Musconetcong River Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 8
Musconetcong River Wildlife Management Area is 1,581 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Mutiple, Towns and Townships (Hunterdon County, Morris County and Warren County), in Deer Management Zone 8, 10 and 7. Hunters took 2,581 deer in Zone 8 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the High regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 18 unpaved parking lots, 2 roadside pull-offs, 2 paved parking lots and 2 information kiosks 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 landMusconetcong River WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 1,581 acres (NJDEP), in 31 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Mutiple, Towns and Townships |
| County | Hunterdon County, Morris County and Warren County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 8, Zone 10, Zone 7 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 8 | High regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 18 unpaved parking lots, 2 roadside pull-offs and 2 paved parking lots |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 8, 2025-26 | 2,581 |
| Nearest town centers | Hackettstown (under a mile), Bloomsbury (under a mile) and Holland (2 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Musconetcong River WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 18 unpaved parking lots, 2 roadside pull-offs, 2 paved parking lots, 2 information kiosks, 1 boat ramp, 1 fishing access point, 1 metal gate and 1 restroom.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.85138 | -74.82077 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.85116 | -74.81883 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.81719 | -74.83929 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.80499 | -74.85013 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.80459 | -74.85986 |
| Paved parking lot | 40.80367 | -74.86278 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.77797 | -74.90390 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.77374 | -74.90374 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.75392 | -74.92725 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.75105 | -74.93133 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.71248 | -74.96895 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.70448 | -74.98795 |
The first 12 of 28 points.
What other hunting areas cover Musconetcong River WMA?
For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 8 (62%) and Turkey Hunting Area 9 (37%) in NJFW's North region. For ducks and geese it is in the North waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Musconetcong River 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 | 603 | 2,581 | 2,567 | 2,496 | 2,711 |
| Zone 10 | 562 | 2,047 | 2,045 | 1,804 | 1,886 |
| Zone 7 | 416 | 1,418 | 1,377 | 1,384 | 1,465 |
| County | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunterdon County | 5,618 | 5,941 | 5,700 | 6,590 | 6,254 |
| Morris County | 2,115 | 2,388 | 2,179 | 2,130 | 2,432 |
| Warren County | 3,173 | 3,752 | 3,425 | 3,299 | 3,354 |
What rules apply on Musconetcong River 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 Musconetcong River WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-78, NJ 57, US 46, NJ 173, NJ 31 and US 22. Distances to the nearest town centers: Hackettstown under a mile, Bloomsbury under a mile, Holland 2 miles and Glen Gardner 2 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Clinton (4 miles), Ken Lockwood Gorge (7 miles), Buckhorn Creek (8 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Musconetcong River WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Musconetcong River WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Musconetcong River 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 Musconetcong River WMA in?
Zone 8 (603 acres), Zone 10 (562 acres) and Zone 7 (416 acres). 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 Musconetcong River WMA?
NJFW maps 18 unpaved parking lots, 2 roadside pull-offs and 2 paved 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 Hunterdon County, Morris County and Warren County?
Hunterdon County: 6,254 deer in 2025-26, 6,590 in 2024-25 and 5,618 in 2021-22; Morris County: 2,432 deer in 2025-26, 2,130 in 2024-25 and 2,115 in 2021-22; Warren County: 3,354 deer in 2025-26, 3,299 in 2024-25 and 3,173 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.