Check In a Deer Now
Deer Management Unit Map
Automated Game Check System FAQs

INTRODUCTION

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is in the process of implementing an Automated Game Check System (AGCS) that utilizes the division's license sales website. Hunters will no longer need to bring their deer to a deer check station. When the AGCS is fully implemented in September, 2012, all deer will be checked or reported by the hunter over the telephone or online.

For hunters, AGCS means no more driving around looking for an open deer check station, no more waiting in line on high-volume days and the option of reporting harvested deer from the comfort of home or in the field. When regulations allow taking more than one deer a day, bow hunters can harvest an additional deer without having to leave the woods by reporting the first deer via cell phone.

AGCS is also cost effective and is estimated to cut the cost of checking deer in half, from $3.00 to less than $1.50 per deer. The savings in Deer Project staff time is just as valuable as the cost savings. The current deer check station system takes up an inordinate amount of time over a 7-month period of the biologists' year. Preparations for the deer hunting season begin in July by ordering materials, approving proofs for printed supplies, collating all supplies by check station, deliveries to each check station, support of the check stations with pick-ups of data forms and deliveries of new supplies throughout the hunting season, data entry and edits, and post-season collection of materials. Alleviating all this work will free up biologists to do deer management research on issues like forest health, the impacts of coyotes on New Jersey's deer population, buck survival in zones with APR and the impact of deer diseases like this past year's EHD outbreak.

Another significant benefit of AGCS is real time harvest data that is available for analysis during the seasons and as soon as deer seasons end. At current harvest levels, the current system requires hand entry of over 780,000 data points from the paper check station forms and the data is not available for analysis until one to two months after the deer seasons end. With AGCS, the several months spent on collecting and editing paper forms and entering data from the forms can be better spent analyzing harvest data and deer management objectives.

The implementation of AGCS begins with the first 2012 deer season, the Winter Bow season. All deer harvested by 2012 Winter Bow hunters must be reported by phone or online instead of being brought to a deer check station. Full implementation of the AGCS continues with the 2012 Fall Bow Season and all subsequent 2012-2013 deer seasons when all deer must be reported through the AGCS.

Deer harvested with 2011 Muzzleloader Permits and 2011 Shotgun Permits during the 2012 portion of those seasons must still be brought to a check station during January and February 2012.

AGCS INSTRUCTIONS for 2012 WINTER BOW HUNTERS

Beginning January 1, 2012 Winter Bow hunters MUST use the AGCS to report harvested deer via telephone or online by 7 p.m. on the day of harvest.

Note: Occupant Farmers and Youth Hunters will not have Harvest Report Stubs for the non-permit deer seasons, which include Winter Bow, Fall Bow and 6-Day Firearm but will still be able to report their harvests via AGCS for these seasons. Occupant Farmers must have a Conservation ID Number (CID# - 9 digit number on Farmer Turkey and Farmer Deer Permits) in order to report deer via AGCS. Occupant Farmers who do not have a CID# must first obtain one through the online license site at www.nj.wildlifelicense.com/ (see CID Information for Farmers below).

When reporting a deer by phone or online Occupant Farmers and Youth Hunters only will be allowed to select the option of 'Reporting a deer without a Harvest Report Tag' for the Winter Bow, Fall Bow and 6-Day Firearm seasons. Occupant Farmers and Youth Hunters should record their harvest and AGCS confirmation number on a Supplemental Harvest Report Form (pdf, 23kb) or a handmade stub.

For all Permit Seasons (Permit Bow, Permit Muzzleloader and Permit Shotgun) Occupant Farmers and Youth Hunters are required to have the appropriate permits with harvest report stubs attached and will report deer for those seasons in the manner described below. Farmers must possess a hunting license to hunt on property where they do not reside and must report deer harvested on those properties in the manner described below.

2012 Winter Bow Antlered Harvest Report Stub

2012 Winter Bow Antlerless Harvest Report Stub

1. Upon harvesting a deer, a hunter must immediately fill out the license's Harvest Report Stub.

• Retrieve your kill.
• Complete the Harvest Report Stub with the exception of the "Confirmation Number" - this number will be provided when the deer is reported via AGCS.
• The Harvest Report Stub replaces the transportation tag and does not have to be attached to the deer. It is recommended that stub not be detached from license and kept in a license holder for safe keeping.
  • Multiple antlerless deer harvested in the same season can be recorded on the same stub.
  • Additional deer can be recorded on a handmade stub or a Supplemental Harvest Report Form (pdf, 23kb) kept with the original Harvest Report Stub.

2. Report Winter Bow deer via AGCS by 7:00 p.m. on the day of harvest:

• To report by phone call toll-free: 855-I-HUNT-NJ (855-448-6865)
• To report online go to www.NJ.WildlifeLicense.com and log in.
• Information required when reporting:
  • CID Number (on license Harvest Report Stub)
  • Harvest Number (on license Harvest Report Stub)
    • Multiple antlerless deer for the Winter Bow Season are reported using the same Harvest Number
    • Youth hunters and farmers will NOT have Harvest Numbers for the Winter Bow season. AGCS will allow reporting without a harvest number for these hunters only.
  • Deer Management Zone of deer harvest
  • County of deer harvest
  • Township of deer harvest (requested but not mandatory)
  • Deer Management Unit of deer harvest (requested but not mandatory - view map)
  • When a deer has been successfully reported via AGCS a 'smart number' is automatically generated and provided to the hunter as a Confirmation Number.

3. Record the "Confirmation Number" on license Harvest Report Stub.

• The confirmation number for the reported deer must be recorded on the Harvest Report Stub.
• Confirmation numbers for multiple antlerless deer harvested during the season can be recorded on the same stub or additional antlerless deer can be recorded on a handmade stub or a Supplemental Harvest Report Form (pdf, 23kb) kept with the original Harvest Report Stub.

4. After the Hunt and AGCS Reporting:

After a deer is reported via AGCS it should be labeled with the confirmation number when it is at camp, at home or with a deer processor or taxidermist. The confirmation number should also remain with processed meat and any of the parts (hide, antlers, mount, etc.) in your possession.

Deer Management Unit Map
Supplemental Antlerless Harvest Report Form (pdf, 23kb)

CID Information for Farmers

All Occupant Farmers who already receive Farmer Turkey or Farmer Deer Permits will have a Conservation ID Number (9 digit number printed on each permit) that must be used to report deer via AGCS.

Occupant Farmers that have not taken advantage of the free Farmer Permit Program for Deer and Turkey may not have a Conservation ID Number. Occupant Farmers who do not have a CID can create a customer profile to generate a CID and print a CID card through the online license site at www.NJ.WildlifeLicense.com.

Occupant Farmer instructions for creating a customer profile and obtaining a CID Number:

1. Go to the internet license sales site (safe and secure website) at www.NJ.WildlifeLicense.com
2. Click 'Start Here' button at bottom of page
3. Input the required personal information.
4. Find the selection buttons at the bottom of the page and click on "Print Identification Card'. An identification card with a 9-digit Conservation ID (CID) Number will appear for printing. The CID number is a unique lifetime number that will appear on all future licenses and permits and must be used for all future harvest reporting.