General Rules:

1. No entry fee. Properly licensed hunters, including non-residents, are eligible.

2. Deer must be taken in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State of New Jersey.

3. Applications for the annual competition must be received by September 1 for the previous year's hunting season.

4. All aspects of the Boone and Crockett Club's official scoring system are used for this program. A 60-day drying period (at normal room temperature with all flesh and membranes removed) is required before any official measurement can be made. Split or repaired skulls and shed antlers are not eligible. Hunters should first perform a "rough" score measurement to determine if the deer meets the minimum score (see below).

5. Score forms (with instructions) are available for these white-tailed deer categories: Typical, Non-typical, 200 Pound Club and 135 Pound Doe Club. To be entered in the non-typical category, deer must have at least one inch of non-typical antler material. Qualified bucks may be entered in either the Antlered Division, the Weight Division or both. Request an information packet by sending a self-addressed stamped (two ounces), business-sized envelope to: NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Outstanding Deer Program, P.O. Box 400, Trenton, NJ 08625-0400, or by print the on-line versions.

6. Antlers must be scored by an official Boone and Crockett Club or Pope & Young Club measurer. A list of official measurers is included in the information packet, or visit our Web site to locate the nearest measurer for an appointment. It is best to have the rack measured before having it mounted. Don't wait.

7. Antlered Division - Entry requirements: a clear photograph of both deer and hunter and the completed score form (including possession seal number) signed by an official measurer (pdf, 7kb). All photographs become the property of NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and will not be returned. The photograph should have the name and address of the hunter attached.

8. Weight Division - Entry requirements: a clear photograph of both deer and hunter, the completed 200 Pound Club entry form signed by the weighmaster, plus the weight slip from the facility operating the scale showing the deer's field-dressed weight. Deer entered in the 200 Pound Club category must be weighed on a certified scale and must be witnessed by both the weighmaster and another person other than the applicant. The weighmaster is the person who routinely operates the certified scale. Fish and Wildlife reserves the right to question any witness and examine the scale used for the certified weight. Contact our office (609-633-7598) for assistance locating a certified scale. All photographs become the property of NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and will not be returned. The photograph should have the name and address of the hunter attached.

Female deer (does) entered in the 135 Pound Doe Club category do not require a certified scale; deer may be weighed on a Fish and Wildlife maintained scale found at some official deer check stations. Check station operator must witness and record weight on the data form. Or contact a Fish and Wildlife regional deer biologist to request them to weight your deer and serve as the witness for your outstanding doe entry.

9. New Jersey Outstanding Deer - Minimum Scores and Weights (Revised 9/4/96) Outstanding Deer Category Divisions and Minimum Qualifications (Revised 9/4/96)

Antler Divisions
Typical - Archery, Shotgun and Muzzleloader - Minimum score 125 0/8
Non-typical - Archery, Shotgun and Muzzloader - Minimum score 135 0/8

Weight Divisions
135 Pound Doe Club - Archery, Shotgun and Muzzleloader - (Does Only) Minimum Weight 135 lbs. (All Categories)
200 Pound Club - Archery and Shotgun - Minimum Weight 200 lbs. (All Categories)