New Jersey Hunting & Fishing
Season Calendar 2026
New Jersey offers surprisingly productive whitetail deer hunting — deer density is among the highest per square mile in the US. Turkey and waterfowl hunting in the Pine Barrens and Delaware Bay are accessible. Non-resident fees are reasonable.
New Jersey 2026 — Season Overview
Verified January 2026
🦌
Open Now
Deer (Archery)
Oct 1 – Jan 15
🦌
Open Now
Deer (Rifle)
Nov 25 – Dec 8
🦌
Open Now
Deer (Muzzleloader)
Oct 17 – Dec 26
🦃
Open Now
Turkey (Spring)
Apr 19 – May 31
🦃
Open Now
Turkey (Fall)
Oct 21 – Nov 18
🐦
Open Now
Duck & Waterfowl
Oct 6 – Jan 21
🐦
Open Now
American Woodcock
Oct 1 – Nov 30
🐰
Open Now
Cottontail Rabbit
Oct 1 – Feb 28
🐿️
Open Now
Squirrel
Sep 1 – Nov 30
🦢
Open Now
Canada Goose
Oct 1 – Jan 25
🎣
Open Now
Largemouth Bass
Mar 1 – Oct 31
🎣
Open Now
Rainbow Trout
Apr 1 – May 31
🎣
Open Now
Walleye
Apr 15 – Oct 15
🎣
Open Now
Ice Fishing (Perch)
Dec 1 – Feb 28
🎣
Open Now
Smallmouth Bass
Jun 15 – Oct 31
🐟
Open Now
Catfish
May 1 – Sep 30
🎣
Open Now
Striped Bass
Apr 1 – Nov 30
🎣
Open Now
Crappie
May 1 – Sep 30
🐟
Open Now
Flounder
May 1 – Oct 31
Source: New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (dep.nj.gov) · Verified January 2026
Complete Visual Reference
New Jersey Season Calendar — All Species × 12 Months
Every hunting and fishing season mapped across all 12 months. Color-coded by activity type. Scroll horizontally on small screens to see all months.
| Species / Season | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing Seasons | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Largemouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Rainbow Trout | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Walleye | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Ice Fishing (Perch) | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| 🐟Catfish | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Striped Bass | ||||||||||||
| 🎣Crappie | ||||||||||||
| 🐟Flounder | ||||||||||||
| Hunting Seasons | ||||||||||||
| 🦌Deer (Archery) | ||||||||||||
| 🦌Deer (Rifle) | ||||||||||||
| 🦌Deer (Muzzleloader) | ||||||||||||
| 🦃Turkey (Spring) | ||||||||||||
| 🦃Turkey (Fall) | ||||||||||||
| 🐦Duck & Waterfowl | ||||||||||||
| 🐦American Woodcock | ||||||||||||
| 🐰Cottontail Rabbit | ||||||||||||
| 🐿️Squirrel | ||||||||||||
| 🦢Canada Goose | ||||||||||||
Fishing (all species)
Archery Hunting
Rifle Hunting
Muzzleloader
Spring Turkey / Upland
Fall Bird / Bear
Waterfowl
Draw Only / Application
Ice Fishing
Hunting
New Jersey Hunting Season Details — 2026
New Jersey offers surprisingly productive whitetail deer hunting — deer density is among the highest per square mile in the US. Turkey and waterfowl hunting in the Pine Barrens and Delaware Bay are accessible. Non-resident fees are reasonable.
White-tailed Deer
2 of 2 seasons open
🏹
Open Now
Whitetail Deer Archery
Archery
Sep 10 – Feb 22
🔫
Open Now
Whitetail Deer Firearms
Firearms
Nov 30 – Dec 14
Wild Turkey
1 season
🌿
Open Now
Wild Turkey Spring
General
Apr 22 – May 21
2 gobblers
Ring-necked Pheasant
1 season
🌿
Open Now
Pheasant
General
Nov 9 – Jan 18
Duck
1 season
🌿
Open Now
Duck
General
Nov 3 – Jan 25
Fishing
New Jersey Fishing Season Details — 2026
New Jersey has a strong trout stocking program across its rivers and reservoirs. The Delaware River produces excellent smallmouth bass and shad. Striped bass fishing in the ocean and Delaware Bay is outstanding, and offshore tuna and mahi-mahi are accessible.
🎣
Open Now
New Jersey Striped Bass – Ocean
General
Apr 2 – Dec 31
Ocean season April 2 through December 31.
🎣
Year-Round
New Jersey Largemouth Bass
General
Year-Round
Year-round season statewide.
🎣
Open Now
New Jersey Rainbow Trout
Fly Fishing
Apr 5 – Jun 30
Stocked trout season April 5 through June 30.
🎣
Open Now
New Jersey Smallmouth Bass
General
Jun 22 – Dec 31
June 22 through December 31.
🎣
Open Now
New Jersey Walleye
General
Mar 15 – Oct 31
March 15 through October 31.
2026 Pricing
New Jersey License & Tag Fees — 2026
Hunting Licenses & Tags
| License / Tag | Resident | Non-Resident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Annual Resident Hunting License | $28.50 | — | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Annual Non-Resident Hunting License | — | $135.50 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Youth Hunting License (Under 16) | $9.98 | — | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Senior Resident Hunting License (65+) | $14.25 | — | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Spring Turkey License | $25.00 | $150.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Fall Turkey License | $25.00 | $150.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
Fishing Licenses
| License Type | Resident | Non-Resident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Annual Resident Fishing License | $22.50 | — | Senior 65+; youth under 16 free |
| New Jersey Annual Non-Resident Fishing License | — | $34.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey 7-Day Non-Resident Fishing License | — | $25.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey 3-Day Non-Resident Fishing License | — | $19.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey 1-Day Fishing License | $9.00 | $18.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Senior Resident Fishing License (65+) | $11.25 | — | Free for residents 65+. Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Youth Fishing License (Under 16) | $0.00 | — | Free for anglers under 16. Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Combination Hunting & Fishing License | $38.00 | — | Includes base hunting and freshwater fishing privileges. Additional tags, stamps, and endorsements may be required for specific species. Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
| New Jersey Trout & Salmon Stamp | $10.00 | $20.00 | Estimated — verify current price at official agency website before purchasing. |
Questions & Answers
New Jersey Season Calendar — FAQs
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