NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - Division To Stock Dog Training Areas in October
Sunday, September 27, 2015
The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife will stock eleven (11) Wildlife Management Area dog training areas prior to the November 7 opening of the pheasant/quail season. A change from past years is that pheasants will be stocked instead of quail as a cost-saving measure. The 880 pheasants are stocked for dog training purposes only and cannot be fired upon.
Another change this year is that dog training is now permitted on the Friday before the opening day of the small game season (Saturday, November 7). The information on page 70 in the Hunting Digest, noting the closure, is not correct.
The dog training areas are located within the following WMAs (listed north to south) and will be stocked for training on October 3, 13, 17 and 24: Whittingham, Pequest, Black River, Clinton, Assunpink, Manasquan, Colliers Mills, Stafford Forge, Glassboro, Millville and Tuckahoe.
Small game hunters with dogs should try to take advantage of these early stockings. Conditioning your hunting dog prior to opening day of the season should be part of every hunter’s pre-season regimen.
All dogs must be properly licensed. Hunters should note that they may exercise or train dogs on any WMA from September 1 to April 30. Regulations regarding the release of game for dog training purposes apply; for more information see the Dog Training Regulations linked below.
Dog Training Regulations (pdf, 8kb)