Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - (1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of waterfowl, coot, moorhen, and rail on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We require hunters to possess a signed refuge hunt permit (Migratory Bird Hunt Application FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application - National Wildlife Refuge System) at all times while scouting and hunting on the refuge.

(ii) We allow the use of dogs consistent with State regulations.

(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: The conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and wild turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) The condition set forth at paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section applies.

(ii) You must mark deer stands with the hunter's New Jersey Conservation Identification Number. You must remove deer stands from the refuge at the end of the last day of the hunting season (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We prohibit the use of lead fishing tackle on the refuge.

(c) Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. (1)-(2) [Reserved]

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) Hunters must obtain a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application - National Wildlife Refuge System), and possess the signed refuge permit at all times while hunting or scouting on the refuge.

(ii) On scouting days, hunters must access the refuge between legal sunrise and legal sunset. On hunting days, hunters may enter the refuge 2 hours before legal shooting time and must leave no later than 2 hours after legal shooting time.

(iii) Hunters may put up tree stands beginning on the first scouting day, except on the day of the refuge's youth hunt. Hunters must retrieve their stands by 12 p.m. (noon) on the Sunday after the last day of the hunt (see § 27.93 of this chapter). All hunters must put their Conservation Identification Number on their stand, and they may have only one stand in the field at any one time.

(iv) We allow hunters to use sleds to retrieve deer in the Wilderness Area east of Long Hill/New Vernon Road. We prohibit wheeled game carriers.

(v) We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a “deer drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer.

(4) [Reserved]

(d) Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge - (1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of goose and duck on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We allow the use of dogs consistent with State regulations.

(2) [Reserved]

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We allow only bow hunting on the refuge.

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing and crabbing on the refuge in designated areas subject to the following conditions:

(i) We prohibit the taking of frogs and turtles from all nontidal waters and refuge lands (see § 27.21 of this chapter).

(ii) We prohibit fishing in designated nontidal waters from legal sunset to legal sunrise.

(iii) We prohibit bow fishing in nontidal waters.

(e) Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge - (1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of migratory birds on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) Hunters must obtain a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application - National Wildlife Refuge System). We require hunters to possess a signed refuge hunt permit at all times while scouting and hunting on the refuge.

(ii) Hunters may enter the refuge 2 hours before legal shooting time and must leave no later than 2 hours after legal shooting time.

(iii) We allow the use of dogs consistent with State regulations.

(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of coyote, fox, crow, ruffed grouse, opossum, raccoon, pheasant, chukar, rabbit/hare/jackrabbit, squirrel, and woodchuck on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section apply.

(ii) We allow hunting from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer, bear, and wild turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (e)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.

(ii) We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a “deer drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer.

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We open Owens Station Crossing for catch-and-release fishing only.

(ii) We allow fishing from 1/2 hour before legal sunrise to 1/2 hour after legal sunset.

(iii) We prohibit the taking of amphibians and reptiles (see § 27.21 of this chapter).

(iv) We prohibit trapping fish for use as bait.

[84 FR 47675, Sept. 10, 2019, as amended at 85 FR 54127, Aug. 31, 2020]