Wading River Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 22
Wading River Wildlife Management Area is 159 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Bass River (Burlington County), in Deer Management Zone 22. Hunters took 155 deer in Zone 22 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the Low 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 landWading River WMAZone lineHighway
| Size | 159 acres (NJDEP) |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Bass River |
| County | Burlington County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 22 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 22 | Low regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | None mapped |
| NJFW public deer land list | Not on the 2026 list |
| Deer taken in Zone 22, 2025-26 | 155 |
| Nearest town centers | Bass River (4 mi), Port Republic (5 mi) and Egg Harbor (6 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Wading River WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows no facilities on the property.
Which parts of Wading River WMA have restrictions?
NJDEP maps 1 posted area on Wading River WMA: 1 no access.
| Type | Category | NJDEP's description | Acres | Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | No Access | No public access to Special Use Area. | 88 | 2026-12-31 |
What other hunting areas cover Wading River WMA?
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 Wading River WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 22 gave 155 deer in 2025-26: 102 to bowhunters, 36 in the six-day firearm season, 4 in the permit shotgun season and 11 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 22 | 159 | 155 | 149 | 157 | 194 |
| County | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington County | 2,568 | 3,067 | 2,883 | 3,593 | 3,217 |
What rules apply on Wading River WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 22'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 Wading River WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 9. Distances to the nearest town centers: Bass River 4 miles, Port Republic 5 miles, Egg Harbor 6 miles and Washington 6 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Swan Bay (2 miles), Port Republic (5 miles), Hammonton Creek (10 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Wading River WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Wading River WMA?
NJFW allows hunting on WMAs, but Wading River 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: no access (No public access to Special Use Area). (NJFW Public Hunting Land for Deer (2026 Digest); NJDEP WMA Restrictions in New Jersey)
What deer zone is Wading River WMA in?
Zone 22. Hunters took 155 deer in Zone 22 in 2025-26 and 149 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
How many deer are taken in Burlington County?
Burlington County: 3,217 deer in 2025-26, 3,593 in 2024-25 and 2,568 in 2021-22 (NJFW White-tailed Deer Harvest by County, 2021-22 to 2025-26).
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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.