Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 34
Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area is 1,095 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Lower and West Cape May (Cape May County), in Deer Management Zone 34. Hunters took 384 deer in Zone 34 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the Low regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 8 unpaved parking lots, 4 wildlife viewing spots, 3 fishing access points and 2 NJFW buildings on the property. NJDEP posts 2 restricted areas on it.
Data updated October 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of the page.
Fish and Wildlife land (WMAs)State forest and park landHigbee Beach WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 1,095 acres (NJDEP), in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Lower and West Cape May |
| County | Cape May County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 34 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 34 | Low regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 8 unpaved parking lots |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 34, 2025-26 | 384 |
| Nearest town centers | West Cape May (under a mile), Cape May Point (under a mile) and Lower (2 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Higbee Beach WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 8 unpaved parking lots, 4 wildlife viewing spots, 3 fishing access points, 2 NJFW buildings, 2 restrooms, 1 cable gate and 1 metal gate.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaved parking lot | 38.96562 | -74.96189 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 38.96559 | -74.96207 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 38.96176 | -74.94568 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 38.96143 | -74.96069 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 38.96136 | -74.95826 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 38.96071 | -74.95624 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 38.95370 | -74.94113 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 38.94508 | -74.96884 |
| Fishing access point | 38.96584 | -74.96223 |
| Fishing access point | 38.96578 | -74.96337 |
| Wildlife viewing spot | 38.96392 | -74.96153 |
| Cable gate | 38.96159 | -74.94782 |
The first 12 of 21 points.
Which parts of Higbee Beach WMA have restrictions?
NJDEP maps 2 posted areas on Higbee Beach WMA: 1 no access and 1 no hunting.
| Type | Category | NJDEP's description | Acres | Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | No Access | This portion of Higbee Beach WMA will be closed starting January 29th, 2024, for the Pond Creek Restoration Project. For more information see: https://www.nj.gov/dep/nrr/restoration/higbee-beach.html | 289 | 2026-12-01 |
| Restricted Use | No Hunting | No hunting September 1 through six-day firearm season. | 806 | 2026-12-14 |
What other hunting areas cover Higbee Beach WMA?
For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 22 in NJFW's South region. For ducks and geese it is in the South waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Higbee Beach WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 34 gave 384 deer in 2025-26: 192 to bowhunters, 88 in the six-day firearm season, 35 in the permit shotgun season and 59 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 34 | 1,081 | 384 | 415 | 254 | 417 |
| County | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape May County | 361 | 331 | 198 | 301 | 302 |
What rules apply on Higbee Beach WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 34's Low regulation set; its fall bow season runs October 3 to 30, 2026. An antlered deer in Zone 34 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 Higbee Beach WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 9, NJ 47 and NJ 109. Distances to the nearest town centers: West Cape May under a mile, Cape May Point under a mile, Lower 2 miles and Cape May 2 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Cape Island (3 miles), Cox Hall Creek (3 miles), Beaver Swamp (16 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Higbee Beach WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Higbee Beach WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Higbee Beach WMA among public deer hunting lands that need no extra access permit. NJDEP posts these restrictions on it: no access (This portion of Higbee Beach WMA will be closed starting January 29th, 2024, for the Pond Creek Restoration Project. For more information see: https://www.nj.gov/dep/nrr/restoration/higbee-beach.html) and no hunting (No hunting September 1 through six-day firearm season). (NJFW Public Hunting Land for Deer (2026 Digest); NJDEP WMA Restrictions in New Jersey)
What deer zone is Higbee Beach WMA in?
Zone 34. Hunters took 384 deer in Zone 34 in 2025-26 and 415 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Higbee Beach WMA?
NJFW maps 8 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 Cape May County?
Cape May County: 302 deer in 2025-26, 301 in 2024-25 and 361 in 2021-22 (NJFW White-tailed Deer Harvest by County, 2021-22 to 2025-26).
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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.