Whiting Wildlife Management Area in Manchester Township, Ocean County is 1,211.91 pineland acres. The acquisition was made possible through license sales and later a tract was added with the aid of Green Acres Bonds. The land area is a mix of upland and wetland forest types with pitch pine as the dominant tree cover.
Wildlife
The WMA supports a variety of species, including birds, reptiles and insects year-round. In the spring and fall, blackburnian warblers, pine siskins and yellow-rumped warblers can be seen. Eastern towhees, prairie warblers, wood thrush, barred owls, northern pine snakes and corn snakes can be seen in the summer, and red-headed woodpeckers, brown creepers and winter wrens in the winter. Whiting WMA also supports rare pineland insects including the pine barrens and scarlet bluet damselflies and the Hoary Elfin Butterfly.
Fishing
Anglers can enjoy fishing for bass, pickerel and panfish in Michaels Run and Wrangle Brook.
Forestry Management
As part of an approved Natural Resource Stewardship Plan, various forest treatments were prescribed at Whiting WMA over a 10-year period to reduce wildfire hazard, enhance habitat for wildlife and ecological communities, and improve forest health and vigor.
Hunting
All manner of hunting and trapping is permitted in the WMA. The Deer Management Zone is 18 and the Turkey Hunting Area is 14.
Access
Visit the WMA Explorer app to see parking areas and a map of Whiting WMA: https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/whiting-wma/
Owned by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife, the Wildlife Management Area System is comprised of more than 360,000 acres in 122 areas throughout the state, which is more than 44% of New Jersey’s state-owned public open space. WMAs are maintained and supported with funding from license sales, the Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and the Wildlife Habitat Supporter Program.
If you are interested in supporting the maintenance of Amwell Lake WMA and other Wildlife Management Areas, become a Wildlife Habitat Supporter by donating now:
WMAs are patrolled by NJ Fish & Wildlife Conservation Police Officers to ensure public safety. If you see violations while visiting a WMA, please call the 24-hour DEP hotline at 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337).
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