Black River Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 9
Black River Wildlife Management Area is 3,042 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Chester and Randolph (Morris County), in Deer Management Zone 9 and 8. Hunters took 369 deer in Zone 9 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the High regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 14 NJFW buildings, 10 unpaved parking lots, 3 metal gates and 2 information kiosks on the property.
Data updated October 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of the page.
Fish and Wildlife land (WMAs)Black River WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 3,042 acres (NJDEP), in 6 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Chester and Randolph |
| County | Morris County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 9, Zone 8 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 9 | High regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 10 unpaved parking lots, 1 paved parking lot and 1 roadside pull-off |
| Ranges | archery range and shotgun range |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 9, 2025-26 | 369 |
| Nearest town centers | Chester (2 mi), Randolph (3 mi) and Mendham (3 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Black River WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 14 NJFW buildings, 10 unpaved parking lots, 3 metal gates, 2 information kiosks, 2 accessible sites, 1 paved parking lot, 1 archery range, 1 shotgun range, 1 roadside pull-off and 1 upland dog training area. One member of a shooting party on a WMA range must hold a New Jersey hunting license.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.83525 | -74.64514 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.83522 | -74.65348 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.82720 | -74.67353 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.82078 | -74.63226 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.81811 | -74.67918 |
| Paved parking lot | 40.80894 | -74.66593 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.80768 | -74.66700 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.80697 | -74.66186 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.80329 | -74.69789 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.80176 | -74.69658 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.79927 | -74.70384 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.78622 | -74.72351 |
The first 12 of 37 points.
What other hunting areas cover Black River WMA?
NJFW stocks pheasants on its 752-acre Black River pheasant stocking area; hunters need the pheasant and quail stamp to hunt them. For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 10 (89%) and Turkey Hunting Area 9 (11%) in NJFW's North region. For ducks and geese it is in the North waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Black River WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 9 gave 369 deer in 2025-26: 320 to bowhunters, 24 in the six-day firearm season, 19 in the permit shotgun season and 6 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 9 | 2,715 | 369 | 320 | 380 | 404 |
| Zone 8 | 327 | 2,581 | 2,567 | 2,496 | 2,711 |
| County | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morris County | 2,115 | 2,388 | 2,179 | 2,130 | 2,432 |
What rules apply on Black River WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 9's High regulation set; its fall bow season runs September 12 to October 2, then October 3 to 30, 2026. An antlered deer in Zone 9 needs 3 points on one side. WMAs close from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. except to hunters, anglers and trappers.
How do you get to Black River WMA?
Highways within five miles: NJ 24, US 46, US 206, NJ 10, I-80 and NJ 183. Distances to the nearest town centers: Chester 2 miles, Randolph 3 miles, Mendham 3 miles and Mine Hill 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Budd Lake (6 miles), Berkshire Valley (7 miles), Rockaway River (12 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Black River WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Black River WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Black River WMA among public deer hunting lands that need no extra access permit. (NJFW Public Hunting Land for Deer (2026 Digest); NJDEP WMA Restrictions in New Jersey)
What deer zone is Black River WMA in?
Zone 9 (2,715 acres) and Zone 8 (327 acres). Hunters took 369 deer in Zone 9 in 2025-26 and 320 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Black River WMA?
NJFW maps 10 unpaved parking lots, 1 paved parking lot and 1 roadside pull-off, listed with coordinates on this page (NJ Fish and Wildlife points of interest (parking, gates, ranges, boat ramps)). Vehicles must stay on established roads and parking areas.
How many deer are taken in Morris County?
Morris County: 2,432 deer in 2025-26, 2,130 in 2024-25 and 2,115 in 2021-22 (NJFW White-tailed Deer Harvest by County, 2021-22 to 2025-26).
Get a New Jersey hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, New Jersey included.
Sources: NJDEP open space, NJFW points of interest and WMA restrictions layers; NJFW harvest tables, county harvest, 2026-27 seasons, public deer land list and WMA rules; PAD-US; Census. FilledTag is not part of NJ Fish and Wildlife.