Budd Lake Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 8
Budd Lake Wildlife Management Area is 75 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Mount Olive (Morris County), in Deer Management Zone 8. Hunters took 2,581 deer in Zone 8 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the High regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 1 roadside pull-off on the property.
Data updated October 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of the page.
Fish and Wildlife land (WMAs)State forest and park landBudd Lake WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 75 acres (NJDEP) |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Mount Olive |
| County | Morris County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 8 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 8 | High regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 1 roadside pull-off |
| NJFW public deer land list | Not on the 2026 list |
| Deer taken in Zone 8, 2025-26 | 2,581 |
| Nearest town centers | Mount Olive (under a mile), Netcong (3 mi) and Stanhope (3 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Budd Lake WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 1 roadside pull-off.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside pull-off | 40.88087 | -74.74441 |
What other hunting areas cover Budd Lake WMA?
For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 4 in NJFW's North region. For ducks and geese it is in the North waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Budd Lake WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 8 gave 2,581 deer in 2025-26: 1,746 to bowhunters, 249 in the six-day firearm season, 416 in the permit shotgun season and 164 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 8 | 75 | 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 Budd Lake WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 8's High regulation set; its fall bow season runs September 12 to October 2, then October 3 to 30, 2026. WMAs close from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. except to hunters, anglers and trappers.
How do you get to Budd Lake WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-80, US 46, US 206 and NJ 183. Distances to the nearest town centers: Mount Olive under a mile, Netcong 3 miles, Stanhope 3 miles and Hackettstown 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Black River (6 miles), Berkshire Valley (7 miles), Whittingham (9 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Budd Lake WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Budd Lake WMA?
NJFW allows hunting on WMAs, but Budd Lake WMA is not on its 2026 list of public deer lands that need no extra permit, so check its rules first. (NJFW Public Hunting Land for Deer (2026 Digest); NJDEP WMA Restrictions in New Jersey)
What deer zone is Budd Lake WMA in?
Zone 8. Hunters took 2,581 deer in Zone 8 in 2025-26 and 2,567 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Budd Lake WMA?
NJFW maps 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
Hunt plans for New Jersey are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.