Access to the Musconetcong River Wildlife Management Area

The Musconetcong River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located acroos three counties - Hunterdon, Warren, and Morris Counties. It  has seven distinct sites along the river in Lebanon, Bethlehem, Holland, Bloomsbury, Mount Olive, Mansfield, Pohatcong, Washington, and Franklin Townships. The 1,685-acre WMA provides river access and many hunting opportunities.

The Musconetcong River is a 45.7-mile-long tributary of the Delaware River that flows through rural mountainous country and is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. It is stocked at several access points with rainbow trout each spring and fall, and it also produces catches of native brook trout and wild brown trout. Less common species caught include sunfish and smallmouth bass. Shad have most recently been caught in the lower parts of the river as dam removals and habitat restoration have made anadromous fish migration possible.

Rich in farmland and deciduous forest, the WMA is a haven for a variety of wildlife. Deer, cottontail rabbits, bald eagles, osprey, and a variety of songbirds can be found at this WMA. Black bears roam the region, while the area also sees a heavy migration of snow geese.

For hunters, this WMA has large deer herds in DMZs 7, 8, and 10. Some adjacent properties, such as the Musconetcong Gorge and Point Mountain Preserve, are County Parks that require special permitting. Consult the Hunting & Trapping Digest or view the Hunting and Trapping Explorer to be certain of legal hunting land on this WMA. Turkey hunters should do the same while hunting THAs 8 and 9.

Owned by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife, the Wildlife Management Area System is comprised of more than 360,000 acres in 122 areas throughout the state, which is more than 44% of New Jersey’s state-owned public open space. WMAs are maintained and supported with funding from hunting and fishing license sales, the Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, and the Wildlife Habitat Supporter Program.

WMAs are patrolled by NJ Fish & Wildlife Conservation Police Officers to ensure public safety. If you see violations while visiting a WMA, please call the 24-hour DEP hotline at 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337).

Kid-Friendly Short Films About NJ Wildlife

From filmmaker Jared Flesher (Hundred Year Films), here are some kid-friendly excerpts from a series he had done called The Creature Show. these are great for kinds who have an interest in the outdoors and NJ wildlife, for kids who don't get many chances to be out in nature, and they would be great for teachers as teaching tools or just as a good story for discussion.

They may be a bit creepy in movies, but bats do a lot of good for us. Do you like mosquitoes? Well, bats love them - to eat!

Check out this kid with Bats in the Bedroom Window and also take a trip to see Bats in the Church Attic.

Do your kids like dogs? What kid doesn't like dogs? Here is a short film where you'll Meet Bear, the Wildlife Detection Dog

You will probably never get the chance to be Releasing a Bobcat into the Wild, but you can in this video. Most kids will never have even seen a bobcat in the wild.

I monitor two local vernal (spring) pools. But in any season, you can watch a trip to see Frog & Salamander Eggs in a Vernal Pool. And you won't get your feet wet.

Snakes are another creepy crawler that gets a bad rap in movies and media. Let's go out in the woods and try Radio Tracking Snakes. Spoiler Alert: they do track and find an endangered corn snake (not poisonous). 

There are more videos on his YouTube channel for kids and adults and on his website at Hundred Year Films

Report Sick and Dead Deer

The NJ DEP asks for your help in reporting sick or dead deer sightings. You can do it online using the Deer Disease Sighting form. Videos and/or photos are encouraged.

Your input is critical for NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's quick response to potential disease outbreaks in New Jersey’s deer population. The valuable information you provide will add to decades of data on deer health and mortality in the state.

For example, let's keep NJ free from Chronic Wasting Disease, a progressive and fatal neurologic disease affecting members of the Cervid family such as deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.  

Information from the sighting form is useful to investigate potential disease outbreaks and to assist staff in sampling efforts. To the best of your ability, each of your sighting entries should be of new sightings. Please do not submit the same deer you see every day as a separate survey entry. If you observed sick deer that then died, please submit under the 'Dead Deer Observations' section

For example, if the same deer visits your backyard every day, this would be one entry for the entire period of the study. If you see new or additional deer, please submit a new form. Each time data is submitted, via the submit button at the bottom of this screen, it is counted as a single record. Deer reported are case-by-case assessed for sampling viability. 

NJDEP Fish and Wildlife does not remove dead deer.

3 Family Friendly Hikes

Here are three easy and family-friendly hike options to do with kids (or kids-at-heart) to close out the summer or into the fall.

The Batsto Lake Trail in Wharton State Forest is a peaceful loop through the Pine Barrens, offering lakeside views and historic buildings in the Village of Batsto. It is 4.1miles and would take a little more than a hour to complete the loop along sandy paths, bog bridges, and pine needle-covered trails along Batso Lake. Wharton State Forest is the largest piece of land managed by New Jersey State Parks. The area was a regional hub for glass and iron manufacturing during the mid-1700s to mid-1800s.

The Fairy Trail at South Mountain Reservation in Essex County is a short and magical walk perfect for kids and curious adults. This is an easy half-mile path inhabited by fairies who have built homes along the trail. The rules help to introduce kids to the principles of Leave No Trace.

Watchung Reservation's White Trail (Union County) goes over gentle terrain with scenic views and historical landmarks. At 2.7 miles, it will take you about an hour, depending on how many stops you make. Of course, like most of these hikes, you can extend the hike by continuing on the white or purple and yellow trails or turn back. Information and directions at Watchung Reservation White Trail. The Reservation also has the Trailside Museum and other trails to explore.