By early 2001 there were 112 Wildlife Management Areas throughout the state ranging in size from the .68 acre Delaware River Fishing Access Site in Pennsauken to the 25,000 acre Greenwood Forest Tract in Burlington and Ocean counties. These areas preserve a diversity of fish and wildlife habitats from Delaware Bay coastal marshes to Kittatinny Ridge mountain tops and provide countless outdoor recreational opportunities. Initially, the purchase of lands for the Wildlife Management Area system was funded entirely with sportsmen's dollars generated by the sale of hunting and fishing license. In 1961, the first of several successive Green Acres bond issues was approved enabling the general public to participate in the development of the system. Approximately half of the present system was purchased through the Green Acres bond issues.
Operational funding is provided entirely by hunters and anglers.
This survey includes only people 16 years of age and older. While demand continues to increase, the amount of land available for the pursuit of wildlife-oriented recreation is declining. New Jersey loses roughly 45-sq. In view of this reality, acquiring and managing Wildlife Management Areas is an important part of management programs conducted by the Division to provide for the public's wildlife-related recreation.