Furball1 said:
Hey you guys, doesn't anyone in NJ hunt anymore?
There are more opportunities to hunt in N.J. right now then there have ever been in the history of regulated hunting.
Deer can be hunted from September to February and in many zones the the take is unlimited antlerless.
Wild turkey were reintroduced in the late 1970's and have taken hold very well.
Coyotes and bear can be hunted as well.
The goose issue is more complex than you are aware.
The truly migratory Canada Goose is actually nearing threatened status.
NJ closed goose season during the regular waterfowl season just a few years ago because of the reduced numbers. I believe it may have been reistituted by now.
Those large fall migrations of flying v's that everyone was familiar with 25 years ago are becoming a thing of the past. Think about the last time you saw a large, high flying flock headed south in October or November. You probably haven't seen one for the past few years.
A flock today is usually seen fling at about 100' off the ground when they move from one park to another.
NJ, as do other states, recognize the geese that you see lounging around every park and golf course as Resident Geese. They are actually becoming a subspecies of the truly migratory. They are born here and stay here for life.
The seasons for them are in September and January, when the state assumes that truly migratory geese have passed through.
One of the problems of hunting them to help reduce the numbers is that some of the largest and most persistent poulations are in the middle of suburbia.
Scott