Turkey Swamp Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 16
Turkey Swamp Wildlife Management Area is 3,793 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Freehold and Jackson (Monmouth County and Ocean County), in Deer Management Zone 16. Hunters took 811 deer in Zone 16 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the Medium regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 7 roadside pull-offs on the property.
Data updated October 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of the page.
Fish and Wildlife land (WMAs)Turkey Swamp WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 3,793 acres (NJDEP), in 15 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Freehold and Jackson |
| County | Monmouth County and Ocean County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 16 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 16 | Medium regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 7 roadside pull-offs |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 16, 2025-26 | 811 |
| Nearest town centers | Freehold (under a mile), Millstone (3 mi) and Roosevelt (5 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Turkey Swamp WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 7 roadside pull-offs.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside pull-off | 40.19737 | -74.33525 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.19724 | -74.33484 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.18312 | -74.33783 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.17961 | -74.33406 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.17731 | -74.35017 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.17700 | -74.34660 |
| Roadside pull-off | 40.17424 | -74.38439 |
What other hunting areas cover Turkey Swamp WMA?
For spring turkey the WMA lies in Turkey Hunting Area 12 in NJFW's Central region. For ducks and geese it is in the North waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Turkey Swamp WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 16 gave 811 deer in 2025-26: 576 to bowhunters, 121 in the six-day firearm season, 67 in the permit shotgun season and 45 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 16 | 3,794 | 811 | 809 | 699 | 847 |
| County | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouth County | 2,955 | 3,460 | 3,385 | 3,714 | 3,879 |
| Ocean County | 1,674 | 1,791 | 1,526 | 1,761 | 1,605 |
What rules apply on Turkey Swamp WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 16's Medium 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 Turkey Swamp WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-195, NJ 33, US 9, NJ 138 and NJ 79. Distances to the nearest town centers: Freehold under a mile, Millstone 3 miles, Roosevelt 5 miles and Manalapan 5 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Prospertown Lake (5 miles), Butterfly Bogs (7 miles), Assunpink (7 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Turkey Swamp WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Turkey Swamp WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Turkey Swamp 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 Turkey Swamp WMA in?
Zone 16. Hunters took 811 deer in Zone 16 in 2025-26 and 809 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Turkey Swamp WMA?
NJFW maps 7 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 Monmouth County and Ocean County?
Monmouth County: 3,879 deer in 2025-26, 3,714 in 2024-25 and 2,955 in 2021-22; 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.