N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.24
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024
Section 7:25-5.24 - Bow and arrow, general provisions(a) A bow means longbow, recurved bow, compound bow, or crossbow. A crossbow means a device capable of propelling an arrow by means of traverse limbs and a string, mounted on a stock of at least 25 inches in length, and having a working safety. Cocking levers and other devices may be used on crossbows. Hand-held releasing devices are permitted.(b) No person shall use a bow and arrow for deer hunting during the permit muzzleloader or permit shotgun seasons. Nothing in this section shall preclude a properly licensed person from hunting with a bow and arrow when other seasons run concurrent and in the same deer management zones as the six-day firearm, permit muzzleloader or permit shotgun seasons or on any additional days if declared open. A bow and arrow may be used to harvest antlered deer during the six-day firearm season only if the hunter has a current and valid firearm license in addition to a current and valid archery license, or a current and valid all-around license. If an antlered deer is harvested with a bow and arrow during the six-day firearm season, the antlered transportation tag for the six-day firearm season from a firearm or all-around license must be used. Bow and arrow hunting is not permitted between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise during other seasons. Deer shall not be hunted for or taken on Sunday except on wholly enclosed preserves that are properly licensed for the propagation thereof, or on Wildlife Management Areas or private property during the prescribed seasons.(c) During the seasons for taking deer, bear, coyote, fox, woodchuck or turkey with bow and arrow (as listed elsewhere in this subchapter), all arrows used for taking deer, bear, coyote, fox, woodchuck or turkey must be fitted with an edged head of the following specifications: 1. Minimum width shall be 3/4 inch.3. Cutting edges shall be of well-sharpened metal only.4. Arrows fitted with heads other than specified in (c)1 through 3 above may be carried in the woods and fields during the Upland Game Season or other seasons which overlap with the Bow and Arrow Deer Season, in addition to arrows specified for deer. It is legal to carry blunt or judo tips in the field for the purpose of discharging crossbows. It is unlawful to hunt with any device propelled by any means that is used for the purpose of injecting or delivering any type of drug into an animal. Whenever a crossbow is in or upon a motor vehicle, it shall be uncocked.5. All bows, except compounds and crossbows, must have a minimum draw pull weight of 35 pounds at the archers draw length. Compound bows must have a minimum peak weight of 35 pounds. Crossbows must have a minimum draw pull weight of 75 pounds.(d) No person shall hunt deer with the aid of a deer decoy except during the fall bow, winter bow, and special bow seasons. No person shall hunt for deer with an electronic calling device, or any other device which projects a beam of light upon the target. A bowhunter utilizing a ground blind during a time period when the bowhunting season is concurrent with a deer or bear firearm season, must display 200 square inches of hunter orange atop the blind and visible from all sides, or within five feet outside of the blind and higher than the blind or at least three feet off the ground, whichever is higher. A "ground blind" is defined as a temporary man-made structure used for the purpose of concealing from sight a person who is hunting. A ground blind is not a naturally occurring feature that a hunter merely uses for concealment.(e) No person shall take or attempt to take flying game birds with arrows equipped with heads as described in (c)1, 2, and 3 above. Persons may only take or attempt to take flying game birds with flu-flu type arrows. Canada geese and turkey which are not in flight may be taken with arrows with standard fletching and edged heads as described in (c)1, 2, and 3 above.(f) Authority: The authority for the adoption of the foregoing section is found in N.J.S.A. 23:4-1, 23:4-12, 23:4-16, 23:4-43, 23:4-44, 23:4-45 and other applicable statutes.N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.24
Amended by 47 N.J.R. 2753(c), effective 11/16/2015