Hunters can enjoy more than a hundred days of deer hunting, including seasons for bow, shotgun and muzzleloading rifle. Multiple bag limits are the rule in most zones. The 2007 deer harvest was 56,673. In addition, some of the best waterfowl hunting on the East coast is found in the Garden State. Snow geese, brant, black duck, mallard, bufflehead and a variety of other waterfowl species provide extensive hunting opportunities, especially on the coastal marshes. The Rockport Pheasant Farm produces 55,000 pheasants annually for release on selected Wildlife Management Areas. The wild turkey, reestablished in the late 1970s, continues to increase throughout the state with the population now estimated at 20,000 - 23,000 with an annual harvest of more than 3,000.

People come from other states to hunt, with lodges and hunting parties being big business.

A few years ago I heard about a veteran who had to pay a fine for fishing without a license.Fines can vary. The fine will cost much more than the license would cost, as if you get caught fishing without a license you will be charged a restitution fee - PER FISH. You will also be charged a violation fee - PER FISH. The restitution and violation per fish fees are IN ADDITION to the fine for fishing without a license! He was a very good fisherman and was caught with quite a haul.

People can get fishing licenses online and at the local Walmart so I didn't understand what the big deal was.
 Why risk it I thought.

  I spoke to the guy and got my eyes opened. He didn't have a great deal of money nor were there many things he really enjoyed. He suffered from a great deal of stress and putting his pole in the water relaxed him. He also loved to hunt. Hunting and fishing licenses had been increasing each year, as had the fees to get into parks. Soon the fees added up.

I researched and found the licenses generated approximately $2.6 million in revenues for the newly renamed Division of Fish and Wildlife.  In addition, New Jersey's economy benefited tremendously from the license increase. Currently, residents and nonresidents spend more than $1.9 billion on wildlife-related activities in New Jersey, generating $3.8 billion to the state's economy.  So the fees and fines were a huge part of New Jersey 's government business.

He was just a little guy who felt he had to fish and hunt illegally or give up his joy. To legally fish and hunt as much as he wanted he needed to pay ...$27.50 for his residential hunting license, Resident Bow & Arrow Hunting license was $31.50, $200.00 for his trappers license, Deer Permits for Bow, Shotgun or Muzzleloader was $28 and his turkey permit was $21. He also hunted Pheasant & Quail which was an additional $40.00....as well as the $30 fishing licence....but he also had to pay the fines for being caught fishing without a license.

I am not going to lie to you. I enjoy my fish from a tuna can and would much rather order a pizza from my comfortable sofa then run through the woods chasing lunch but this gentleman didn't hunt for fun.He would hunt year around to make sure his family had food. He did not want to be of the thousands of vets living on food stamps.

"I don't want my family to think it's right to break the law. " He told me after he paid the fine and decided to give up hunting because he couldn't afford the increase.  "Then let's change the law, " I said.

 The first thing I did was I look into the three other states that gave veterans a break on their licenses. It is a long process and I met up with some  people who  thought  that  veteran were  trying to get Something for nothing. This fellow was a disabled veteran and gave his blood, sweat, tears, and nearly his life, to protect the country so that the 95% that remain home can stay free. I didn't think asking for a license reduction so he could fish and hunt is to much... Do You?

I gathered other veterans together, to testify with me about the need for this bill to be passed. I spent hours lobbying, by phone, fax, and emails. I spoke to many groups in person as well. I wrote and re wrote the bill re working it with my Senator for almost three years until I felt we had come up with something that would meet the needs of the veterans communtiy.Still it is always a long shot, over 350 bills are introduced for every one that becomes law.

After much work On December 20, Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed into immediate effect Bill #S1378, the long awaited funding initiative proposed through cooperative efforts of the New Jersey (NJ) Fish and Game Council and the Disabled Veterans.

Finally:

FREE hunting and fishing licenses, a pheasant and quail stamp, a state duck stamp and a trout stamp will be issued to all qualified disabled veterans. Disabled veterans will also receive one archery deer, one firearm (muzzleloader or shotgun) and one free turkey permit during the accompanying hunting season. A qualified disabled veteran is described as: any resident of New Jersey that has honorably been discharged, or released under honorable circumstances, from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and who has been declared by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, or its successor, to have a service-connected disability of any degree. Appropriate documentation can be brought to the following offices to obtain a FREE license: the main office in Trenton; the Piquet Trout Hatchery in Oxford; the Northern Region Office in Hampton; the Central Region Office in Robbinsville; the Southern Region Office in Sicklerville; and the Nacote Creek Research Station in Port Republic.

The day the law was passed I called that Veteran. He couldn't believe it had really happened. After he got done thanking me I smiled. I hadn't planned on having to retire so young. No one plans on being disabled but that doesn't mean life is over -- Far from it. There are thousands of ways a person can make a difference and as long as I'm living I am going to keep on keeping on.