Wading River WMA Special Use Area
Youth Waterfowl Blinds and Mentoring Program
The Division of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with the US
Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks
Unlimited and the New
Jersey Waterfowlers Association, has developed a Special Use Area
for youth waterfowl hunters. The Wading River Special Use
Area is an 86-acre parcel containing two impoundments within the 162-acre
Wading River Wildlife Management Area, located in Bass River Township,
Burlington County. Use of a blind is by registration
only.
The DFW designated the Wading River Special Use Area as an area dedicated
to youth waterfowling in order to help preserve the rich
heritage of waterfowling in our state. The DFW is proud to partner
on the project with the DU, NJWA and the USFWS that have a longstanding
commitment to waterfowl conservation in our state.
The Wading River Special Use Area, formerly known as the Petrecca
property, was donated to the Division by Charles Petrecca and Mary
H. Petrecca. Work to control the extensive phragmites on the site
was initiated in 2005 with funding provided by the US Fish and Wildlife
Service and Ducks Unlimited. The initial work was completed in early 2007 but the project remains ongoing. Water levels will be managed primarily
for waterfowl but also for shorebirds and wading birds during the
appropriate seasons.
Ducks Unlimited and the New Jersey Waterfowler's Association built
and donated five blinds that have been placed on the impoundments. The Ducks Unlimited state chapter and NJ Waterfowlers are both providing experienced waterfowl
hunters as mentors for youth hunters that want to
be introduced to the sport or learn more about proper waterfowling
techniques.
The Wading River Special Use Area was first opened to licensed youth
hunters for waterfowl hunting during the 2005-2006 hunting
season. The first youth groups hunted the property on the Southern
Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days on November 11 and 12, 2005. The
blinds were then available for reservation through an application
process which continued in 2006-2007.
The Waterfowl Hunting Area:
Access to the property is through a locked gate to a compacted gravel
lot. From here compacted gravel roads provide access to waterfowl hunting blinds designed to accommodate four people each. All vehicles must park in the lot after hunters
and gear have been transported to their respective hunting areas.
Two groups will be allowed to hunt the area at a time and they will
have their choice of one of two blind locations located on each impoundment.
A site map of the area will be sent to all hunters. A site map will
also be located in the parking area where all hunters must mark their
blind selection so other hunters are aware of their location. To ensure
a quality hunting experience with minimal hunter interference hunting
is allowed only from designated blinds.
Members from Ducks Unlimited and New Jersey Waterfowler's Association
will provide hunting mentors to assist with the hunts. A mentor will
be assigned to each hunting party. Mentors will assist with decoy
placement and waterfowl retrieval, which can be challenging since
all of the waterfowl hunting areas are not wadeable.
Hunt Area Rules:
Hunters that violate the conditions established for use of the Special
Use Area will be subject to possible fines and denial of future requests
to use the area.
- Only properly licensed youth hunters (until the end of the year
they turn 16) are permitted to hunt on the property.
- Only youth ahunters are allowed to hunt. Mentors and
observers are there to provide assistance to the hunters.
- A shell limit of one box of 25 nontoxic shot shells per hunter
per morning session is permitted.
- All hunters using the area must be registered utilizing the online
application on this site. Registration will only allow for two hunters
per blind accompanied by a maximum of two non-shooting adults (21
years of age or older).
- All waterfowl hunters must conclude their hunt by noon and be
back in the parking area by 1:00pm.
- All regulations concerning waterfowl hunting, including bag limits
must be followed. These regulations can be found each year in the
NJ Fish and Wildlife Digest
and the NJ Migratory
Bird Regulation Supplement.
Hunt Registration:
Use of this area will be by registration only using the online form (available in the fall). Hunters should choose one day from the list of available hunt
dates and must submit their registration request at least two weeks
prior to the preferred date to be guaranteed an opportunity to be
considered for that date. Open slots not requested prior to the two
week pre-registration date will remain available on a first-come first-served
basis.
Applicants will be notified by e-mail confirmation two weeks prior
to the date requested. Preference will be given to those who have
not hunted the area previously (in the current season). Upon selection,
hunters will be provided with a map of the area showing blind locations
and designation. Contact information for their assigned mentor will
also be provided.
In the event that an available date is not applied for this date
will remain open and will be available on a first come first serve
basis through the application process.
Map of Wading River WMA Special Use Area (pdf, 365kb)
PLEASE REGISTER FOR ONLY ONE DATE - only your first submission
will be accepted.
*
= required