Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Region
 

Migratory Bird Hunting Opportunities

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to hunt migratory birds. To ensure your safety and enjoyment while visiting the refuge, please read all of the information on this page and abide by all rules and regulations. For a printer-friendly version of the Migratory Bird Hunting general regulations, click here. Hunting is permitted in accordance with all applicable State and Federal regulations and is subject to special regulations. Hunters should also consult the current New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Digest, as well as the current NJ Migratory Bird Regulations Supplement.

Hunting Unit Information and Maps

All files are in .pdf format and require Adobe Reader to view.

Unit A- Little Egg Harbor North and South and Bonnet Island (800KB)
Units B- Gunning River, C- Clam Island, D- Turtle Cove (937KB)
Unit B- North of Gunning River (864KB)
Unit E- Forked River (1.71MB)
Unit F- Metedeconk River (1.70MB)
Units 1 and 2- Brigantine (928KB)
Units 3, 4, and 5- Brigantine (886KB)

Regulations

Season Dates

Refuge Hunt Units (NJ Coastal Zone) will be open for migratory waterfowl, rails, coots and moorhens subject to State, Federal and Refuge regulations. Please refer to the current NJ Migratory Bird Regulations Supplement.

Hours

One half hour before sunrise to sunset. No units shall be occupied before 4:00 a.m.

Licenses

Hunters must have a valid NJ Hunting license. In addition, each waterfowl hunter 16 years of age and over must carry on his person a valid Federal Duck Stamp and New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp signed in ink across the face of the stamps. All waterfowl hunters must also have a current HIP number written on their license.

Nontoxic Shot

All hunters (including rail, coot and moorhen hunters) must use or possess only approved nontoxic shot.

Hunting Dogs

We allow the use of retrieving dogs for hunting migratory game birds; however, the dogs must be under the hunter’s control at all times, and groups of three or more dogs per hunter are prohibited.

We prohibit dog training at all times.

Prohibited Activities

  • All hunting blind materials, boats and decoys must be removed at the end of each hunting day. Permanent and pit blinds are not permitted.
  • Gun capable of holding more than 3 shells before hunting.
  • Regardless of State Regulation, the distribution of bait and/or hunting over bait is prohibited.
  • The use of nails, wire, screws, or bolts to attach a stand to a tree, and/or hunting from a tree into which a metal object has been driven to support a hunter is prohibited.
  • All marking tape, reflective pins, or other materials used to mark trails must be removed at the end of the hunt day. The use of paint is prohibited.
  • Trimming or cutting vegetation.
  • Use or possession of alcoholic beverages.
  • Use of ATVs and/or dirt bikes.
  • Target practice
  • Camping and campfires
  • Littering
  • Overnight parking
  • Searching for or removing any object of antiquity including arrowheads, pottery or other artifacts.
  • Blocking gates or roadways with vehicles.

Have a safe and enjoyable hunting experience!
Last updated: October 9, 2012