FOREST AND STREAM 
565 
Game Laws 
The First Complete Game Laws (in brief form) 
in Brief 
thus far Published in any Magazine 
NEW JERSEY. 
Ernest Napier, President Board of Fish and Game Commissioners. 
Wildfowl.—Unlawful for any person hunting or gunning after geese, duck, or brant 
or other water wildfowl, to place the boat, sink-box or other vessel or construction 
in which such person may lie in wait at a distance of more than ioo feet from ice, 
marsh or meadow, bar or bank, or heaped seaweed not covered with water. It shall 
be unlawful for any person to pursue any geese, duck, brant or any kind of water 
wildfowl whatsoever, or to shoot, or to shoot at, or kill, or wound the same from 
any boat or vessel propelled by any means other than by oars or paddles, or from 
any boat, vessel or other structure anchored or staked upon the waters of any of 
the bays, sounds, coves, ponds, rivers, creeks or streams of the State at a greater 
distance than too feet from ice, marsh or meadow, bar or bank, or heaped seaweed 
not covered with water. Unlawful to kill any black duck or any mallard duck except 
between Nov. I and Mar. i following; or to kill or have in possession any duck or 
swan, other than black duck, mallard or woodduck, excepting between Nov. I and 
Mar. 15 following, or to kill any goose, brant or shell drake except between Nov. 
I and April 10. 
Shore Birds, Snipe.—Unlawful to capture any yellow legs, plovers, willets, sand 
pipers, dowitchers or robin snipe, brown backs, turn-stones or calico backs, godwitz 
or marlin, and tattlers, or any other birds commonly known as shore birds, surf 
snipe, or bay snipe, excepting from the 1st day of May to the 31st day of Decem¬ 
ber, both dates inclusive, also Wilson or English snipe (Sometimes called bog snipe 
or Jack snipe), excepting during March, April, September, October, November and 
December of each year. 
Upland Plover.—Closed until 1916. 
Marsh Hen, Rail Bird.—It shall be unlawful to capture any marsh hen (commonly 
known as mud-hen) or rail bird, excepting only from the 1st day of September to 
the 31st day of December, both dates inclusive. 
Sabbath.—It shall be unlawful ito hunt with a hound or hounds, or with firearms or 
weapons of any kind, or to carry a gun in the woods or on the waters on the 
Sabbath day, commonly called Sunday. Penalty of $20 for Sunday shooting. 
Snow.—It shall be unlawful to hunt, kill or destroy any partridge, grouse, pheasant, 
quail, woodcock or hare (commonly known as rabbit), while there is snow upon 
the ground in such condition that any such bird or animal may be tracked therein. 
Sale of Game.—It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale or possess for saie for 
food purposes within this State, whether killed within or without this State, any 
of the dead bodies, or parts thereof, of squirrels of all species, wild deer of all 
species, and the dead bodies or parts thereof of any dead game birds or song birds 
belonging to any species or sub-species native to this State, protected by law, or 
belonging to any family, any species or sub-species of which is native to this State 
and protected by law, whether taken within or without this State, under a penalty 
of twenty dollars for each squirrel, wild deer or birds above mentioned, so sold, 
offered for sale or possessed for sale for food purposes as aforesaid; provided, how¬ 
ever, that the unplucked carcasses of mallard and black ducks, pheasants of all 
species, Scotch grouse, European black grouse, European black plover, red-legged 
partridge, Egyptian quail and the carcasses of deer, raised on game preserves in this 
State, or coming from another State or country, which are properly tagged by the 
State authorities, may be sold at any time for food purposes. 
Dogs at Large.—If any dog be found running at large in the woods or fields, 
except during the open season for killing quail, rabbit, squirrel, English or ring- 
neck pheasants, ruffed grouse, prairie chicken, wild turkey or Hungarian partridge, 
the owner shall be liable to a penalty of $20. Unlawful to go Into woods or fields 
with a hound or firearm, except during the open season for killing the above men¬ 
tioned birds and animals. The owner, lessee or custodian of any dog may go with 
such dog without firearms to exercise or train said animal in daylight from Oct. 1 
to the first day of the open season for killing the foregoing birds and animals, 
except during the open season for deer. 
The Board of Fish and Game Commissioners may issue permits to hunt foxes 
with hounds and firearms from the last day of the open season for killing above 
mentioned game until March 31st or to hunt foxes with hounds and horses and to 
drag hunt at all times. This act shall not apply to hunting deer, woodcock, snipe, 
rail, mud hen and water fowl, at the time and in manner provided by law. Anv 
owner, lessee or custodian of any dog may enter woods and fields with said dog 
without firearms at any time of the year, if such dog is not allowed to hunt or 
pursue any game and is under the immediate control and command of such owner. 
Crows, hawks and vermin may be killed at any time when in act of destroying 
poultry or grain. 
Ferrets.—It shall be unlawful to hunt any hare or rabbit with ferrets. 
Silencer.—It shall be unlawful to use any silencer, when hunting for game or 
fowl, on any gun, rifle or firearms. 
Game Brought Into State.—Whenever by the laws of any other State or country 
it shall be lawful to take out of the confines of said State or country any wild game, 
whether the same be fowl or animal, it shall be lawful to bring such game within 
the State of New Jersey. The sale or exposure for sale of any such game, how¬ 
ever, is prohibited. 
Deer.—Open Season: November 1st to November 5th, both dates inclusive. Only 
one deer having horns visible above the hair may be taken by a licensed hunter. 
Unlawful to hunt, shoot at, take, kill or wound any doe or deer, except those 
having horns. Unlawful to have in possession any deer, except between said dates. 
Foregoing does not apply to deer killed on game preserves, the owners or lessees 
thereof being licensed, or to deer coming from another state properly tagged, show¬ 
ing where same was killed. 
Unlawful for those hunting wild deer to use or carry a rifle of any kind or 
description, or any firearm or shot gun of a smaller calibre than twelve gauge and 
which shoots more than twice without reloading, or load such firearm or shotgun 
with a bullet or other missile larger than buckshot, under a penalty of $500. 
Unlawful to hunt any wild deer except by daylight in open season or to employ 
a dog or dogs when hunting same. 
Resident Hunting License 1914 until January rst, 1915.—No citizen of this State 
shall at any time hunt any of the game birds, wild animals or fowl unless he has 
resided in this State one year immediately preceding the application for license: 
Provided, however. That the occupant of any farm, and the immediate members of 
the family of said occupant, residing on said farm, shall have the right, without 
such license to hunt on said farm any wild animals or fowl protected by law: 
Provided, however, That the words “members of the family of said occupant” 
shall not be taken to include any employe or tenant of said occupant. Said license 
shall be procured from any county, city, borough, town, township or village clerk, 
and the applicant shall pay $1 as a license fee, together with 15 cents as a fee for 
issuing. 
Non-Resident License.—Ten dollars as a license fee, together with 50 cents as the 
fee of the clerk. Any person licensed under the provision of this act may, in any 
one day, remove from the State 50 rail birds, other birds to a number not exceed¬ 
ing fifteen, and rabbits to a number not exceeding ten: Provided, however, That 
no removal shall be made except the birds or rabbits be exposed to open view. 
Unnaturalized; Aliens.—No unnaturalized, foreign-born resident of this State shall 
at any time hunt any game or fowl without first having procured a license so to 
do from the clerk of any county, city, town or township or other municipality. And 
said applicant shall pay to the clerk $10 as a license fee, together with 50 cents 
as the fee of the clerk: Provided, That the owner or owners, lessee or lessees of 
farm land, if residing on said farm land, shall have the right to hunt, pursue and 
kiil game and fowl on the farm land of which he or they are the bona fide owner 
or owners, lessee or lessees, without procuring such unnaturalized, foreign-born 
resident license. 
Hunting and Fishing Licenses.—Same in effect Jany. 1st, 1913. Applies only to 
fresh waters as to fishing. Licenses obtained from any county or municipal clerk 
or salaried fish and game warden. . 
Resident males and females above the age of 14, citizens of the United States, 
actual and bone fide residents of the State may obtain licenses to hunt with firearms 
any protected or unprotected wild bird animal or fowl, and to fish, provided they 
have lived for 1 year in the State prior to application. Fee $1.15. 
No fishing license required of (1) resident females. (2) Males under 14 years. 
It is unlawful for any person under 14 to hunt with any firearm. 
Non-Residents’ and Aliens’ Hunting and Fishing License.—Males and females'- 
more than 14 must pay $10.15 for same. For fishing alone $2.15. No licence is 
required of non-resident and alien females, or of males under 14, for fishing. Such 
persons, being the occupants of farms, and their families may hunt and fish on their 
farms without a license in open seasons for game and fish. 
Beaver.—(Protected at all times. 
Pheasants.—Close season on female English or ring-neck pheasants to April 15, 
1519, except on pheasants killed or had in possession on game preserves, the 
owners or lessees of which are duly licensed by the Board of Fish and Game 
Commissioners. 
Lawful Gun.—Unlawful to use in hunting fowl or animals of any kind, any shot¬ 
gun or rifle holding more than two cartridges at one time. 
Bag Limit.—One day 10 quail, 3 English or ring-neck pheasants, 3 Hungarian 
partridge, 10 woodcock, 3 ruffed grouse, 20 duck, 10 geese, 10 brant or 10 rabbits, 
or 30 marsh hens; hotels, restaurants and dealers having game at place of business 
during the open season excepted. 
Open Seasons.—Quail, rabbit, squirrel, male English or ring-neck pheasant, ruffed 
grouse, prairie chicken, or Hungarian partridge in entire State from Nov. 10 to 
Dec. 15, inclusive. Open season for woodcock Oct. to to Dec. 15, inclusive. 
Export.—Unlawful to remove from this State any quail, ruffed grouse (commonly 
known as partridge), pinnated grouse, woodcock, hare, rabbit, squirrel, English 
or ring-neck pheasants, Hungarian partridge or any duck, goose, brant or other 
water wildfowl. Does not apply to English or ring-neck pheasants, mallard and 
black ducks raised by licensed breeders. Licensed non-residents may take out 
of the State certain game. 
Wild Turkey.—Season closed to March 13, 1919. 
Reed Bird (Bob-O-Link) or Rice Bird close season at all times. 
All Small Shore Birds, not designated by name in open season, Little Brown 
Sandhill, and Whooping Cranes, Swans, Curlews, Upland Plover and Wood Duck3. 
Close season until Sept. 1, 1918. 
License.—All licenses expire Dec. 31. 
Sussex, Morris, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, Warren and Passaic are counties in 
which shooting is best. 
Carp or Tench Bait.—It shall be unlawful to use the young of any species of 
carp or tench for bait in any of the waters of this State for bait or for any other 
purpose. 
Bass, Pike-Perch.—It shall be unlawful to take any black bass, Oswego bass, white 
bass, calico bass, crappie or pike-perch, excepting only from the 15th day of June 
to the 30th day of November, both dates inclusive. 
Pike, Pickerel.—Open season, 20th of May to the last day of November. 
Best Lakes for bass and pickerel are: Mays Landing Pond, Hanover Pond, 
Harrisville Pond, Willow Grove Pond, Pompton Lake, Budds Lake, Denmark Pond, 
Green Pond, Hopatcong Lake, Split Rock Pond, Cedar Pond, Greenwood Lake, 
Long Pond (Andover), Halloway Pond, Cranberry Pond, Culver’s Lake, Little 
Swartswood, Long Pond, Losee Pond, Morris Lake, Stanhope Reservoir, Wawayanda 
Lake and Green Lake. 
Trout.—April 1 to July 15, inclusive. 
Trout artificially propagated may be sold at any time for food purposes, if properly 
tagged, pursuant to State authority. 
Trout Catch.—It shall be unlawful to take in any one day more than twenty-five 
trout. 
Night Fishing.—It shall be unlawful in any manner to take any trout, bass, pike- 
perch or pickerel between 9 o’clock in the evening and daylight of the morning 
following. 
Fish, Sizes.—Unlawful to kill, sell, expose for sale or have in possession any 
black bass, Oswego bass, or white bass measuring less than 9 inches in length; 
striped bass less than 10 inches; strawberry or calico bass or crappie less than 6 
inches; pike-perch less than 12 inches; trout less than 6 inches; pike or pickerel less 
than 12 inches. Esox fasciatus (commonly known as Long Island pickerel, varied and 
grass pike) is not included among above fishes. 
Set Lines, Lawful Tackle.—Unlawful to use in waters inhabited by pickerel, pike, 
pike-perch, black bass, Oswego bass, white bass, calico bass, perch or trout, set 
line or set lines, or to use upon a line for the taking of fish in such waters any 
contrivance having more than three hooks, or more than one burr of three hooks 
attached thereto. Ice fishing prohibited. 
Delaware River.—Extends the provision of the law for Delaware River and Bay 
between New Jersey and Delaware, to the fishing in the waters of the tributaries 
of the Delaware River in this State between Trenton Falls, and Birch Creek, wherein 
the tide ebbs and flows. Black, calico, rock bass and white bass, crappie, pike-perch, 
