DMZ 8, New Jersey
Unit info
- Game species
- Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Group
- Zones 80–89
- Area
- 2,823 mi²
- Public land
- N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 2,496
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 8 covers a compact agricultural and forested block across portions of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, and Warren counties in northwest-central New Jersey, bounded by Routes 22, 206, 80, 517, 46, and 31. The zone offers solid whitetail hunting across rolling hardwood ridges, river bottomlands, and farmland edges, with multiple WMAs providing public access. Morris and Warren county overlap brings DMZ 8 within New Jersey black bear range, and turkey hunting is available through adjacent Turkey Hunting Areas 8 and 11.
Rolling hardwood ridges, river bottoms, and agricultural edges across portions of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, and Warren counties. Landscape is influenced by the Highlands physiographic province in the north (Morris/Warren) with steeper, forested terrain, transitioning to gentler Piedmont farmland in Somerset and Hunterdon. Major drainages include the South Branch Raritan River and Musconetcong River corridors.
moderate
Deer: Full season structure — Fall Bow Sept 13–Oct 31 (antlerless-first requirement Sept 13–Oct 3); Permit Bow Nov 1–Dec 31; Winter Bow Jan 1–Feb 21 2026; Six-Day Firearm (shotgun/muzzleloader) Dec 8–13 2025; Permit Shotgun antlerless-only Nov 24–26/28, either-sex Dec 17–19/Jan 3–Feb 14; Permit Muzzleloader antlerless-only Nov 24–26/28/Dec 8–13, either-sex Dec 1–2/15–16/20–24/26–31/Jan 1–Feb 14. Bag limits: unlimited antlerless, 1 antlered per season (2 deer at a time). Buck Permit required for antlered deer in permit seasons. Antlerless permit quota set annually by NJDEP. Bear: Warren and Morris county overlap places DMZ 8 within the NJ black bear hunt area (Zones 1–5 open in 2025); Segment A October, Segment B December; up to 2 bears total (1 per segment); 75 lb minimum live weight. Turkey: Turkey Hunting Areas 8 (Hunterdon/Warren) and 11 (Hunterdon/Somerset) overlap DMZ 8. Spring season April 25–May 22 2026 (5 periods, 2 bearded gobblers); Fall archery Sept 19–25 2026 (any turkey, 1 bird per permit). No Sunday turkey hunting in NJ.
Zone 8 is one of NJ's better public-land deer zones in the northwest, anchored by Pequest WMA and Allamuchy Mountain State Park. The South Branch and Musconetcong river corridors concentrate deer movement. Morris and Warren county portions carry black bear, making DMZ 8 one of the few zones where deer and bear tags can be stacked in the same trip. Agricultural edges in Hunterdon and Somerset produce quality antlered deer.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about DMZ 8— 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 8.
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.