05/05/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CiF8C6dsE/
UPDATE!!! The Union County Federation meeting went overwhelmingly well last night!! The Union County Chapter was wholeheartedly impressed with the grassroots movement of the New Jersey Crossbow Association and advised us to keep the pressure on reference the numerous issues with the proposed game code.
Organized opposition to the proposed game code is growing as numerous organizations are forming a coalition of forces with an…”all for one, one for all” campaign!!
Major issues in the proposed game code involve crossbows, trapping, predator hunting, and youth hunting opportunities. So much to point that the code is not able to be amended, or…”circle back’ed to, and fixed after it is approved (we all know about those governmental promises)….and the Fish and Game Council needs to vote NO to approving the code, as the code needs to be improved to ensure all sportsmen, women, and youth NJFW constituent groups are represented fairly.
I read most of the proposed game code and the Fish and Game Council and NJFW are to be commended for streamlining the code and simplifying the deer zone regulation sets, but it falls short of a “legacy” game code that everyone should be striving for!!
It would be a great opportunity for the Council and NJFW to work with the new governor’s administration and turn in a body of work worthy of being called a “legacy game code” for all of the dedicated professionals who have worked on it. Anything less would leave many groups feeling betrayed, which ultimately would lead to more upheaval and complaints to Governor Sherrill’s administration, and that’s not a good way to start off with the new boss!!
There should be no rush to push the current proposed game code through as it is written. It was originally submitted in 2024, the Council and NJFW should take this extra time to get it right. Our existing game code is effective through 2028, so an expired code is not an issue.
The NJCA looks forward to working with the Fish and Game Council, NJFW, and our members to solidify a game code that we all could be proud of!!
Thanks for your support!!