Manchester Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 18
Manchester Wildlife Management Area is 3,316 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Jackson, Manchester and Toms River (Ocean County), in Deer Management Zone 18. Hunters took 359 deer in Zone 18 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the Low regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 3 roadside pull-offs 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 landMilitary (closed unless the base allows)Manchester WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 3,316 acres (NJDEP), in 11 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Jackson, Manchester and Toms River |
| County | Ocean County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 18 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 18 | Low regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 3 roadside pull-offs |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 18, 2025-26 | 359 |
| Nearest town centers | Manchester (under a mile), Lakehurst (under a mile) and Lakewood (4 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Manchester WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 3 roadside pull-offs.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside pull-off | 39.99588 | -74.38823 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.99298 | -74.39370 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.99008 | -74.40072 |
What other hunting areas cover Manchester 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 Manchester WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 18 gave 359 deer in 2025-26: 248 to bowhunters, 75 in the six-day firearm season, 7 in the permit shotgun season and 28 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 18 | 3,291 | 359 | 368 | 317 | 365 |
| 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 Manchester WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 18's Low regulation set; its fall bow season runs 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 Manchester WMA?
Highways within five miles: NJ 70, US 9, NJ 37, NJ 88 and NJ 166. Distances to the nearest town centers: Manchester under a mile, Lakehurst under a mile, Lakewood 4 miles and Jackson 5 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Whiting (3 miles), Colliers Mills (6 miles), Greenwood Forest (9 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Manchester WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Manchester WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Manchester 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 Manchester WMA in?
Zone 18. Hunters took 359 deer in Zone 18 in 2025-26 and 368 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Manchester WMA?
NJFW maps 3 roadside pull-offs, 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
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.