GREENWOOD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA)
At nearly 30,000 acres, Greenwood WMA is a place that hunters wanting to explore the Pine Barrens should consider. The Greenwood WMA affords hunters unparalleled public access, as many gravel roads cut all throughout its range.

Another feature making this WMA a prime pick are the fields of winter wheat that the state maintains for wildlife of the area. During pheasant season, you will have lots of company in Greenwood. But in the first weeks of archery season and nearly all of the muzzleloader and winter bow seasons, you’ll be almost alone out there.

This is one of my favorite places to look for distinct edges and natural funnels. A high number of white oaks form sporadic nice groves over much of the territory. I have harvested many deer from Greenwood WMA and it’s an area that I’m currently focusing on more and more. Each year, I see really good bucks working the area. But only a few of them seem to turn up during hunting season.

Greenwood WMA is hard hunting in most places. And with large areas covered by pygmy pines, it’s often very difficult to draw the deer out during daylight hours. Regardless, it’s a challenging area and one that you shouldn’t overlook.

STAFFORD FORGE WMA
For hunters who are looking for a bit of a challenge in bagging a truly decent Pine Barrens buck, I suggest giving the woods of Stafford Forge a try. At almost 16,000 acres, this WMA is certainly no small woodlot.

To make things slightly more challenging, Stafford Forge’s beautiful oak groves back up to some of the nastiest, thickest, and just downright impenetrable cedar swamps around -- though the same can certainly be said for the Wharton State Forest!

Every year, I see really decent bucks harvested by hunters who put in their time at Stafford Forge. This WMA is easy to access. And with the New Jersey State Police’s Tuckerton Barracks literally right down the road, the area is secure and well patrolled. So if you’re afraid of getting lost in an area or simply don’t like parking your vehicle in the middle of nowhere, then this is a great place to consider.

COLLIERS MILLS WMA
With its 13,000 acres of true Pine Barrens beauty, Colliers Mills is a popular place to enjoy a day of hunting in the pines. Colliers Mills is located just off county Road 539 in Ocean County. In addition, this WMA has a shotgun/muzzleloader training area where you can sight in your slug gun and muzzleloader, or pattern your scattergun with buckshot. There’s also a fine archery range, which is perfect for taking a few quick shots with practice heads before trekking into the woods for an afternoon bowhunt.

Colliers Mills is surrounded by some of the richest farmlands in the state. Each year, shockingly nice bucks are harvested from the area. In addition, the area holds a lot of does. Hunters usually report seeing several mature does filtering through their hunting spots.

I have hunted very little in Colliers Mills, but my friends who have are all very fond of the area in general.

FORKED RIVER MOUNTAINS WMA
The second- and third-highest elevations in the Pine Barrens, at 182 and 175 feet respectively, are found in the area known as the Forked River Mountains WMA. Of all the places within the Pines, this area is the least flat by far.

Granted, what we call “mountains” and what you call mountains may be quite different, but it’s all relative.

This area has some wonderful topography. Those of you who really enjoy sitting on the ground with your muzzleloader as I do will want to give this area a try for sure.

The forest is made up of a mix of common pine and oak, with some areas having thicker underbrush compared to others.