N.J. Stat. tit. 23, ch. 8

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-1 § 23:8-1

The board may purchase suitable lands and erect buildings thereon in this state for the purpose of propagating game and fish. The lands and buildings shall be in charge of competent persons who shall, from time to time, engage, with the permission of the board, any additional help that may be necessary. The compensation of the head gamekeeper and the superintendent of the hatchery shall be fixed by the board in accordance with the schedules provided by the state civil service commission. All expenses incurred in carrying out this section shall be paid by the state treasurer on warrants of the state comptroller on bills properly approved by the board, out of the receipts of the board received through it.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-4 § 23:8-4

No person shall trespass on any lands on which a fish hatchery or game farm is located and operated by the board, or damage, deface or remove a notice or signboard erected on these lands, under a penalty of fifty dollars for each offense.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-6 § 23:8-6

The board may, when it deems proper, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any fish or fish eggs from the state hatchery, game birds or game animals, or the eggs of game birds from the state game farm, and any other products of the farms, and boats and personal property in general. The proceeds of the sales shall be reported by the board as receipts of the board and be paid into the state treasury, subject to the use of the board as other receipts.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-7 § 23:8-7

The board may lease by agreement with the owner thereof any lands in this state suitable for game refuges and exercise control thereof during the lease. The board may also acquire in the name of the state, title by gift or grant to any such lands.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-8 Fencing and notices

The game refuges may be surrounded by such wire or wires on the boundary thereof as the board in its discretion shall determine, and one notice reading "State Game Refuge, hunting is unlawful" , shall be posted at least every five hundred feet of the boundary of the refuge.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-9 Lands of board deemed refuges

All lands acquired or controlled in any manner by the division are hereby constituted refuges for all birds and animals whose pursuit or taking is regulated or prohibited under the provisions of this Title. Amended by L.1948, c. 448, p. 1825, s. 74, eff. April 1, 1949.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-10 Hunting or carrying gun in preserve prohibited

No person shall at any time hunt, pursue, kill or take, or attempt to kill or take, within the limits of a game refuge, a bird or animal, the hunting for, killing or taking of which is regulated by the State Fish and Game Code, or, in the absence of any such provision in said code, the hunting for, killing or taking of which is regulated by law. No person shall at any time hunt, pursue, kill or take, or attempt to kill or take, within the limits of a game refuge, a bird or animal, the hunting for, killing or taking of which is prohibited by the State Fish and Game Code, or, in the absence of any provision of said code to the contrary, the hunting for, killing or taking of which is prohibited by law. No person shall carry a shotgun or rifle within the limits of a game refuge unless authorized by the division. Amended by L.1948, c. 448, p. 1825, s. 75.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-11 Violations; penalty

Any person who shall at any time hunt, pursue, kill or take, or attempt to kill or take, within the limits of a game refuge, a bird or animal, the hunting for, killing or taking of which is regulated by the State Fish and Game Code, or, in the absence of any such provision in said code, the hunting for, killing or taking of which is regulated by law; or who shall at any time hunt, pursue, kill or take, or attempt to kill or take, within the limits of a game refuge, a bird or animal, the hunting for, killing or taking of which is prohibited by the State Fish and Game Code, or, in the absence of any provision of said code to the contrary, the hunting for, killing or taking of which is prohibited by law; or who violates any other provisions of this article, shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each offense. Amended by L.1948, c. 448, p. 1825, s. 76; L.1950, c. 67, p. 123, s. 5, eff. April 25, 1950.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-12 § 23:8-12

The United States commissioner of fisheries and his authorized agents may conduct fish cultural operations and scientific investigations in the waters of this state in such manner and at such times as they consider necessary and proper, notwithstanding any law of this state to the contrary.

N.J. Stat. § 23:8-13 § 23:8-13

The authorities in charge of a fish and shellfish cultural and biological station, having laboratory facilities of a scientific and biological character which will enable investigators to prosecute the necessary scientific and biological inquiries in connection therewith, may fish in any of the public waters of this state with dredging apparatus, seines, nets, trawls, surface trawls or any other device, for the sole purpose of obtaining the materials needed in carrying out the purposes and making the scientific investigations for which the station is established.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026