N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.19

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 7:25-5.19 - Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and coyote (Canis latrans) hunting

(a) The duration of the red fox, gray fox, and coyote hunting season is as follows:

1. Bow and Arrow Only: Begins concurrently with the white-tailed deer fall bow season, as specified in 7:25-5.25(a)1, and concludes the Friday following the first Monday in November, inclusive.

2. Firearm or Bow and Arrow: Beginning on the Saturday following the first Monday in November and concluding the following March 15, inclusive.

3. Notwithstanding (a)1 and 2 above, coyote may be taken by licensed turkey hunters when encountered incidental to hunting turkey in accordance with 7:25-5.7. Turkey hunters may not have coyote calls or coyote decoys in their possession or take any action intended to attract coyote for take.

(b) The use of dogs shall not be allowed for fox and coyote hunting during the bow and arrow only, fox and coyote season listed in (a)1 above. The use of dogs for fox and coyote hunting is permitted during the regular firearm or bow and arrow season enumerated in (a)2 above, except dogs shall not be allowed for fox and coyote hunting during the six-day firearm deer season set forth in 7:25-5.27(a), or on the Wednesday of the shotgun permit deer season, immediately following the six-day firearm deer season and set forth in 7:25-5.29(d), or when persons are engaged in hunting coyote or fox under the special season provisions included in (h) and (i) below. Properly licensed persons may continue to hunt fox or coyote with dogs through the end of the regular fox and coyote season as set forth in (a)2 above pursuant to regular season regulations including the requirement to wear fluorescent hunter's orange. Properly licensed persons hunting deer during the six-day firearm, muzzleloader rifle permit or shotgun permit deer seasons may kill fox or coyote, if the fox or coyote is encountered before said person has taken the season bag limit of deer. However, after the person has taken a daily bag limit of deer he or she must cease hunting immediately.

(c) The hours for hunting fox and coyote during the regular bow and arrow season included in (a)1 above and during the regular firearm or bow and arrow season included in (a)2 above are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, except on the opening day of the regular small game season enumerated in 7:25-5.2(a) and 5.3(a) when hunting hours shall be 8:00 A.M. until 1/2 hour after sunset.

(d) There is no bag limit for fox.

(e) The duration of the special eastern coyote, red fox and gray fox hunting season is January 1 (except in years when January 1 is a Sunday in which case the season will begin January 2) through March 15, inclusive and it is open Statewide.

(f) The hours for the hunting of coyote, red fox, and gray fox during the special eastern coyote, red fox and gray fox hunting season listed in (e) above are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. The hours for the hunting of coyote during the special coyote season as noted in (h) and (i) below which allows coyote hunting at night are 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise with 10 or 12 gauge shotguns only.

1. Apprentice licenses are not valid for the taking of coyote, red fox, and gray fox.

(g) There is no bag limit for coyote.

(h) While hunting under the special provisions of this subsection and (i) below during the special eastern coyote, red fox and gray fox hunting season listed in (e) above, exclusively, hunting methods shall be restricted to calling and stand hunting. No person shall stalk or attempt to approach a coyote, red fox or gray fox for the purpose of taking or attempting to take the animal. A predator calling device must be in possession while hunting. The use of dogs or bait is prohibited. Portable lights are permitted. Fluorescent hunter's orange is not required on outer clothing for fox and coyote hunting during the special fox and eastern coyote hunting season. A special eastern coyote, red fox and gray fox hunting season permit is required and must be in possession while hunting under the special provisions of this subsection and (i) below. Permits shall be applied for via the Division's ELS or; in the event of ELS operating difficulties, by providing the same information at ELS locations through such alternate system as may be designated by the Division. Persons purchasing a special season permit must have a valid hunting license.

(i) During the special eastern coyote, red fox, and gray fox hunting season listed in (e) above, exclusively, coyotes and foxes may be hunted with bow and arrow, shotgun, center-fire rifles, rim-fire rifles, and single barrel muzzleloader rifles between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Compound bows must have a minimum peak weight of 35 pounds. All other bows must have a minimum draw pull weight of 35 pounds. Shotguns shall be no smaller than 20 gauge nor larger than 10 gauge. Coyote and fox hunters shall possess and use shotgun shells loaded with shot sizes no smaller than "BB" (.18 caliber) and no larger than #3 Buckshot (.25 caliber) for coyote and fox hunting with a shotgun. Pellets must be lead or tungsten-nickel-iron hybrid pellets. Muzzleloader rifles shall be no less than .44 caliber. Smoothbore muzzleloaders shall be single barreled. Center-fire rifles shall be a maximum of .25 caliber loaded with soft point or hollow point bullets with a maximum weight of 80 grains. Rim-fire rifles shall be a maximum of .22 caliber loaded with soft point or hollow point bullets with a maximum weight of 50 grains. Between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise, only 10 or 12 gauge shotguns and fine shot no smaller than #4 (.13 inches in diameter) or larger than #T (.20 inches in diameter) may be used.

(j) Any coyote killed during regular or special hunting seasons shall be reported via the AHRS no later than 8:00 P.M. of the day of harvest. Should the hunter be unable to access the AHRS by the designated time, the hunter shall immediately report the harvested coyote by telephone to the nearest Division of Fish and Wildlife law enforcement regional office and register that harvest via the AHRS the next day.

(k) Authority: The authority for the adoption of the foregoing section is found in 23:4-42 and 23:4-58.1 and other applicable statutes.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.19

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 2264(a), effective 9/8/2015

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 2921(a), effective 9/5/2017