This is not the full law. Consult the Division of Fish and Wildlife for further details. All persons are reminded that the statues, code and regulations are the legal authorities.
From the N.J. Fish & Wildlife Digest, A Summary of Rules and Management Information
Vol. ? No. ?                                                                                                    AUGUST 2011
Farmer Hunting Information Page

All farmers should now have a Conservation Identification number (CID). Apply now for a free CID either at a license agent or online at WildlifeLicense.com/NJ/. No purchase required. All hunters will need a CID when Fish and Wildlife transitions to an automated dee checking system in the near future.

Farmer License Exemption A farmer and the immediate members of the family who also reside on the farm may hunt, trap and fish on the farm without being licensed or possessing a valid rifle permit (a farm is defined as an area of at least 5 acres and having a gross income of at least $500, and tax assessed as farmland).
This exemption does not apply to a tenant or employee who is not an immediate family member.
Farmer Regulations

     The occupant of a farm may allow his dog to run at large on land he occupies, except during the firearm deer seasons.
     Farmers and their lessees occupying or farming their land, members of their immediate families, or their farming employees may kill crows, woodchuck, and fox on farm property at any time when found destroying livestock or crops. However, they must use legal firearms, ammunition and other lawful procedures.
     Farmers may trap foxes destroying poultry, crops or property at any time, subject to state law and local ordinances. Farmers or their agents may shoot or trap coyotes by lawful procedures at any time when found destroying livestock or crops.
     NOTE: persons who kill a coyote must notify a Fish and Wildlife Regional Law Enforcement Office within 24 hours.
     NOTE: Sunday bowhunting for deer is now legal only on state wildlife management areas and private property.
Farmer Deer Permits

  • Fish and Wildlife maintains a farmer database. Farmers who received farmer deer or turkey permits at any time during the last three years are already in the database and need not reapply.
  • New farmers or farmers who have not received permits nor applied for permits since 2006 MUST apply. Applications are available online at NJFishandWildlife.com/farmer.htm or at your local county agricultural extension office.
  • Fish and Wildlife will send notification when your farmer status is due for re-evaluation. Farmer status will be inactivated if you delay the re-evaluation process.
  • The preferred application period for farmers is June 1-August 1.
  • Once approved and in the new license system, farmers may claim their farmer permits by going to any license agent. The dates when permits will become available are listed below.
  • See Also: Farmer Turkey Permits if applicable.
  • See Also: Farmer Deer Transportation Tag


    • Farmer Deer Permits
  • Farmers may claim deer permits beginning TUESDAY, Oct. 5, 2010 at 10 a.m. at any license agent.
  • Approved farmers are eligible for one free bow, shotgun and muzzleloader permit and one free Antlered Buck Permit for each of the three permit seasons. See Farmer License Exemption, above. See also Farmer Regulations, above.
  • Two types of farmer permits--occupant and non-occupant farmer--allow the applicant to decide for which permit it is easies to qualify; see below. Farmers who must change the occupancy status for their deer permit should call the Permit Hotline at (609) 292-9192.
  • Only a qualified farmer or the spouse or children of that farmer who reside in the farmer's household, are eligible to apply for occupant and non-occupant farmer deer permits.
  • Farmers may also apply for (or purchase at license agents for full price) regular deer permits in addition to the free farmer permits.
  • Farmers are eligible for a Farmer Buck Permit which are limited to only one per person per season. If a farmer claims their FARMER Buck Permit they cannot purchase an Antlered Buck Permit. Likewise, if a farmer first purchases an Antlered Buck Permit, the farmer cannot claim a Farmer Buck Permit. The Antlered Buck Permit is valid for any zone in which the farmer has an antlerless permit for the season.
  • Farmer Deer Permits are contingent upon approval by Fish and Wildlife's Bureau of Law Enforcement.


    • Occupant Farmer Deer Permits
  • Applicants must be the owner, leasee or immediate family (spouse and children only) who actually reside on the farm property.
  • Land must be at least 5 acres, tax-assessed as farmland.
  • Occupant permits are valid only on the farm property where the applicant resides.


    • Non-Occupant Farmer Deer Permits
  • Applicants are not required to live on the farm property.
  • Farmer(s) and their immediate family (spouse and children only) may qualify, up to a total of five people.
  • Must actively till at least 30 acres of land which is tax-assessed as farmland.
  • Woodlots do not qualify.
  • To apply for hunting leased farmland, a copy of all leases authorizing the agricultural and hunting uses of the land must be attached to the application.
  • Non-Occupant Permits are valid only on private land within the deer management zone designated on the permit and are not valid on public lands within that zone.
  • An applicant who lives on the farm and actively tills at least 30 acres may apply either as an occupant or a non-occupant.


    • Farmer Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) Permits
    Farmers whose property lies within deer management zones having restricted antlerless bag limits and who need to manage problematic deer populations under current deer hunting seasons may apply for the Deer Management Assistance Program. For details visit NJFishandWildlife.com/dmap.htm or call your regional deer biologist:
  • North - (908) 735-7040
  • Central - (609) 259-6965
  • South - (609) 748-2043
    • Farmers and their immediate family members may qualify for one free DMAP permit if accepted into the program.
    SEE: Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) Regulations for Participants (.pdf file)
    Farmer Turkey Permits
  • Farmers may claim fall season turkey permits beginning TUESDAY, Oct. 5, 2010 at 10 a.m. at any license agent
  • Qualified farmers may apply only if their land is in a turkey hunting area open to hunting.
  • Farmer turkey permits are available only to the farmer and immediate family who reside on the farm.
  • For the purpose of farmer turkey permits, "immediate family" includes the spouse, mother, father, child, stepchild, stepparent, legal guardian, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, great grandparent, brother, sister, stepsister, stepbrother, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law of the farm owner or lesse who resides thereon.
  • Farmers may also apply for (or purchase at any license agent) regular turkey permits in addition to the free farmer permits.
  • Applications will be made available at Fish and Wildlife offices, at the website www.njfishandwildlife.com, and county agricultural agents.
    • Complete turkey hunting season information and application instructions will be available in the 2011 Wild Turkey Hunting Season Permit supplement, due out in late January 2010.