Whiting Wildlife Management Area: deer hunting, parking and rules in Zone 18
Whiting Wildlife Management Area is 1,193 acres of New Jersey Fish and Wildlife land in Manchester (Ocean County), in Deer Management Zone 18. Hunters took 359 deer in Zone 18 in 2025-26, and the zone follows the Low regulation set for 2026-27. NJFW maps 7 roadside pull-offs, 3 unpaved parking lots and 1 fishing access point 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 landWhiting WMAZone lineParkingHighway
| Size | 1,193 acres (NJDEP), in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Manchester |
| County | Ocean County |
| Deer Management Zone | Zone 18 |
| 2026-27 rules in Zone 18 | Low regulation set |
| Parking (NJFW) | 7 roadside pull-offs and 3 unpaved parking lots |
| NJFW public deer land list | Listed: no extra access permit needed |
| Deer taken in Zone 18, 2025-26 | 359 |
| Nearest town centers | Manchester (under a mile), Lakehurst (2 mi) and South Toms River (7 mi) |
What has NJFW built on Whiting WMA?
NJFW's points of interest layer shows 7 roadside pull-offs, 3 unpaved parking lots and 1 fishing access point.
| What | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.97660 | -74.34108 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.97542 | -74.34155 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.97398 | -74.34213 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.97122 | -74.34139 |
| Unpaved parking lot | 39.97097 | -74.35059 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.97069 | -74.34393 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.96917 | -74.33942 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.96887 | -74.35378 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.96851 | -74.35118 |
| Roadside pull-off | 39.96586 | -74.33991 |
| Fishing access point | 39.96037 | -74.33420 |
What other hunting areas cover Whiting 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 South waterfowl zone.
How many deer are taken around Whiting WMA?
NJFW counts deer by zone. Zone 18 gave 359 deer in 2025-26: 248 to bowhunters, 75 in the six-day firearm season, 7 in the permit shotgun season and 28 in the permit muzzleloader season.
| Zone | WMA acres in it | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 18 | 1,193 | 359 | 368 | 317 | 365 |
| 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 Whiting WMA?
Deer seasons follow Zone 18'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 Whiting WMA?
Highways within five miles: NJ 70 and NJ 37. Distances to the nearest town centers: Manchester under a mile, Lakehurst 2 miles, South Toms River 7 miles and Beachwood 7 miles. Other WMAs nearby: Manchester (3 miles), Colliers Mills (7 miles), Greenwood Forest (8 miles). NJFW publishes a map of Whiting WMA.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt deer on Whiting WMA?
Yes. NJFW's 2026 Digest lists Whiting 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 Whiting WMA in?
Zone 18. Hunters took 359 deer in Zone 18 in 2025-26 and 368 in 2024-25 (NJFW 2025-26 New Jersey Total Deer Harvest).
Where do you park for Whiting WMA?
NJFW maps 7 roadside pull-offs and 3 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.