Manahawkin Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 51
Manahawkin Wildlife Management Area is 1,060 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Stafford (Ocean County), in Deer Management Zone 51. Hunters took 882 deer in Zone 51 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the High regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 6 roadside pull-offs, 3 unpaved parking lots, 2 cable gates and 1 fishing access point on the property.
Data updated October 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of the page.
Fish and Wildlife land (WMAs)National wildlife refugeManahawkin WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 1,060 acres (NJDEP), in 6 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Stafford |
| County | Ocean County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 51 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 51 | High regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 6 roadside pull-offs and 3 unpaved parking lots |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 51, 2025-26 | 882 |
| Nearest town centers | Stafford (under a mile), Surf (2 mi) and Ship Bottom (3 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Manahawkin WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 6 roadside pull-offs, 3 unpaved parking lots, 2 cable gates, 1 fishing access point and 1 cartop boat launch.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside pull-off | 39.69975 | -74.23641 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.69443 | -74.23944 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.69415 | -74.23435 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.69375 | -74.22664 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.69365 | -74.22510 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.69362 | -74.22233 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.68975 | -74.21446 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.68403 | -74.20770 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.68349 | -74.22615 |
| Cable gate | 39.68982 | -74.21459 |
| Cartop boat launch | 39.68470 | -74.20837 |
| Fishing access point | 39.68395 | -74.20765 |
The first 12 of 13 points.
What other hunting areas cover Manahawkin WMA?
NJFW stocks pheasants on its 199-acre Manahawkin pheasant stocking area; hunters need the pheasant and quail stamp to hunt them. For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 14 in NJFW's Central region. For ducks and geese it is in the Coastal waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Manahawkin WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 51 gave 882 deer in 2025-26: 660 to bowhunters, 75 in the six-day firearm season, 126 in the permit shotgun season and 20 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 51 | 1,060 | 882 | 940 | 889 | 898 |
| 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 Manahawkin WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 51'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 Manahawkin WMA?
Highways within five miles: NJ 72 and US 9. Distances to the nearest town centers: Stafford under a mile, Surf 2 miles, Ship Bottom 3 miles and Harvey Cedars 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Upper Barnegat Bay (6 miles), Stafford Forge (7 miles), Sedge Island (9 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Manahawkin WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Manahawkin WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Manahawkin 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 Manahawkin WMA in?
Zone 51. Hunters took 882 deer in Zone 51 in 2025-26 and 940 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Manahawkin WMA?
NJFW maps 6 roadside pull-offs and 3 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.