Due to the migratory nature of waterfowl, the research and management activities of the Division's Waterfowl Ecology and Management Program are generally conducted on a flyway or continental scale requiring the participation of numerous state, provincial, federal (US and Canadian) and non-government partners. New Jersey is a member of the Atlantic Flyway Council (AFC), which provides the means to participate in promulgating annual hunting regulations and long-term management plans in cooperation with partner states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The primary objective of the Division's Waterfowl Program is to work in a cooperative manner with the numerous government and non-government agencies responsible for the populations and habitats of migratory game birds.

In cooperation with the AFC and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, several surveys are conducted each year to measure waterfowl population parameters. Current projects also include satellite telemetry tracking of Atlantic brant and pintail ducks.

What Do I Need To Hunt Migratory Birds In New Jersey?

1. To hunt crows: a New Jersey hunting license
2. To hunt woodcock, rail, snipe, coots or moorhens (gallinule): a New Jersey hunting license and Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification.
3. Required to hunt ducks, geese or brant: a New Jersey hunting license, HIP certification, Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp and New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp. Both federal and state stamps are required for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older and must be signed in ink across the stamp's face. Federal stamps are available at U.S. post offices and online. State stamps are available from agents who sell hunting licenses.
4. To cover costs involved with the administration of the HIP certification process, the cost of HIP certifications is $2.00.

Waterfowl Information

	2006-2007 Migratory Bird Season Date Summary (pdf, 8kb)
	2006-2007 Migratory Bird Regulations Booklet (pdf, 113kb)
	2005-2006 Migratory Bird Season - Information and Population Status
	Wading River WMA Accessible Blinds for Disabled and Youth Hunters
	Waterfowl Stamp and Print Information
	Harvest Information Program (HIP) for Migratory Birds
	Approved Nontoxic Shot Types (US FWS Site)
	Ecology and Research on Atlantic Brant
	Pintail Satellite Telemetry Study
	Where Did That 30-Day Pintail Season Come From? - January, 2003
	Canada Goose Banding in the Arctic - August, 2001

ADDITIONAL LINKS

	Division of Migratory Bird Management - US FWS
	Hunting Regulations
	Ducks at a Distance - Waterfowl ID Guide
	Hunter Education
	Wildlife Management Areas
	Forms
	Feature Articles