NJ DEPARTMENT of ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Natural & Historic Resources
Division of Fish & Wildlife

Notice of Rule Proposal
2013-2014 Game Code N.J.A.C. 7:25-5

PUBLIC NOTICE
Take notice that the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is proposing amendments.  A statement of the substance of the proposal follows: The Game Code, N.J.A.C. 7:25-5, states when, under what circumstances, in what location, by what means, and what amounts and numbers, game-birds, game animals and fur-bearing animals may be pursued, taken, killed or had in possession. The proposed amendments include the following:

• the addition of air guns as allowed weapons for the take of rabbit, hare and squirrels
• the addition of Hungarian partridge as a species that may be legally harvested  when stocked on semi-wild and commercials hunting preserves and when encountered incidentally on adjacent properties
• the inclusion of quail for take on youth upland bird hunt day on specific Wildlife Management Areas
• expansion of the last two weeks of spring turkey hunting from half-day to full-day hours
• the reallocation of beaver trapping permits to beaver management zones experiencing beaver damage problems
• the expansion of otter trapping to include previously closed otter management zones
• the inclusion of greater cable diameters on specific coyote traps for increased efficacy
• allowing turkey hunters to harvest coyotes incidental to legal turkey hunting
• the expansion of options in sporting arms and ammunition for coyote hunting to increase efficacy. Rifles of specified caliber with specific ammunition will be allowed during the day and larger shot size will be allowed for shotguns during night hunting
• the reorganization of deer regulation sets, which define season lengths and bag limits, to better achieve management goals and distribute hunting opportunity

The proposal is scheduled to be published in the New Jersey Register dated April 15, 2013.  A copy of the proposal is available from:  the DEP web site, http://www.njfishandwildlife.com, and LexisNexis Customer Service at (800)223-1944 or www.lexisnexis.com/bookstore.  Be advised that there may be a fee for obtaining a copy of the proposal from some sources.

A public hearing(s) concerning the proposal is scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
New Jersey State Museum
Auditorium
205 West State Street
Trenton, NJ  08625

Written comments may be submitted electronically by June 13, 2013 at https://dep.nj.gov/rules/comment-on-dep-rulemaking-2/; or
In hard copy to:

Dave Chanda
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
2013 Game Code Comments
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Mail Code 501-03
P.O. Box 420
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420