New Jersey Outdoor Alliance
PO Box 655
Belmar, NJ 07719
800-508-2687
In addition to the oral comments given on April 29, 2026, the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) submits the following comments on the proposed 2026-2027 Game Code (Proposal Number: PRN 2026-026):
During the recodification and rearrangement of sections of the Game Code, NJOA notes that there are several places where the intent was to adopt certain sections without change as noted in the Summary, however, during rearrangement changes were made to the regulations which are not intended and need to be corrected:
- General Amendments, number 5 misstates the requirement of N.J.S.A. 23:4-13.1. The statute requires an orange hat or 200 square inches of outer garment (bold emphasis added). This proposal at General Amendment 5, and at Table 1. Table of Recodification indicates that Council intends no substantive
changes to hunter orange requirements. However, the proposed N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.18 (d)1, 5.19 (d)1 and 5.20 (d)1 for the muzzleloader deer, six-day firearm deer and permit shotgun deer seasons respectively, require 200 square inches of outer garment of hunter orange. It does not men<on the orange hat as an alternative and therefore does not comport to the statute. Requiring an orange outer garment during firearm deer seasons, other than on WMAs where an orange hat and orange vest are required, represents a major orange from the existing requirement which relies on the statute despite the indica<on that only rewording was intended.
- At N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.1(p)1 the word “three” is omitted from the sentence:
“ A bowhunter utilizing a ground blind during a time period when the bowhunting season is concurrent with a deer or bear hunting firearm season, must display 200 square inches of hunter orange atop the blind and visible from all sides, or within five feet outside the blind and higher than the blind or at least feet off the ground, whichever is higher.”
The sentence should read “…or within five feet outside the blind and higher than the blind or at least three feet off the ground…” (bold emphasis added).
- Under waterfowl, proposed at 5.9(d)3 states what is prohibited. 5.9 (d)4 states what waterfowlers are required to do. During the recodification the current requirement prohibiting the complete field dressing of a bird currently found at N.J.A.C.7: 25-5.13(l)19 is moved to 5.9(d)4ii and states that hunters must (emphasis added) completely field dress the bird. This change is a direct violation of federal law which was not the intent. Thismistake must be corrected.
NJOA respectfully requests that Council fix these omissions and mistakes in the proposal as part of the adoption process.
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