N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:25-5.3 - Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii), European hare (Lepus europeus), chukar partridge (Alectoris graeca), Hungarian partridge (Perdix perdix), and bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus)

(a) The annual season for hunting cottontail rabbit, black-tailed jackrabbit, white-tailed jackrabbit, and European hare with shotgun, bow and arrow, or air gun shall begin the last Saturday in September and conclude the Saturday after the third Monday of the following February, inclusive; except the season shall be closed during the six-day firearm deer season as specified in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.27(a) and on the Wednesday immediately following the six-day firearm deer season. The annual season for hunting chukar partridge and Hungarian partridge with shotgun or bow and arrow shall begin on the Saturday following the first Monday in November and conclude the third Monday of the following February, inclusive; except the season shall be closed during the six-day firearm deer season as specified in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.27(a) and on the Wednesday immediately following the six-day firearm deer season. The annual season for hunting quail with shotgun or bow and arrow at Greenwood Forest WMA and Peaslee WMA shall begin on the Saturday following the first Monday in November and conclude the following January 31, inclusive; except the season shall be closed during the six-day firearm deer season as specified in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.27(a) and on the Wednesday immediately following the six-day firearm deer season. Hunting for quail in all other portions of the State is prohibited at all times except on properly licensed semi-wild and commercial preserves in accordance with (e) below.

1. No person shall at any time liberate quail for any purposes, including dog training, and hunting, in the following State wildlife management areas:

i. Buckshutem WMA, Cumberland County;

ii. Dix WMA, Cumberland County;

iii. Egg Island WMA, Cumberland County;

iv. Fortescue WMA, Cumberland County;

v. Millville WMA, Cumberland County;

vi. New Sweden WMA, Cumberland County;

vii. Nantuxent WMA, Cumberland County; and

viii. Stafford Forge WMA, Ocean County.

(b) The annual season for hunting the animals listed in (a) above for properly licensed persons engaged in falconry shall begin on September 1 and conclude the following March 31, inclusive; except the season shall be closed during the six-day firearm deer season as specified in 7:25-5.27(a) and on the Wednesday immediately following the six-day firearm deer season. The falconry season for quail is closed except at Greenwood Forest WMA and Peaslee WMA as noted in (a) above.

(c) The daily bag limit is one jackrabbit or hare, seven chukar partridge, seven Hungarian partridge, and four cottontail rabbits. The daily bag limit for quail at Greenwood Forest WMA and Peaslee WMA is four quail.

(d) The hunting hours for the animals enumerated in this section are sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset except on the Saturday following the first Monday in November when legal hunting hours are 8:00 A.M. to 1/2 hour after sunset.

(e) The annual season for hunting chukar partridge, Hungarian partridge, and quail on properly licensed semi-wild preserves shall begin on the Saturday following the first Monday in November and conclude the following March 15 inclusive. Properly licensed and permitted youth hunters may hunt quail and/or partridge on the Saturday before the regular opening of the quail and partridge season on semi-wild preserves licensed for quail and/or partridge or for hunting quail on that same Saturday on the Peaslee and Greenwood Wildlife Management Areas. Youth hunters must be under the direct supervision of a non-hunting adult (21 years or older), who must possess a proper and valid firearm license. Direct supervision means the youth hunter and the supervising adult are together at the same location. The youth hunter may not hunt independently of the supervising adult. The Director, with approval of the Council, may extend the quail and partridge season on licensed semi-wild preserves for a period not to exceed 20 days.

1. There is no daily bag limit for quail, chukar partridge, and Hungarian partridge taken on properly licensed semi-wild shooting preserves. The total number of quail, chukar partridge, and Hungarian partridge taken on a semi-wild shooting preserve in the season may not exceed the number specified for release on the semi-wild shooting preserve application.

(f) Authority: The authority for the adoption of the foregoing section is found in 23:4-1 and 23:4-2 and other applicable statutes.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.3

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 2264(a), effective 9/8/2015

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 2921(a), effective 9/5/2017