{"id":268,"date":"2021-12-27T16:33:55","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T16:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/?page_id=268"},"modified":"2026-01-06T17:25:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T22:25:09","slug":"waterfowl-and-migratory-birds-in-new-jersey","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/waterfowl-and-migratory-birds-in-new-jersey\/","title":{"rendered":"Waterfowl and Migratory Birds in New Jersey"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/waterfowlzones\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/open_hunter_banner_waterfowl.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/open_hunter_banner_waterfowl.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/open_hunter_banner_waterfowl-300x60.jpg 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/open_hunter_banner_waterfowl-1024x205.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/open_hunter_banner_waterfowl-768x154.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunt\/\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(1,132,88) 0%,rgb(12,127,164) 100%)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Find Your Hunting Location<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza\/\">Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Information<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/spring-light-goose-conservation-order-and-harvest-diary-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"color: #dc3545\">2026 Light Goose Conservation Order<\/a> <\/strong><i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/migratory-bird-seasons-2025-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Final 2025-26 Migratory Bird Seasons<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/migratory-bird-season-information-and-population-status\/\">2025-26 Migratory Bird Season \u2013 Information and Population Status<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/duck-seasons-chart-2025-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025-26 Duck Seasons Chart<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/special-youth-and-veterans-active-military-waterfowl-hunting-days-faqs\/\">Youth\/Veterans Waterfowl Hunt FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/tuckahoe-wildlife-management-area-managed-waterfowl-hunt\/\">Tuckahoe Special Waterfowl Hunting Lottery Information<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/goose_control_info.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Resident Canada Goose Control Information<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New Jersey Waterfowl Hunter Survey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During fall 2023, NJ Fish and Wildlife conducted a comprehensive survey of New Jersey waterfowl hunters.\u00a0An introductory paragraph and survey link was sent by e-mail to hunters who purchased a NJ Waterfowl Stamp in at least one of the past 3 years and provided an e-mail address.\u00a0In addition, the survey was sent to over 40,000 individuals who were subscribed to NJFW\u2019s Hunting Listserv.\u00a0A report of survey results is available at the link below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/waterfowl-hunter-survey-2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023 NJ Waterfowl Hunter Survey<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>With hundreds of miles of ocean and bayshore coastline, coastal and inland wetlands, small ponds and large lakes, New Jersey hosts an enormous variety of waterfowl species. Waterfowl can be found in abundance in the varied wetland habitats throughout the state including wood ducks in the beaver swamps of northern New Jersey to snow geese in the vast salt marshes along Delaware Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, New Jersey&#8217;s salt marshes and coastal back bay habitats are of global significance given that over one-third of the black ducks in the eastern United States and over two-thirds of North America&#8217;s Atlantic brant spend winter in these marshes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to the migratory nature of waterfowl, the research and management activities of Fish and Wildlife&#8217;s Waterfowl Ecology and Management Program are generally conducted on a flyway or continental scale requiring the participation of numerous state, provincial, federal (US and Canadian) and non-government partners. New Jersey is a member of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/partner\/migratory-bird-program-administrative-flyways\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Atlantic Flyway Council<\/a>&nbsp;which provides the means to participate in promulgating annual hunting regulations and long-term management plans in cooperation with partner states and the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fws.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<\/a>. The primary objective of Fish and Wildlife&#8217;s Waterfowl Program is to work in a cooperative manner with the numerous government and non-government agencies responsible for the populations and habitats of migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What Do I Need To Hunt Migratory Birds In New Jersey?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To hunt crows: a New Jersey hunting license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To hunt woodcock, rail, snipe, coots or moorhens (gallinule): a New Jersey hunting license <strong>and<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/migratory-bird-harvest-information-program-hip\/\">Harvest Information Program<\/a>&nbsp;(HIP) certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To hunt ducks, geese or brant: a New Jersey hunting license, HIP certification,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/birds\/get-involved\/duck-stamp.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/the-new-jersey-waterfowl-stamp-program\/\">New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp<\/a>. Both federal and state stamps are required for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older and must be signed in ink across the stamp&#8217;s face. Federal stamps are available at U.S. post offices and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/birds\/get-involved\/duck-stamp\/e-stamp.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online<\/a>. State stamps are available from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/licenses-and-permits\/license-agents\/\">license agents<\/a>&nbsp;or purchased and printed from the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/nj.aspirafocus.com\/internetsales\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">license website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Waterfowl Hunting Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NOTE:<\/strong>&nbsp;Migratory Bird Season information is included in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting-and-trapping-digest\/\">Hunting &amp; Trapping Digest<\/a>, published in August. The migratory bird regulations booklet is no longer produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/constant-nj-migratory-game-bird-regulations\/\">&#8220;Constant&#8221; NJ Migratory Game Bird Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/migratory-bird-hunting-zones-and-closure-areas\/\">Migratory Bird Hunting Zones and Closure Areas<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/tuckahoe-wildlife-management-area-managed-waterfowl-hunt\/\">Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area Managed Waterfowl Hunt<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/migratory-bird-harvest-information-program-hip\/\">Harvest Information Program (HIP) for Migratory Birds<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/waterfowl_federal_regs.pdf\">Federal Regulations Pertaining to Migratory Birds<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/story\/2022-04\/nontoxic-shot-regulations-hunting-waterfowl-and-coots-us\">Nontoxic Shot Regulations for Hunting Waterfowl and Coots<\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square\" style=\"color: #2c51b3\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/multi-stock_harvest_mgt.pdf\">Multi-stock Duck Harvest Management in the Atlantic Flyway<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wildlife\/atlantic-brant-migration-and-breeding-ecology-study-2021\/\">Atlantic Brant Migration and Breeding Ecology Study<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/the-new-jersey-waterfowl-stamp-program\/\">NJ Waterfowl Stamp Program<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pwrc.usgs.gov\/bbl\/\">Reporting Banded Birds<\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square\" style=\"color: #2c51b3\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/migwaterfowl_harvsummary.pdf\">Estimated Migratory Waterfowl Harvest, 1973-2017<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/wtrfwl_hntr_survey12-13.pdf\">2012-2013 Waterfowl Hunter Survey<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/duck_hnt_ptrns99-11.pdf\">Patterns of Duck Hunting Activity and Success in New Jersey, 1999-2011<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/patterns_of_hunter_activity_and_success_report_2011-2020_final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Patterns of Duck Hunting Activity and Success in New Jersey, 2011-2020<\/a> <i class=\"fa-solid fa-file-pdf\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/hunting\/wading-river-wma-special-use-area\/\">Wading River WMA Blinds for Youth Hunters<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADDITIONAL LINKS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/law\/migratory-bird-hunting-regulations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">US FWS Migratory Bird Laws, Regulations and Policies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/birds\/get-involved\/duck-stamp.php\">Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/birds\/education\/junior-duck-stamp-conservation-program\/junior-duck-stamp-contest-information.php\">Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest<\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square\" style=\"color: #2c51b3\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/flyways.us\/\">Flyways.us<\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square\" style=\"color: #2c51b3\"><\/i> &#8211; Produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in collaboration with flyway and state waterfowl managers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLZb5DyVcCk97nOlv3Rg9QTErKCQ93xcyJ\">Duck Identification: Wing Plumage<\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/media\/ducks-distance-waterfowl-identification-guide\">Ducks at a Distance &#8211; Waterfowl ID Guide<\/a> <i class=\"fa-regular fa-arrow-up-right-from-square\" style=\"color: #2c51b3\"><\/i><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/conservation\/the-wildlife-management-area-system\/\">Wildlife Management Areas<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Waterfowl Hunters: The Special Sea Duck Season has been discontinued.\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GsoanXLSPf4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GsoanXLSPf4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Waterfowl Hunters: the Special Sea Duck Season Has Been Discontinued<\/a> <i class=\"fa-brands fa-youtube\" style=\"color: #dc3545\"><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Information New Jersey Waterfowl Hunter Survey During fall 2023, NJ Fish and Wildlife conducted a comprehensive survey of New Jersey waterfowl hunters.\u00a0An introductory paragraph and survey link was sent by e-mail to hunters who purchased a NJ Waterfowl Stamp in at least one of the past 3 years and provided an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":37,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-268","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63853,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/268\/revisions\/63853"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}