I hope to go out to Ohio to Hunt/Camp in late Oct. or early Nov, but if I can't swing it my back-up plan is to do the same in NJ. I was hoping someone can advise me on areas where I can camp at, or near, a WMA or State Forest in Northwest Jersey. I was thinking maybe Zone 5 or 8. I don't need electric or water, just a basic place to pitch a tent. I'm near South Amboy and don't want to make a drive like that every hunting trip, especially as my transportation is a motorcycle and it may be chilly. I have a small trailer for hauling my gear etc.
Well, there's Voorhees S.P. but the campgrounds are only open through 10/31. It's located in zone 8, near High Bridge. Within a 10-minute drive of quite a few WMA acres.
There's also Jugtown Mountain Campsites. I believe they're open year-round. The people that own it are also hunters, although not trad bowhunters. They're in zone 7, but very close to zone 10. Again, lots of WMA lands within a 10 minute drive.
Stokes State forest has some good camp grounds and plenty of deer in the area. Check with Joe Skipp, he hunts with a bunch of guys up in that area.
If you come to South Jersey u can camp in Bodine Field this is in New Gretna and we have a ton of woods. I would take that kinda trip it would be a blast camping and hunting in your own state.Good Luck
Thanks for the tips guys. I was also thinking about Wharton, that is one big place! Should be able to hunt without bumping into other hunters every 50 yards. Ohio is my home state. I've gotten all my deer harvests there, so I have the most confidence and attachment to a particular state forest I hunted. It's just not as easy to get there as to hunt local.
Worhtington track camp ground, Deleware water Gap. You can walk right up the mountain from your camp site and hunt more land then you could walk in a day. It is tough hunting but those woods hold some real nice bucks. I think that is zone 4.