Butterfly Bogs Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 16
Butterfly Bogs Wildlife Management Area is 164 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Jackson (Ocean County), in Deer Management Zone 16. Hunters took 811 deer in Zone 16 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the Medium regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 2 unpaved parking lots 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 landButterfly Bogs WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 164 acres (NJDEP), in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Jackson |
| County | Ocean County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 16 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 16 | Medium regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 2 unpaved parking lots |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 16, 2025-26 | 811 |
| Nearest town centers | Jackson (3 mi), Lakewood (4 mi) and Lakehurst (5 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Butterfly Bogs WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 2 unpaved parking lots.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.09768 | -74.30310 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.09662 | -74.30266 |
What other hunting areas cover Butterfly Bogs WMA?
For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 14 in NJFW's Central region. For ducks and geese it is in the North waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Butterfly Bogs WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 16 gave 811 deer in 2025-26: 576 to bowhunters, 121 in the six-day firearm season, 67 in the permit shotgun season and 45 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 16 | 164 | 811 | 809 | 699 | 847 |
| County | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean County | 1,674 | 1,791 | 1,526 | 1,761 | 1,605 |
What rules apply on Butterfly Bogs WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 16's Medium 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 Butterfly Bogs WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-195, US 9, NJ 70, NJ 37 and NJ 88. Distances to the nearest town centers: Jackson 3 miles, Lakewood 4 miles, Lakehurst 5 miles and Howell 7 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Colliers Mills (6 miles), Turkey Swamp (7 miles), Prospertown Lake (8 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Butterfly Bogs WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Butterfly Bogs WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Butterfly Bogs 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 Butterfly Bogs WMA in?
Zone 16. Hunters took 811 deer in Zone 16 in 2025-26 and 809 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Butterfly Bogs WMA?
NJFW maps 2 unpaved parking lots, 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 Ocean County?
Ocean County: 1,605 deer in 2025-26, 1,761 in 2024-25 and 1,674 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.