The well-being of New Jersey's fish and wildlife resources is the responsibility of the New Jersey Fish and Game Council, a body created by law in 1945. The Council adopts a Fish and Game Code for the purpose of providing a system for the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife. This eleven member council is chosen with due regard to their knowledge of and interest in the conservation of fish and wildlife. Three members represent the farming community, six members represent the sporting community, one member must possess an expertise in soils and the final member is the Chairman of the Nongame and Endangered Species Advisory Committee. The New Jersey Fish and Game Council knows that agriculture is a vital component of our state's economy.
Council continues to work with the agricultural community to address crop damage due to deer.
To assist farmers with damage complaints, the Division annually issues more than 500 permits to shoot deer in situations of substantial crop damage, distributes more than 350 rolls of mesh wire for fence construction, and 600 gallons of deer repellent. The Division also administers the Supplemental Deer Fence Program through the Department of Agriculture. Through this program, the Division will distribute an additional 5,000 rolls of mesh wire to protect farm crops. Balancing the needs of deer with those of the agricultural community, landowners and the sporting public is of primary concern to the Fish and Game Council. In those zones where significant agricultural damage continues, the Division's professional, university-trained wildlife biologists, conservation officers and the Council have approved a strategy to reduce the antlerless deer population creating some of the most liberal deer hunting seasons in the country.