goodvibe
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info. I do love it up there and I would like to be respectful of the land.
Hunting Season in WMA's
- Thread starter trailhead
- Start date
JonF
Well-Known Member
So i rode my local WMA yesterday and knowing that legal hunting ends at 12:00, I rolled in at noon and started getting ready. There weren't many vehicles in this lot, maybe 2 that looked like they belonged to someone who hunts (truck+cap) so i figured anyone who was hunting was done and or scouting like previously mentioned. While getting ready, a few more vehicles pulled in for folks Kayaking, walking and cycling. I set out to hit some commonly known XC trails to the locals and since it rained fairly heavily, there were the usual puddles right near the lot where everyone passes through. To my surprise, there were a TON of fresh bike tracks there ALREADY and it was only 12:15! Now i'm not talking a track or two, the entire width of the trail where the standing mud is had fresh tracks illustrating that some extremely idiotic folks had been riding there DURING ACTIVE HUNTING! Come on folks, this is outright asinine. Do you want to get injured or worse, killed?
Read the fish and game hunting digest and educate yourselves on the schedule for your area, let's not get WMA's locked down because of a bad incident that can easily be avoided.
Click here for complete NJ Hunting Digest for all seasons and timeframes
Tl;Dr: Don't ride hunting areas where there's active FIREARM HUNTING in progress! Wait until the hunting cutoff time later in the day. Don't suicide yourself!
Read the fish and game hunting digest and educate yourselves on the schedule for your area, let's not get WMA's locked down because of a bad incident that can easily be avoided.
Click here for complete NJ Hunting Digest for all seasons and timeframes
Tl;Dr: Don't ride hunting areas where there's active FIREARM HUNTING in progress! Wait until the hunting cutoff time later in the day. Don't suicide yourself!
ryderX
Well-Known Member
I think you may be preaching to the choir. You might want to get to the parking area around 7AM and talk to the folks who are heading out before the noontime rush.
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Be aware that it is again hunting season and with regards to WMA's we are not considered "equal" users with regards to access at this time. So it is recommended that efforts to avoid conflict with hunting activities be considered. Wear "blaze orange" vests, or add tape to helmets, backpacks etc.
You can review the full official policy here:
https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/wildlife-management-area-regulations/
Hunters often setup before sunrise and daybreak is prime time for hunting.
Visibility may be reduced and trigger fingers poised, so not a good time to be on the trails.
Late afternoon to evening "after work" is another prime time.
Hunting is supposed to cease 1/2 hour after sunset.
If you notice vehicles parked in areas they are not normally, this is a good indicator of hunting activities and you may want to avoid using that trail.
Popular hunter parking areas are:
Meriden Rd at Beach Glen (East)
Meriden Rd across from Church
Meriden Road at Righter Mine (South)
You can review the full official policy here:
https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/wildlife-management-area-regulations/
Hunters often setup before sunrise and daybreak is prime time for hunting.
Visibility may be reduced and trigger fingers poised, so not a good time to be on the trails.
Late afternoon to evening "after work" is another prime time.
Hunting is supposed to cease 1/2 hour after sunset.
If you notice vehicles parked in areas they are not normally, this is a good indicator of hunting activities and you may want to avoid using that trail.
Popular hunter parking areas are:
Meriden Rd at Beach Glen (East)
Meriden Rd across from Church
Meriden Road at Righter Mine (South)