Woman dressed warmly in camouflage and standing in marsh reeds aims a shotgun into the air

Just 26 miles as the crow flies from New York City, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge attracts an estimated 185,000 visitors a year to its 7,855 acres. The refuge hosts a four-day muzzleloader and shotgun deer hunt and a one-day youth deer hunt each year, in accordance with state and refuge-specific regulations. In addition to providing recreation, the hunts conserve habitat for species such as forest-nesting birds. All hunters must obtain a refuge hunting permit, in addition to a New Jersey state license, before scouting and hunting.

2023 Hunt Permits go on sale on September 20th, 2023. Refuge permits and refuge-specific regulations can be found at https://greatswamp.recaccess.com