DMZ 22, New Jersey
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zones 20–29
- Area
- 1,399 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 157
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, Turkey, Bear also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedDMZ 22 encompasses the rolling hills and mixed hardwood forests of Morris and Hunterdon counties in northern-central New Jersey, including significant public land in the Farny Highlands, Lewis Morris County Park vicinity, and multiple WMAs such as Splitrock Reservoir and Berkshire Valley. Hunters here pursue a healthy white-tailed deer herd under a structured antlerless permit system, with archery, shotgun, muzzleloader, and permit antlerless seasons available, plus a resident black bear population in the Morris County portion. Wild turkey are also present throughout the oak-hickory ridges and agricultural edges of this zone.
Rolling Highlands and mixed hardwood ridges typical of the New Jersey Highlands physiographic region; oak-hickory forest dominant with hemlock-lined stream corridors, rocky outcrops, and interspersed agricultural fields and wetlands; elevation ranges roughly 400-1200 ft in the Farny and Hunterdon Highlands
Moderate; public WMAs receive consistent pressure especially during the 6-day firearm season, while interior state forest parcels and mid-week archery hunting remain less pressured; proximity to NY metro area drives weekend crowding on popular tracts
Deer: 6-day antlered firearm season (typically first week of December), permit bow season (October through January with breaks), permit muzzleloader season, and permit antlerless firearm seasons with zone-specific antlerless permit quotas set annually by NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife — DMZ 22 typically receives a moderate antlerless allocation reflecting a managed herd; shotgun-only restriction applies (no rifles for deer statewide in NJ); Bear: DMZ 22 falls within the primary NJ black bear management zone covering Morris County — bear hunting seasons (typically archery, muzzleloader, and firearm segments in October-December) require a separate bear permit issued by lottery; season structure and permit numbers vary annually based on population objectives; Turkey: spring gobbler season (late April through May) statewide with a 2-bird limit; fall turkey hunting also permitted in season with a firearm or archery tag
Strong deer herd with good antler genetics in the hardwood ridges; Morris County overlaps core NJ black bear range making DMZ 22 one of the few zones where deer and bear tags can be combined in a single hunt; excellent fall turkey hunting in acorn-heavy oak stands; Splitrock and Berkshire Valley WMAs offer large contiguous blocks of walk-in access with minimal development pressure
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about DMZ 22— 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 22.
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.