The New Jersey Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers aims to expand Sunday hunting opportunities across the state. This expansion would provide greater access for junior hunters and working-age adults, encouraging more participation in hunting and conservation efforts. Increased engagement would benefit local communities and small businesses while also strengthening hunter recruitment and retention. Moreover, expanding Sunday hunting in alignment with NJ Fish and Wildlife’s science-based wildlife management goals would help maintain healthy wildlife populations and ecosystems.

Why Sunday Hunting Matters

• More access for youth and working families

 Allowing Sunday hunting doubles practical opportunity for junior hunters and working-age adults without interfering with school or weekday work.

• Stronger hunter recruitment and retention

When people get more time in the woods, they are more likely to stay engaged, mentor others, and pass our traditions on to the next generation.

• Science-based wildlife management

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife already manages deer and other game using science-based seasons and bag limits. This helps New Jersey Fish and Wildlife meet population goals, reduce crop and vehicle damage, and maintain healthy wildlife populations and ecosystems.

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Quick Fact

• 2010 New Jersey Bowhunter Survey shows that Sunday bow hunting:
  • Increased days afield for 56% of bowhunters.
  • Brought 4% of respondents back to bow hunting.
  • Documented strong use of Sundays on private land and WMAs. 
• 2021 Hunter Harvest Survey:
  • 63,102 firearm licenses sold; an estimated 55,664 active firearms hunters.
  • About 46,682 deer hunters, 1.25 million deer hunter days afield, roughly 31.5 million dollars in deer-related expenditures, and 7.2 million dollars in license/permit/stamp revenue.
     
• National Shooting Sports Foundation Data
  • 2020 Economic Impact of Hunting and Shooting (Southwick Associates for NSSF) – for New Jersey, across all congressional districts, hunting alone accounts for about:
    • 113 million dollars in retail sales.
    • 166 million dollars in total economic output.
    • 1,147 jobs and substantial state and local tax revenue.
      That is the foundation for bullet 4’s statewide economic-impact claims.
  • NSSF’s Sunday Hunting economic analyses in other states (Pennsylvania, North Carolina, etc.) show that lifting Sunday bans creates thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in additional economic activity by unlocking that extra weekend day.