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New Jersey Legal Hunting Hours (2026)

Info: In New Jersey, legal hunting hours for deer are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

InfoVerified Jun 18, 2026

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Official source: dep.nj.gov →

New Jersey legal hunting hours by date

The rule above (deer): 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, worked out from each place’s own sunrise and sunset. Start times are rounded up and end times down to the minute.

Legal hunting hours for Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton	Start (EDT)	End (EDT)
Sat, Oct 17	6:42 AM	6:46 PM
Sun, Oct 18	6:43 AM	6:44 PM
Mon, Oct 19	6:45 AM	6:43 PM
Tue, Oct 20	6:46 AM	6:41 PM
Wed, Oct 21	6:47 AM	6:40 PM
Thu, Oct 22	6:48 AM	6:38 PM
Fri, Oct 23	6:49 AM	6:37 PM
Sat, Oct 24	6:50 AM	6:36 PM
Sun, Oct 25	6:51 AM	6:34 PM
Mon, Oct 26	6:52 AM	6:33 PM
Tue, Oct 27	6:53 AM	6:32 PM
Wed, Oct 28	6:55 AM	6:30 PM
Thu, Oct 29	6:56 AM	6:29 PM
Fri, Oct 30	6:57 AM	6:28 PM

Sunrise moves about 4 minutes for every 50 miles east or west, so times where you hunt can differ from Trenton. Seasons, species, special areas and Sundays can have their own hours — check the official source before you hunt. Sunday hunting in New Jersey

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Legal Hunting Hours in states bordering New Jersey

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

DelawareInfo
In Delaware, deer may be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. Raccoon and opossum may be hunted from 1 hour after sunset to midnight during certain deer seasons.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dnrec.delaware.gov · Full Delaware rule →
New YorkInfo
In New York, deer and bear may be hunted only from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dec.ny.gov · Full New York rule →
PennsylvaniaInfo
In Pennsylvania, legal hunting hours for big game — deer, bear and elk — are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; spring gobbler and migratory birds differ.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: pa.gov · Full Pennsylvania rule →

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