States / NJ / DMZ 2

DMZ 2, New Jersey

Game found here

DeerBearTurkey

Zones 20–29See on map →0 questions

Unit info

Game species: Deer, Bear, Turkey
Group: Zones 20–29
Area: 1,936 mi²
Public land: N/A

White-tailed Deer — season & harvest

Reported harvest: 1,474

Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.

Season & harvest data is published for White-tailed Deer so far. Deer, Bear, Turkey also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.

About this unit

AI-compiled · sourced

Deer Management Zone 2 covers a portion of Sussex County in northern New Jersey, bounded by Routes 94, 23, 517, 206, and 519 with the New York State line as the northern border. The zone features rugged Kittatinny Ridge terrain, mixed hardwood forest, and agricultural valleys offering quality whitetail habitat with good public access through Kittatinny Valley State Park, Paulinskill WMA, and Wawayanda State Park. Hunters benefit from a full season menu including archery, six-day firearm, permit shotgun, and permit muzzleloader, plus active bear and turkey opportunities in this productive northwest NJ zone.

Terrain & elevation

Rugged northern NJ terrain featuring Kittatinny Ridge forested uplands, hardwood-covered hillsides, agricultural valleys, and wetland edges in Sussex County. Elevation ranges from valley floors around 500 ft to ridge tops over 1,400 ft. Mix of mature oak-hickory forest and farm country provides diverse whitetail habitat.

Hunting pressure

moderate

Species & seasons

DEER: Zone 2 follows Regulation Set 5. Fall Archery Sept 13 - Oct 31, 2025 (antlerless first required Sept 13 - Oct 3); Permit Bow Nov 1 - Nov 22, 2025; Six-Day Firearm Dec 8-13, 2025 (antlered, statewide); Permit Muzzleloader Dec 1, 2025 - Jan 10, 2026; Permit Shotgun Dec 17-19, 2025 and Jan 10-17, 2026; Winter Bow Jan 1 - Feb 21, 2026. Bag limit 5 antlerless + 1 antlered per season. Antlerless zone-specific permit required for permit seasons. No archery-only restriction — shotgun and muzzleloader permitted. BEAR: Sussex County is a core NJ black bear zone. Bear seasons include archery/muzzleloader segment Oct 13-18, 2025 and shotgun/muzzleloader Dec 8-13, 2025 with possible extension Dec 17-20. Separate bear permit required (lottery); up to 2 bears/season (1 per segment). Check stations required at harvest. TURKEY: Zone overlaps Turkey Hunting Area 1 and Area 2 in Sussex County. Spring season permit lottery (application Jan-Feb); multiple time period options (A-E). Fall turkey hunting available. Healthy population in oak-ridge habitat.

Highlights

Zone 2 sits in the heart of NJ bear country (Sussex County is a primary bear zone) making it one of the few DMZs with deer, bear, and turkey all in play. Paulinskill Valley corridor and ag-edge habitat push deer numbers. Turkey populations are healthy in the oak-forested ridges. Good mix of public WMA access and huntable private farmland.

Questions, tips & discussion

Ask anything about DMZ 2— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.

Nothing posted yet about DMZ 2.

Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).

Boundaries: NJDEP official Deer Management Zones. Community info last updated 23d ago.