Ranges at Turkey Swamp and Assunpink WMAs ?

[Scorpio64 5,147]

As I recall, one could go to Assunpink and shoot skeet and rifle and at Turkey Swamp shoot rim fire and air rifles.  Is this still true?  I know Assunpink has adopted a non-lead policy but seem to still allow shotgun.

 

Anyway, can one still shoot at the WMAs ?  I tried to look it up but the info is not very clear to me..

[Parker 213]

WMA range guidelines: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ranges.htm

[Scorpio64 5,147]

WMA range guidelines: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ranges.htm

Thank you capt. obvious.   I've already read that several times over.  It mentioned nothing about the ranges at those locations for rim fire/air rifle being opened or closed.  In fact, it makes no reference at all.  I used to shoot there, like 20 years ago, they were popular places.  The Turkey Swamp website only mentions archery.  But I know there is/was a rim fire range there too.  However, there is no mention of it in the brochure nor can I find anything via google about the rimfire range still being open or if it has closed.

 

How about this.  Does anyone have recent first hand experience shooting at Assunpink and/or Turkey Swamp?

[Parker 213]

Thank you capt. obvious.   I've already read that several times over.  It mentioned nothing about the ranges at those locations for rim fire/air rifle being opened or closed.  In fact, it makes no reference at all.  I used to shoot there, like 20 years ago, they were popular places.  The Turkey Swamp website only mentions archery.  But I know there is/was a rim fire range there too.  However, there is no mention of it in the brochure nor can I find anything via google about the rimfire range still being open or if it has closed.

 

How about this.  Does anyone have recent first hand experience shooting at Assunpink and/or Turkey Swamp?

 

Hey, I was only trying to be helpful. Assunpink is steel shot and archery only, no rifle. The guidelines are pretty clear, it's been like that for a while. The information is current for all ranges, and they've even updated it to include .17 rimfire at rifle ranges since it used to note only .22 rimfire. Folks used to shoot everything at Assunpink years ago, but now that has been minimized. I've never been to Turkey Swamp, so can't speculate or assume. Air rifle is legal wherever rimfire ranges are located.

 

If you have questions on what's legal where, contact Paul Tarlowe at the Division. He would know closures, what's legal, etc.

 

Paul Tarlowe, Wildlife Education Specialist

NJ Div. of Fish and Wildlife

605 Pequest Rd.

Oxford, NJ 07863

[email protected]

[Scorpio64 5,147]

Hey, I was only trying to be helpful. Assunpink is steel shot and archery only, .......

Yeah, sorry about that.  I'm just a little out of sorts after attempting to sift through all the NJ WMA regulations.  It's like they have intentionally made them unclear.

[illy 1]

The italicized, bold wording below each WMA specifies what kind of ranges are available at each location.

Shotgun = clay birds and bird/target loads.

Archery = bow and crossbow

Muzzleloader = black powder, shotguns with rifled slugs or buckshot, modern .17 and .22 caliber rimfire rifles, and air-guns in the calibers legal for small game hunting only.
 

 

If it's not listed under the WMA, then it isn't available.

 

Therefore:

 

Assunpink WMA
Shotgun (lead-free shot only), Archery

 

Turkey Swamp
*special regulations apply call 908-842-4000
Archery

 

 So no muzzleloaders, buckshot, slugs, rimfire or air rifle at either.

[Dirt diver 0]

Turkey Swamp is only for archery now

[DeerSlayer 241]

Don't forget you also need a valid hunting license to use the range.

[Dirt diver 0]

Don't forget you also need a valid hunting license to use the range.

Yikes, never knew that. Don't have one and have taken my daughter and nephew there on a few occasions without a problem shooting their little banshee. I will await a SWAT assault on my next visit :-)

[HBecwithFn7 296]

Yikes, never knew that. Don't have one and have taken my daughter and nephew there on a few occasions without a problem shooting their little banshee. I will await a SWAT assault on my next visit :-)

 

Just go to this Website:  NJ Fish & Wildlife - Hunter Education.

 

The training is free, and the license is only $27.50./yr.  I'm going for mine when the exam is offered next, near where I live.

[DeerSlayer 241]

Yikes, never knew that. Don't have one and have taken my daughter and nephew there on a few occasions without a problem shooting their little banshee. I will await a SWAT assault on my next visit :-)

As long as one person in your party has a license your good to go. Worst that will happen is a Conservation officer could write you a ticket, they are civil not criminal. But the Hunter ed course is free and one Sunday out of your life, go take the class if your kids are 10 years old they can take it as well. Its great free gun safety training for a youngster.

[jm1827 284]

As long as one person in your party has a license your good to go. Worst that will happen is a Conservation officer could write you a ticket, they are civil not criminal. But the Hunter ed course is free and one Sunday out of your life, go take the class if your kids are 10 years old they can take it as well. Its great free gun safety training for a youngster.

Thsnks for the heads up about 10 year olds, I am sure my son would love it!

[DeerSlayer 241]

Kids get their license for free from the age of 10-16. Only adults pay the $28 annually. If the kid has a license you can shoot with them free. Only one person in your party has to hold a license

[illy 1]

Also that ticket is probably the same as "target practice in unauthorized area", which is $71.

 

You'd be better off putting that money towards a range membership.

 

Or even better: get your hunting license, as the fees go to maintain the ranges you've been using for free. Just saying.

[GRIZ 3,369]

Just go to this Website:  NJ Fish & Wildlife - Hunter Education.

 

The training is free, and the license is only $27.50./yr.  I'm going for mine when the exam is offered next, near where I live.

BTW licenses are free for members of the NJ National Guard and. disabled veterans. Many are unaware of this.

[DeerSlayer 241]

Also that ticket is probably the same as "target practice in unauthorized area", which is $71.

 

You'd be better off putting that money towards a range membership.

 

Or even better: get your hunting license, as the fees go to maintain the ranges you've been using for free. Just saying.

^^^agreed, strength in numbers for sure. The money goes to something worthwhile as well.

[Scorpio64 5,147]

Also that ticket is probably the same as "target practice in unauthorized area", which is $71.

 

You'd be better off putting that money towards a range membership.

 

Or even better: get your hunting license, as the fees go to maintain the ranges you've been using for free. Just saying.

 

I am a member at R-14 but was looking for something a bit closer to shoot .22 only, R-14 is almost an hour drive.  I also have a hunting license.  I've not renewed it in almost 20 years but renewal would not be a problem for me if there was a range that I could use for free to shoot a .22.

 

What free ranges where .22 is allowed are open to people with a hunting license?

[HBecwithFn7 296]

I am a member at R-14 but was looking for something a bit closer to shoot .22 only, R-14 is almost an hour drive.  I also have a hunting license.  I've not renewed it in almost 20 years but renewal would not be a problem for me if there was a range that I could use for free to shoot a .22.

 

What free ranges where .22 is allowed are open to people with a hunting license?

 

Here is a list of all the "Wildlife Management Areas" with maps, etc. I know the Clinton WMA has a .22 range.

[illy 1]

Here is a list of all the "Wildlife Management Areas" with maps, etc. I know the Clinton WMA has a .22 range.

Yeah, it does. What you're looking for is "muzzleloader" listed under the WMA

[Scorpio64 5,147]

Yeah, it does. What you're looking for is "muzzleloader" listed under the WMA

 

So the WMA secret code for "okay to shoot  rim fire and air rifle" is muzzle loader.  Got it.

[Parker 213]

Correct. As far as the Div. of Fish & Wildlife is concerned, and how their thinking evolved with hunting laws, is that the "muzzleloader" was the first rifle legal for hunting in the state, dating back to the late 70's, and that is what prompted you to get a rifle permit if you wanted to use one for hunting. Then .22 rimfire for trapping and certain caliber centerfires followed later for hunting certain species with exceptions.

 

Muzzleloader at the range is secret code for .17 & .22 rimfire, & any acceptable pellet rifle, & shotgun slug for the "rifle" range.

 

What the state still does not allow is shooting centerfires on the WMA ranges.

[DeerSlayer 241]

What free ranges where .22 is allowed are open to people with a hunting license?

There are 6 WMA's that allow Rifle practice. Black Powder, air rifle, shotgun (slugs, Buckshot patterning, Turkey load patterning),

And rimfire rifles. They are as follows: Clinton, Flatbrook, Colliers Mills, Stafford Forge, Makepeace Lake, & Millville WMA's. All other WMA ranges are either archery, or fine shot shotgun only (skeet/clay birds). They all have their own rules. I personally like Flatbrook, I've also been to Clinton but their target rules are crazy. Page 75 of the fish and wildlife digest detail all the ranges and their rules. All have the same hours 8am - Sunset. The digest is available free from any licensing agent, this time of year they may be out of stock because the new year digest comes out in August/September. The digest is also online at www.njfishandwildlife.com in PDF format. Or you can download the pocket ranger app for your phone or tablet the digest is in there as well.

 

The two WMA'S your talking about do not have a rifle range. Assunpink is shotgun (fine shot only) non toxic loads only.

And Turkey Swamp is Archery only.

 

[DeerSlayer 241]