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NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife

NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife New Jersey Fish and Wildlife is a part of The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (NJF&W) is a professional organization dedicated to the management and conservation of the state's fish and wildlife resources. NJF&W has a rich heritage dating back to 1892 and the creation of a commission form of wildlife administration with an appointed, salaried Fish and Game Protector. This was an addition to nine county wardens who were first authorized in 1871.

Operating as usual

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife's Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery recently completed Muskellunge stocking for 2022. The Mu...
10/28/2022

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife's Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery recently completed Muskellunge stocking for 2022. The Muskellunge were acquired in a trade for surplus Northern Pike with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.

Hatchery staff float stocked about 5,000 ten-inch fingerlings last week in these waters:
Greenwood Lake - 3,640
Echo Lake Reservoir - 532
Mercer Lake - 532
Mountain Lake - 110
Furnace Lake - 100

Another 7,300 surplus fingerlings were stocked in the Delaware River between the Route 84 bridge (Tri States) and Phillipsburg. An additional 1,250 surplus were stocked in Cooper River Park Lake.

The following waters were stocked with twelve-inch spring holdovers this year:
Lake Hopatcong - 2,685
Monksville Reservoir - 760
DOD Lake - 180
Cooper River Park Lake - 173
Little Swartswood Lake - 120

The Hatchery also stocked twelve-inch Tiger Muskellunge in the following waters:
Lake Musconetcong - 658
Greenwood Lake - 342

4,700 surplus Tiger Muskellunge were stocked in the Delaware River between the Poxono Boat Ramp and Phillipsburg Boat Ramp.

Employment Opportunities with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife!  The Endangered and Nongame Species Program is hiring two Bi...
10/28/2022

Employment Opportunities with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife!

The Endangered and Nongame Species Program is hiring two Biologist Trainees, one based in Trenton, Mercer County and one based in Clinton, Hunterdon County.

Description: Under supervision of a Principal Biologist or other supervisory official in a State department or local government agency, as a trainee and productive worker, works in a specialized field requiring the application of biological principles; learns to perform the various research and testing activities of the assigned area; does other related duties.

Specific to Position 1: Assists the Chief/Staff in planning, implementing and managing the mission-critical work efforts of the Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP). Manages updates to, and implements, the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) as required by Congress in association with the Program's federal funding. Manages ENSP compliance metrics and reporting. Plans and helps design the state's application and use of additional nonprofit, State or Federal grant awards that are made available, including but not limited to the $15.5 million that could be awarded under the presently proposed Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) and implements AFWA's "Relevancy Roadmap" recommendations.

Specific to Position 2: Under general supervision, develops, plans and coordinates the implementation of biologically sound wildlife conservation strategies which address the needs of state and regional species of greatest conservation need (SGCN), with a focus on state-listed freshwater mussels, aquatic systems, and invertebrates. Performs highly technical and physically demanding field and survey work under a variety of field and weather conditions. Manages applicable grant applications, implementation and reporting. Coordinates with agency staff in the propagation and release of freshwater mussels. Participates in regional work groups addressing freshwater mussel and invertebrate species conservation. Assists with agency planning needs, including development of New Jersey's "State Wildlife Action Plan". Plans and coordinates the implementation of various agency initiatives.

Education Requirement: Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree including or supplemented by twenty-four (24) semester hour credits in the biological sciences.

Deadline to apply: 4:00 p.m. on November 17, 2022

Biologist Trainee position details and application instructions: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/jobs-fw-2022-5-biologist-trainee/

It's Bat Week! Bat Week is an annual nod to those incredible, beneficial (and dare we say adorable) creatures of the nig...
10/27/2022

It's Bat Week! Bat Week is an annual nod to those incredible, beneficial (and dare we say adorable) creatures of the night who share our world.

So, what's with the tall pole in the woods? Bridget is setting up an acoustic detector to record bat echolocation calls for a couple nights in Hunterdon County as part of a BatAMP project to snapshot bat activity across the country during Bat Week. NJFW's Endangered and Nongame Species Program will share the results with BatAmp to include in their interactive maps. We'll let you know what we find too!

Bat Week: https://batweek.org/

BatAMP: https://visualize.batamp.databasin.org/

NJFW Bat Conservation: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/conservation/bat-conservation/

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife's Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center will reopen to the public on...
10/26/2022

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife's Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center will reopen to the public on Monday, October 31, and be open daily, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Please note that licenses and permits will be available for purchase. Cash is no longer accepted, but you can pay by credit card, debit card, check or money order.

Come and join us for some spooky fun on October 31!

Craft and Learning Stations (Pre-K and up, all day while supplies last): Learn about the monstrous world of macroinvertebrates, spiders and bats while creating a craft as you explore the Exhibit Hall. More info: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/programs-and-events-at-the-pequest-trout-hatchery/

Halloween Hike (ages 6 and up): Meet at the main entrance at 10:00 a.m. to join us on a 1.1-mile-long hike to explore the changing autumn landscape. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-hike-at-the-pequest-wildlife-management-area-tickets-446150988617

Fall turkey season opens this Saturday, October 29! Remember to purchase a permit (permits are currently available in al...
10/26/2022

Fall turkey season opens this Saturday, October 29! Remember to purchase a permit (permits are currently available in all Turkey Hunting Areas) and review the regulations before heading into the woods.

View available turkey permits: https://nj.aspirafocus.com/internetsales/Home/AvailablePermits

Turkey Hunting Regulations:https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/digest-hunting-2022-2023-segment-49-53.pdf

Wild Turkey in New Jersey: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/wild-turkey-in-new-jersey/

Photo credit: Craig Lemon, NJFW

Deer Hunters: Permit Bow Season opens this Saturday, October 29! The deadline to purchase Antlered Buck Permits for hunt...
10/24/2022

Deer Hunters: Permit Bow Season opens this Saturday, October 29!

The deadline to purchase Antlered Buck Permits for hunters who have already purchased an antlerless zone permit for the Permit Bow Season is October 29 at 11:59 p.m.

Hunters can purchase an Antlered Buck Permit after October 29, provided they do not already possess an antlerless zone-specific permit.

Purchase permits: https://nj.aspirafocus.com/internetsales

Archery Deer Season Regulations:https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/digest-hunting-2022-2023-page-36-deer-archery-seasons.pdf

Hunting and Trapping Digest:https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/digest-hunting-2022-2023-complete.pdf

Motorists are reminded to drive with extra caution and watch for deer at this time of the year. Deer are more likely to ...
10/24/2022

Motorists are reminded to drive with extra caution and watch for deer at this time of the year. Deer are more likely to suddenly run onto roadways during their mating season, known as the rut, which runs from late October through mid-December in New Jersey. Increased deer activity is more likely to occur in the early morning and around sunset when visibility may be difficult. Awareness will become even more important when daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 6, causing many commutes to align with the periods when deer are most active.

These tips can help motorists stay safe during the fall rut:
• Slow down if you see a deer and watch for possible sudden movement. If the deer is in the road and doesn’t move, wait for the deer to cross and the road is clear. Do not try to drive around the deer.
• Watch for “Deer Crossing” signs. Slow down when traveling through areas known to have a high concentration of deer so you have enough time to stop, if necessary.
• Use high beams after dark if there is no oncoming traffic or vehicles ahead. High beams will be reflected by the eyes of deer on or near roads. If you see one deer, assume that others may be in the area.
• Don’t tailgate. The driver ahead might have to stop suddenly to avoid colliding with a deer.
• Always wear a seatbelt, as required by law. Drive at a safe and sensible speed, factoring for weather, available lighting, traffic, curves and other road conditions.
• Do not swerve to avoid impact if a collision appears inevitable. The deer may counter-maneuver suddenly. Brake appropriately and stay in your lane. Collisions are more likely to become fatal when a driver swerves to avoid a deer.
• Obey the state’s hands-free device law or refrain from using cellular devices while driving.

Report any deer-vehicle collision to a local law enforcement agency immediately.

Full DEP Press Release: https://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2022/22_1017.htm

This week’s  highlights the many colors of fall. We’re not sure what's brighter - the red in these rainbows or the gorge...
10/21/2022

This week’s highlights the many colors of fall. We’re not sure what's brighter - the red in these rainbows or the gorgeous fall foliage. Chris, Frank and Jose all caught some great fish this week. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife's Pequest Trout Hatchery finished up Fall trout stocking on Wednesday with 20,780 fish averaging 14.6 inches and 930 fish averaging 18.8 inches released over the past two weeks. Tomorrow, October 22 is the state’s second Free Fishing Day of the year, so take a friend out and enjoy this weekend’s beautiful weather, near peak fall colors and 21,710 freshly stocked trout.

The fall season means New Jersey’s black bears are on the move foraging for food in preparation for the winter denning s...
10/19/2022

The fall season means New Jersey’s black bears are on the move foraging for food in preparation for the winter denning season. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife is reminding the public to adhere to guidelines for removing potential food sources and avoiding interactions with black bears.

It is critically important for people to never feed black bears. Bears attracted to neighborhoods may learn to associate people with food. These animals may then become nuisance bears that cause property damage, seek handouts from people or become dangerous. Intentionally feeding bears is illegal in New Jersey and carries a fine of up to $1,000.

The DEP offers the following tips for property owners to minimize conflicts with bears:
Secure trash and eliminate obvious sources of food such as pet food bowls, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residue left on barbecue grills.
Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.
Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
Avoid feeding birds when bears are active. If you choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only and bring feeders indoors at night. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.
Immediately remove all uneaten food and food bowls used by pets fed outdoors.
Clean outdoor grills and utensils to remove food and grease residue. Store grills securely.
Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.
Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.
Properly install electric fencing as an effective way to protect crops, beehives and livestock.

If you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood or outdoors while hiking or camping, follow these safety tips:
Remain calm. Never run from a bear, as this may trigger its predatory instinct. Instead, slowly back away. Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Make sure the bear has an escape route.
To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, using a whistle, banging pots and pans, or blowing an air horn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
Make bears aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises. If hiking through bear country, always make your presence known through loud talking or clapping of hands.
If a bear utters a series of huffs, makes popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws or swats the ground, these are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away and avoid direct eye contact. Do not run.
If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. This is usually a non-threatening behavior.
Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened, or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, slowly back away and do not run.
If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area, such as a vehicle or a building.
Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a “Bear Plan” in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back.

Report black bear damage or aggressive bears to your local police department or to Fish & Wildlife by calling 1-(877) WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).

For more information about black bears in New Jersey, visit https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/

10/18/2022

Free Fishing Day is this Saturday, October 22!

There’s no better time to get hooked on fishing! On Free Fishing Day, New Jersey residents may fish the state’s public waters without a license or trout stamp. All other regulations including size and daily catch limits remain in effect.

Freshwater Fishing Regulations: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/new-jersey-freshwater-fishing-digest/

New State Record Hybrid Striped Bass! John Vayda caught the new state record Hybrid Striped Bass in Monskville Reservoir...
10/17/2022

New State Record Hybrid Striped Bass!

John Vayda caught the new state record Hybrid Striped Bass in Monskville Reservoir on October 9, 2022. The fish weighed 16 pounds, 10 ounces, replacing Bill Schmidt’s 1999 record hybrid that weighed 16 pounds, 4 ounces.

John and two of his friends were trolling for Walleye as a practice run for an upcoming trip. They were trolling in 20 feet of water when John caught the fish on 12-pound test monofilament. The fish was most likely from a small New Jersey Fish and Wildlife stocking back in May of 2017.

Congratulations, John!

New Jersey State Record Freshwater Fish: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/new-jersey-state-record-freshwater-sport-fish/

The first week of fall trout stocking is in the books! Chris, Jorge and Thomas all landed some beautiful rainbows this w...
10/14/2022

The first week of fall trout stocking is in the books! Chris, Jorge and Thomas all landed some beautiful rainbows this week. With the added rain yesterday, water levels should be up a bit and the fish will be spreading out. The weekend forecast looks great for fishing and autumn colors are brightening by the day. The next few weeks should be some of the best days of the season to be on the water!

Please join us in congratulating Conservation Police Officer Michael Bickerton, the first recipient of the Reinbold Awar...
10/13/2022

Please join us in congratulating Conservation Police Officer Michael Bickerton, the first recipient of the Reinbold Award! The Reinbold Award honors Warden John Reinbold who was killed in the line of duty in 1913 while responding to a complaint of illegal hunting in Bergen County. Warden Reinbold was 30 years old and had been a warden for two years at the time of his death. The recipient of this award must have worked as a Conservation Police Officer for no more than five years and must show daily dedication and passion to the profession of conservation law enforcement, among other criteria.

CPO Michael Bickerton was hired in 2020. He won multiple awards while training at the Gloucester Police Academy including the Physical Training Award, Academic Award, Director’s Award and the Merit Award. He has been involved in many facets of public outreach, including hunter education classes, annual youth pheasant hunts, fishing derbies and job fairs. He is a graduate of the International Hunter Education Association Hunting Related Shooting Incident Academy and serves the NJFW Bureau of Law Enforcement as a defensive tactics instructor.

Congratulations, CPO Bickerton!

Hunters: Help Keep New Jersey CWD Free!  Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD is a progressive and fatal neurologic disease ca...
10/13/2022

Hunters: Help Keep New Jersey CWD Free!

Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD is a progressive and fatal neurologic disease caused by an infectious protein called a prion. It affects members of the Cervid family such as deer, elk, moose and reindeer, and results in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death. Although CWD has not been found in New Jersey at this time, it poses a serious threat to our deer herds and hunting traditions.

Please be aware of the following regulations and precautions before heading outdoors this upcoming season:
• NEVER bring a whole cervid carcass back into New Jersey from out of state. The importation of carcasses and intact heads into New Jersey is prohibited. Deboned meat, finished taxidermy heads, bleached skulls and skull caps, hides and buglers are permitted to be imported into New Jersey. Skull plates, antlers or skulls from which all tissue has been removed should be soaked in a 30 percent bleach solution for 15 minutes.
• The sale, possession, and use of lures and scents made from deer including deer urine and deer glandular secretions is now banned. Infectious prions that cause CWD can be found in these fluids. Only synthetic scents or lures made from species not in the deer family are legal for deer hunting in New Jersey.

One of the most important ways of stopping the spread of CWD is early detection. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife tests hunter-harvested deer every year, along with symptomatic wild or captive deer. Please report deer that appear sick, weak, or starving to:
Fish and Wildlife Veterinarian: 908-735-6398 or [email protected]
Principal Deer Biologist: 609-223-6073 or [email protected]
Northern Region Deer Biologist: 908-735-7040 ext 209 or [email protected]
Southern Region Deer Biologist: 856-875-6418 or [email protected]

Thank you for helping keep New Jersey CWD free!

Chronic Wasting Disease Information: www.njfishandwildlife.com/cwdinfo.htm

Keep NJ Free of CWD: A Guide for Hunters (brochure):https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/cwd_hunters_guide.pdf

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501 East State Street
Trenton, NJ
08625

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Howdy howdy - `Bout a little over a week ago I brought a nice, mild pot of Venison Chili to work and everyone said they really enjoyed it.......... Well tonight, I decided to make another Meals from the Wilderness ala Ken, but kicked it up a few notches! So I added a shot of Habanero Hot Sauce and diced up a few Jalapeño Peppers to give it a little "kick"........and Wow! Was this ever good! I assure you this Venison Chili is definitely not for anyone with a weaker sort of palate by any means!~ Made a nice Spinach salad, added a few Roasted Beets the sprinkled a little Goat Cheese on top and drizzled a little Blue Cheese dressing - Capped off with a nice glass of Bolla Valpolicella - And there ya go!~

Vwäˈlä! Bon Appétit!
Ahhhh!..Look what we have here! Another Meals from the Wilderness ala Ken! Venison CheeseSteaks with onions/peppers & melted Mozzarella Cheese! Along with a nice side of those Roasted Beets that are topped off with Gorgonzola Cheese. Capped off with a glass of Gentleman`s Collection a nice red blend. And there you go!
Vwäˈlä! Bon Appétit!
What kind of prints are these? I am guessing a red fox, but would like a professional opinion.
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Good evening .......... Whipped up a very interesting, mighty-fine tastin` "Meals from the Wilderness ala Ken!" tonight and thought I`d share it with you. So I really dig the whole Fall/Winter Squash scene - They include: butternut, pumpkin, acorn, and spaghetti squash (to name a few) - Winter squash tend to have a thicker skin and can be stored for quite a while. Tonight I used Butternut Squash as it has a sweet, nutty taste similar to that of a pumpkin.
I split the squash in half, length-wise as I wanted to make a Butternut Squash/Fillet of Venison "Boat" -

After removing the seeds, I sliced a "tic-tac-toe" pattern in the Squash, then sprinkled Cinnamon & a little Brown Sugar on the slices that I made. Then baked it for 45 minutes. As it baked the Brown Sugar & Cinnamon caramelized & melted into the cuts that I made.

Next I sautéed a few chopped up Tomatoes & Spinach in Avocado Oil, & placed this where I removed the seeds earlier. Took a nice Venison Fillet & cut it up into very thin slices & put the meat on top of the Tomatoes & Spinach. Lastly, I put a small portion of Cranberry Sauce on top of the Squash where the sugar had melted.
The combination of nutty flavor of the Butternut Squash with the Brown Sugar & tartness of the Cranberry Sauce was outstanding! It complimented the Venison Tender-Loin perfectly!

Served with a small bowl of Tomato Basil Soup & a nice glass of "1,000 Stories" a Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel (a very fitting name of a wine for me!) - And there you go!

Vwäˈlä! Bon Appétit!
So I just drove past the Archer range over at Assunpink wildlife Management area
Three targets seven shooters all shooting different yardages with recurves compounds and crossbows
no thank you
Someone's going to end up with an arrow in the back of the head
Wish they had more Park rangers patrolling there
**Treated myself to an ultra-cool lil` B-Day Gift last night from across the "pond".......... Check this out!
A very rare vintage/antique all brass CHARLES FARLOW MAKER mid 1800’s fly fishing reel! Equipped with an ivory handle! In outstanding condition to chase those lil` wild Brown Trout like it was used for back in England! (Ahhhhhh......I see a story coming!)
Good evening! Ahhhhhhh.....Caviar anyone? Well it would certainly have to be the "right" Caviar for another Meals from the Wilderness ala Ken and this is just that. Fresh Walleye Roe! Quite the delicacy indeed! A fantastic appetizer.
Sauteed the Roe in a little Olive oil, added some diced tomatoes, mushrooms & parsley......and there ya go! Now that is some fine dining my friends......
Sunset bird flock
Beautiful Eagles on 7 Bridges Road thank you all for protecting them I've been watching the Eagles for a few Years its an honor to learn about them.
Saving the Red Sea for Future Generations
Join us for a virtual deep sea dive beneath Israel on January 19th
https://afbiu.org/redsea
201 lbs 5 Pointer 2020 permit bow. zone 35 thank you New Jersey.