Sedge Island Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 51
Sedge Island Wildlife Management Area is 205 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Lacey and Ocean (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. 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 landNational wildlife refugeSedge Island WMAZone lineHighway
| Size | 205 acres (NJDEP), in 12 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Lacey and Ocean |
| County | Ocean County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 51 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 51 | High regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | None mapped |
| NJFW public deer land list | Not on the 2026 list |
| Deer taken in Zone 51, 2025-26 | 882 |
| Nearest town centers | Barnegat Light (2 mi), Ocean (5 mi) and Harvey Cedars (6 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Sedge Island WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows no facilities on the property.
Which parts of Sedge Island WMA have restrictions?
NJDEP maps 1 posted area on Sedge Island WMA: 1 other.
| Type | Category | NJDEP's description | Acres | Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Use | Other | Sedge Island Conservation Zone. Access prohibited within 100 meters of nesting areas. Personal watercraft (jet skis) prohibited. Commercial fishing and harvesting of shellfish prohibited. | 1,613 | 2026-12-31 |
What other hunting areas cover Sedge Island 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 Coastal waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Sedge Island 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 | 205 | 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 Sedge Island 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 Sedge Island WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 9, NJ 35 and NJ 613. Distances to the nearest town centers: Barnegat Light 2 miles, Ocean 5 miles, Harvey Cedars 6 miles and Barnegat 8 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Upper Barnegat Bay (4 miles), Manahawkin (9 miles), Stafford Forge (12 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Sedge Island WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Sedge Island WMA?
NJFW allows hunting on WMAs, but Sedge Island WMA is not on its 2026 list of public deer lands that need no extra permit, so check its rules first. NJDEP posts these restrictions on it: other (Sedge Island Conservation Zone. Access prohibited within 100 meters of nesting areas. Personal watercraft (jet skis) prohibited. Commercial fishing and harvesting of shellfish prohibited). (NJFW Public Hunting Land for Deer (2026 Digest); NJDEP WMA Restrictions in New Jersey)
What deer zone is Sedge Island 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).
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).
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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.