Bill Text: NJ A184 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes Sunday firearm and bow hunting for deer on certain lands.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee [A184 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A184-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman DAWN FANTASIA
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblyman MICHAEL INGANAMORT
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes Sunday firearm and bow hunting for deer on certain lands.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning hunting on Sunday with bow and arrow or firearms on certain lands and amending R.S.23:4-24.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.23:4-24 is amended to read as follows:
23:4-24. a. No person shall hunt with a hound or with firearms or weapons of any kind, or carry a gun in the woods or fields or on the waters on Sunday, under a penalty of $50 for each offense; except that this section shall not apply to:
(1) any person hunting raccoon between midnight on Saturday and sunrise on Sunday during the season prescribed in R.S.23:4-1;
(2) a person possessing a valid and proper rifle permit licensed to trap fur-bearing animals pursuant to the provisions of R.S.23:3-1 using a .22 caliber rifle and .22 caliber short rimfire cartridges to humanely dispatch legally trapped animals; or
(3) a person using a bow and arrow or firearm to hunt deer during any bow and arrow or firearm hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code, provided the person possesses a valid bow and arrow or firearm license, or a valid "All Around Sportsman License" if applicable, issued by the division, abides by all applicable provisions of the code, and is hunting on a State wildlife management area [or on] , private property, federal military land, subject to proper approval granted by the appropriate federal military installation, or the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, subject to proper approval granted by the administrative authority of the William J. Hughes Technical Center.
b. This section shall not prevent farm land owners, lessees actually occupying or farming the land, members of their immediate families, or their farm employees from hunting and destroying at any time and in any manner crows, woodchuck, fox and vermin on that land.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.48, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would authorize Sunday hunting for deer with a firearm on State wildlife management areas and private property. The bill also would authorize Sunday hunting with a firearm or bow and arrow on federal military land, subject to approval by the appropriate federal military installation, and on the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, subject to proper approval by the administrative authority of the technical center.
Under current State law, hunting is prohibited on Sundays, with certain limited exceptions. Although federal agencies may permit hunting on their lands, these agencies are subject to both State and federal laws regarding hunting. Thus, an individual may not hunt on federal military installations in the State or on the William J. Hughes Technical Center on Sundays.
This bill would amend current law to authorize Sunday hunting of deer with a firearm on State wildlife management areas and private property. Also, the bill would authorize firearm and bow and arrow hunting of deer on Sundays on federal military lands and on the William J. Hughes Technical Center, a Federal Aviation Administration facility, during any bow and arrow or firearm hunting season for deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code. Under the bill, the person hunting is required to possess a valid firearm license, valid bow and arrow license, or a valid "All Around Sportsman License," issued by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and abide by all applicable provisions of the State Fish and Game Code.
