Official Site of The State of New Jersey
| 2025-2026 Youth Hunts – All dates are Saturdays (except Youth Pheasant November 3 to November 7) Deer Bow Hunt: September 27, 2025 Pheasant Hunt: November 1, 2025 and Monday-Friday, November 3-7, 2025 Upland Game Bird Hunt: November 1, 2025 2026-26 Waterfowl Hunts: October 11, 2025 & January 31, 2026 North Zone October 11, 2025 & January 31, 2026 South Zone November 15, 2025 & January 31, 2026 Coastal Zone Deer Firearm Hunt: November 22, 2025 Turkey Hunt: April 18, 2026 NOTE: January 31, 2026, is also Veterans/Active Military Waterfowl Hunting Day Special Youth and Veterans/Active Military Waterfowl Hunting Days FAQs Not Hunter Education Certified yet?- Click HERE for more information. |
New Jersey Fish and Wildlife’s popular Take a Kid Hunting Program is designed to provide a quality hunting experience for properly licensed youth hunters. First added to the Game Code by the Fish and Game Council for the 2001-2002 season, the Program increases a young hunter’s opportunity for harvesting game in a setting which encourages responsible and safe hunting practices in a more relaxed setting. The program is coordinated by New Jersey Fish & Wildlife’s R3 Hunting and Shooting Sports Program.
The primary component of the program is a series of “youth hunts” – special days, often outside regular hunting seasons on days provided in the Game Code. Hunts often utilize the expertise of “mentors” to further enhance the hunting experience.
There are typically five (5) youth hunting events: turkey, pheasant, upland birds, deer and waterfowl as described below.
All hunts require the hunter to possess a valid Youth License and be under the direct supervision of a properly N.J. licensed, non-hunting adult 21 years of age or older.
Turkey – One day held prior to the opening of the regular spring season.
Pheasant – The “Youth Season” is now extended to include the Monday through Friday prior to the regular season opening dates. The Take a Kid Pheasant Hunting program provides opportunities for young hunters to learn and experience pheasant hunting using trained bird dogs under the supervision and guidance of knowledgeable volunteer hunting mentors. Youth hunters can participate in a guided hunt on one of ten Wildlife Management Areas throughout the state that are stocked with pheasants.
Pre-registration is required for guided hunts available in early September. Youth hunters between the ages of 10 and 16 who do not pre-register for a guided hunt can hunt during special hours on any one of ten Wildlife Management Areas (See the current NJ Hunting and Trapping Digest-Youth Hunting section) for more information. Support is provided by the State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. Youth Day Pheasant Stocking Maps:
*Online registration for the November 1, 2025 Take A Kid Youth Pheasant Hunt will open on September 5, 2025 and close October 15, 2025.
For more information or if interested in being a mentor, volunteer, or dog-handler; contact the R3 Program Staff at r3mentoredhunt@deptest.nj.gov.
Upland Bird – One day held prior to the opening of the regular season on licensed semi-wild preserves.
Waterfowl – Days are held outside of the regular waterfowl seasons during periods of higher waterfowl abundance to enhance the hunting experience for youths and their mentors.
Deer – Two days (bow and firearm) held prior to statewide opening days. These hunts are extensions of the Fall Bow and Six-day Firearm seasons so no special permit is required. Antler point and “antlerless deer first” requirements do NOT apply on these days. Youth hunters may still harvest two antlered deer during the regular Six-day Firearm Season and one antlered deer during the Fall Bow Season.
More complete information on each season is found in the current NJ Hunting & Trapping Digest.
