Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 24
Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area is 16,622 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Barnegat, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor and Stafford (Ocean County), in Deer Management Zone 24. Hunters took 162 deer in Zone 24 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the Low regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 9 roadside pull-offs, 9 unpaved parking lots, 1 upland dog training area and 1 centerfire rifle range 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 landNational wildlife refugeMilitary (closed unless the base allows)Stafford Forge WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 16,622 acres (NJDEP), in 56 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Barnegat, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor and Stafford |
| County | Ocean County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 24 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 24 | Low regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 9 roadside pull-offs and 9 unpaved parking lots |
| Ranges | centerfire rifle range, shotgun range and archery range |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 24, 2025-26 | 162 |
| Nearest town centers | Barnegat (under a mile), Stafford (under a mile) and Little Egg Harbor (2 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Stafford Forge WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 9 roadside pull-offs, 9 unpaved parking lots, 1 upland dog training area, 1 centerfire rifle range, 1 shotgun range, 1 boat ramp, 1 archery range and 1 cable gate. One member of a shooting party on a WMA range must hold a New Jersey hunting license.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside pull-off | 39.75313 | -74.31230 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.70634 | -74.37399 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.70622 | -74.37571 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.70109 | -74.38878 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.70062 | -74.38983 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.70017 | -74.35864 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.69735 | -74.36878 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.68645 | -74.36063 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.68629 | -74.36050 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.68013 | -74.32895 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.67969 | -74.32839 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.67849 | -74.32719 |
The first 12 of 33 points.
What other hunting areas cover Stafford Forge WMA?
NJFW stocks pheasants on its 789-acre Stafford Forge pheasant stocking area; hunters need the pheasant and quail stamp to hunt them. For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 16 in NJFW's South region. For ducks and geese it is in the South waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Stafford Forge WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 24 gave 162 deer in 2025-26: 57 to bowhunters, 68 in the six-day firearm season, 4 in the permit shotgun season and 30 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 24 | 16,624 | 162 | 221 | 170 | 244 |
| 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 Stafford Forge WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 24'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 Stafford Forge WMA?
Highways within five miles: NJ 72 and US 9. Distances to the nearest town centers: Barnegat under a mile, Stafford under a mile, Little Egg Harbor 2 miles and Eagleswood 2 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Manahawkin (7 miles), Upper Barnegat Bay (8 miles), Greenwood Forest (10 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Stafford Forge WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Stafford Forge WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Stafford Forge 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 Stafford Forge WMA in?
Zone 24. Hunters took 162 deer in Zone 24 in 2025-26 and 221 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Stafford Forge WMA?
NJFW maps 9 roadside pull-offs and 9 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).
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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.