Pleasant Run Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 17
Pleasant Run Wildlife Management Area is 615 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in North Hanover, Hamilton and Upper Freehold (Burlington County, Mercer County and Monmouth County), in Deer Management Zone 17. Hunters took 954 deer in Zone 17 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the High regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 3 unpaved parking lots and 3 metal gates 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 landPleasant Run WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 615 acres (NJDEP), in 6 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | North Hanover, Hamilton and Upper Freehold |
| County | Burlington County, Mercer County and Monmouth County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 17 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 17 | High regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 3 unpaved parking lots |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 17, 2025-26 | 954 |
| Nearest town centers | Allentown (under a mile), Upper Freehold (2 mi) and North Hanover (3 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Pleasant Run WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 3 unpaved parking lots and 3 metal gates.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.15858 | -74.56728 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.15466 | -74.59013 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 40.14999 | -74.56998 |
| Metal gate | 40.15870 | -74.56735 |
| Metal gate | 40.15464 | -74.59028 |
| Metal gate | 40.14996 | -74.57007 |
What other hunting areas cover Pleasant Run 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 Pleasant Run WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 17 gave 954 deer in 2025-26: 516 to bowhunters, 116 in the six-day firearm season, 273 in the permit shotgun season and 44 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 17 | 615 | 954 | 973 | 833 | 753 |
| County | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington County | 2,568 | 3,067 | 2,883 | 3,593 | 3,217 |
| Mercer County | 1,402 | 1,572 | 1,563 | 1,753 | 1,503 |
| Monmouth County | 2,955 | 3,460 | 3,385 | 3,714 | 3,879 |
What rules apply on Pleasant Run WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 17'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 Pleasant Run WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-95, I-195, US 130, NJ 138, NJ 33 and NJ 156. Distances to the nearest town centers: Allentown under a mile, Upper Freehold 2 miles, North Hanover 3 miles and Chesterfield 4 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Assunpink (5 miles), Prospertown Lake (7 miles), Van Nest (9 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Pleasant Run WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Pleasant Run WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Pleasant Run 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 Pleasant Run WMA in?
Zone 17. Hunters took 954 deer in Zone 17 in 2025-26 and 973 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Pleasant Run WMA?
NJFW maps 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 Burlington County, Mercer County and Monmouth County?
Burlington County: 3,217 deer in 2025-26, 3,593 in 2024-25 and 2,568 in 2021-22; Mercer County: 1,503 deer in 2025-26, 1,753 in 2024-25 and 1,402 in 2021-22; Monmouth County: 3,879 deer in 2025-26, 3,714 in 2024-25 and 2,955 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.