Upper Barnegat Bay Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 51
Upper Barnegat Bay Wildlife Management Area is 416 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Lacey, Ocean and Toms River (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. NJFW maps 1 metal gate on the property. 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 refugeUpper Barnegat Bay WMAZone lineHighway
| Size | 416 acres (NJDEP), in 11 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Lacey, Ocean and Toms River |
| 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 | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 51, 2025-26 | 882 |
| Nearest town centers | Lavallette (under a mile), Seaside Heights (under a mile) and Ocean (under a mile) |
What has NJFW built on Upper Barnegat Bay WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 1 metal gate.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Metal gate | 39.77702 | -74.19828 |
Which parts of Upper Barnegat Bay WMA have restrictions?
NJDEP maps 1 posted area on Upper Barnegat Bay WMA: 1 no access.
| Type | Category | NJDEP's description | Acres | Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | No Access | Restoration area closed until further notice. | 70 | 2026-10-23 |
What other hunting areas cover Upper Barnegat Bay 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 Upper Barnegat Bay 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 | 416 | 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 Upper Barnegat Bay 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 Upper Barnegat Bay WMA?
Highways within five miles: NJ 35, US 9, NJ 37 and NJ 613. Distances to the nearest town centers: Lavallette under a mile, Seaside Heights under a mile, Ocean under a mile and Seaside Park 2 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Sedge Island (4 miles), Manahawkin (6 miles), Stafford Forge (8 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Upper Barnegat Bay WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Upper Barnegat Bay WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Upper Barnegat Bay WMA among public deer hunting lands that need no extra access permit. NJDEP posts these restrictions on it: no access (Restoration area closed until further notice). (NJFW Public Hunting Land for Deer (2026 Digest); NJDEP WMA Restrictions in New Jersey)
What deer zone is Upper Barnegat Bay 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.