Ken Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 8
Ken Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area is 549 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Clinton and Lebanon (Hunterdon 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 3 roadside pull-offs, 3 accessible sites, 1 paved parking lot and 1 fishing access point on the property. NJDEP posts 1 restricted area on it.
Data updated October 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of the page.
Fish and Wildlife land (WMAs)State forest and park landKen Lockwood Gorge WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 549 acres (NJDEP), in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Clinton and Lebanon |
| County | Hunterdon County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 8 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 8 | High regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 3 roadside pull-offs and 1 paved parking lot |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 8, 2025-26 | 2,581 |
| Nearest town centers | Califon (under a mile), High Bridge (under a mile) and Lebanon (2 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 3 roadside pull-offs, 3 accessible sites, 1 paved parking lot and 1 fishing access point.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside pull-off | 40.70343 | -74.86490 |
| Paved parking lot | 40.69690 | -74.87185 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.68845 | -74.88051 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.68813 | -74.88004 |
| Accessible site | 40.69697 | -74.87188 |
| Fishing access point | 40.69693 | -74.87191 |
| Accessible site | 40.68813 | -74.87985 |
| Accessible site | 40.68804 | -74.87987 |
Which parts of Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA have restrictions?
NJDEP maps 1 posted area on Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA: 1 other.
| Type | Category | NJDEP's description | Acres | Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Use | Other | Middle parking area closed. | 0 | 2026-12-31 |
What other hunting areas cover Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA?
For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 9 in NJFW's North region. For ducks and geese it is in the North waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Ken Lockwood Gorge 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 | 549 | 2,581 | 2,567 | 2,496 | 2,711 |
| County | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunterdon County | 5,618 | 5,941 | 5,700 | 6,590 | 6,254 |
What rules apply on Ken Lockwood Gorge 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 Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-78, NJ 31, US 22 and NJ 57. Distances to the nearest town centers: Califon under a mile, High Bridge under a mile, Lebanon 2 miles and Glen Gardner 3 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Musconetcong River (7 miles), Clinton (7 miles), Pequest (8 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA among public deer hunting lands that need no extra access permit. NJDEP posts these restrictions on it: other (Middle parking area closed). (NJFW Public Hunting Land for Deer (2026 Digest); NJDEP WMA Restrictions in New Jersey)
What deer zone is Ken Lockwood Gorge 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 Ken Lockwood Gorge WMA?
NJFW maps 3 roadside pull-offs and 1 paved parking lot, 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 Hunterdon County?
Hunterdon County: 6,254 deer in 2025-26, 6,590 in 2024-25 and 5,618 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.