CNJFO-Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners

Hunting isn’t for everyone. It takes a certain mindset, and I understand that. I do want people to understand what it provides for our families and the benefits that extend to people who will never pick up a bow or firearm. We collectively took three deer last year within two weeks. He processed his own, and that’s beyond my skill set, so both of mine went to the Mobile Butcher. Whether you hunt or buy your meat at the supermarket, it doesn’t arrive courtesy of a meat fairy with a shrink wrapper. There’s an animal and a process behind every meal. Those deer have fed both our families & friends throughout the year: Bolognese, pastrami, sausage, bacon cheddar burgers, loins, roasts, and steaks. Last night, we used the last of our ground venison to make jalapeño, bacon, and cheddar meatballs. Venison is lean protein you can turn into countless meals, and wild-game cooking creators online offer plenty of ideas. Responsible hunting also addresses a real problem. Overabundant deer populations become unhealthy, damage crops, strip forests of new growth, and create serious hazards on our roads. Case and point: Princeton just approved a contract worth up to $120K for professional deer culling. Meanwhile, licensed sportsmen & sportswomen pay to participate in regulated hunting, help manage deer populations, and feed their families across the state. Hunters support many local businesses and conservation, too. Through Hunters Helping the Hungry, they can also donate deer through participating processors to provide venison to food banks serving NJ families. The program provides tens of thousands of meals annually. My legislative advocacy for conservation and NJ’s sportsmen and sportswomen also led to being named the NJ State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs 2025 Outstanding Legislator of the Year, and for that I am grateful. If you’re interested and unsure where to begin, I spent my first two years hunting as an apprentice. I learned safe firearm handling and loading, hunting regulations, how to safely use a tree stand or hunt from a blind, and what to do and what NOT to do. It takes patience, practice, and listening. The hunting community is incredibly supportive of people willing to learn. My comfort zone has been at the shooting range, but long guns were new territory for me. The last thing I or any responsible hunter wants to do is wound an animal. Learning shot placement, practicing & building confidence helped me harvest two deer cleanly, back to back, literally within ten minutes of each other. As hunters say, “Didn’t go 20.” Neither deer did. I typically hunt in Zone 5 with a firearm. I’d always been intimidated by a muzzleloader. Last year, I handled one for the first time, and this year, I hope to actively hunt during muzzleloader season. There’s always more to learn. WOMEN CAN DO THIS. Young people can learn these skills. You don’t need to grow up hunting to get started. NJ’s apprentice program lets eligible beginners try bow or shotgun hunting under a licensed mentor’s direct supervision before completing hunter education, for up to two license years per hunting type. The minimum age is 14 for apprentice bow hunting and 18 for apprentice shotgun hunting. NJ’s online hunter education course is FREE. Complete the coursework and exam, then register separately for the required in-person range session for bow, firearm, or both. Don’t let the field session intimidate you- you’ll work with instructors to demonstrate safe handling and proficiency. 📚Free NJ Hunter Education Course: huntercourse.com/usa/newjers… 🗓️In-Person Session Information and Registration: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/hunt… 🦌How to Get Your NJ Hunting License: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/buy-… 🦌NJ Deer Hunting Seasons and Regulations: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/deer… 🦌Apprentice Hunting Program: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/appr… 🦌Youth Hunting Information: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/yout… 🦌Hunters Helping the Hungry: huntershelpingthehungry.org/