Hunting isn’t for everyone. It takes a certain mindset, and I understand that. I do want people to understand what it provides for our families and the benefits that extend to people who will never pick up a bow or firearm. We collectively took three deer last year within two weeks. He processed his own, and that’s beyond my skill set, so both of mine went to the Mobile Butcher. Whether you hunt or buy your meat at the supermarket, it doesn’t arrive courtesy of a meat fairy with a shrink wrapper. There’s an animal and a process behind every meal. Those deer have fed both our families & friends throughout the year: Bolognese, pastrami, sausage, bacon cheddar burgers, loins, roasts, and steaks. Last night, we used the last of our ground venison to make jalapeño, bacon, and cheddar meatballs. Venison is lean protein you can turn into countless meals, and wild-game cooking creators online offer plenty of ideas. Responsible hunting also addresses a real problem. Overabundant deer populations become unhealthy, damage crops, strip forests of new growth, and create serious hazards on our roads. Case and point: Princeton just approved a contract worth up to $120K for professional deer culling. Meanwhile, licensed sportsmen & sportswomen pay to participate in regulated hunting, help manage deer populations, and feed their families across the state. Hunters support many local businesses and conservation, too. Through Hunters Helping the Hungry, they can also donate deer through participating processors to provide venison to food banks serving NJ families. The program provides tens of thousands of meals annually. My legislative advocacy for conservation and NJ’s sportsmen and sportswomen also led to being named the NJ State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs 2025 Outstanding Legislator of the Year, and for that I am grateful. If you’re interested and unsure where to begin, I spent my first two years hunting as an apprentice. I learned safe firearm handling and loading, hunting regulations, how to safely use a tree stand or hunt from a blind, and what to do and what NOT to do. It takes patience, practice, and listening. The hunting community is incredibly supportive of people willing to learn. My comfort zone has been at the shooting range, but long guns were new territory for me. The last thing I or any responsible hunter wants to do is wound an animal. Learning shot placement, practicing & building confidence helped me harvest two deer cleanly, back to back, literally within ten minutes of each other. As hunters say, “Didn’t go 20.” Neither deer did. I typically hunt in Zone 5 with a firearm. I’d always been intimidated by a muzzleloader. Last year, I handled one for the first time, and this year, I hope to actively hunt during muzzleloader season. There’s always more to learn. WOMEN CAN DO THIS. Young people can learn these skills. You don’t need to grow up hunting to get started. NJ’s apprentice program lets eligible beginners try bow or shotgun hunting under a licensed mentor’s direct supervision before completing hunter education, for up to two license years per hunting type. The minimum age is 14 for apprentice bow hunting and 18 for apprentice shotgun hunting. NJ’s online hunter education course is FREE. Complete the coursework and exam, then register separately for the required in-person range session for bow, firearm, or both. Don’t let the field session intimidate you- you’ll work with instructors to demonstrate safe handling and proficiency. 📚Free NJ Hunter Education Course: huntercourse.com/usa/newjers… 🗓️In-Person Session Information and Registration: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/hunt… 🦌How to Get Your NJ Hunting License: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/buy-… 🦌NJ Deer Hunting Seasons and Regulations: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/deer… 🦌Apprentice Hunting Program: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/appr… 🦌Youth Hunting Information: dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/yout… 🦌Hunters Helping the Hungry: huntershelpingthehungry.org/

@cnjfo has a great event to learn about hunting in NJ @WESHOOTUSA @gunforhirerange

| NEWS | news2a.com/new-jersey/civil-… The @CivilRights Division lead by @AAGDhillon is turning its attention towards New Jersey once again, this time looking at permitting delays in a town that's already been sued once. And, Ms. Dhillon is asking New Jersey residents who believe their rights are being infringed to submit complaints. Details in link ☝️ @cnjfo @GunOwners @GunFoundation @gunforhirerange

The @CivilRights Division is investigating whether Pennsauken, NJ, is preventing residents from timely obtaining purchase permits to legally acquire firearms. The right to bear arms is protected by the Constitution for every American—it is not a second-class right! justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-d…

Thank you! NJ gun owners have suffered with unconstitutional permitting abuses & delays for decades. This is only one town of MANY in NJ that violate our civil rights. Those other towns should take note! @cnjfo @2nd4Everyone @xd45auto @jpr9954 @REALIZERadio @nate75brown @gunsandthe701 @FreedomSsteel

Nominations are open until November 1st for two prestigious NRA Women awards, plus applications for $5,000 in conservation scholarships! Learn more from @JohnPetrolino and find out how to enter at @BearingArmsCom! 👇 bearingarms.com/john-petroli…

The @NRA Women's Programs Committee has a few deadlines coming up on some award nominations and scholarship applications. Take a read, link below.

Thank you, @JohnPetrolino for getting the word out about these amazing programs for women. Note: November 1 deadlines!! @ScottEmslie @jpr9954 @FreedomSsteel @2nd4Everyone @NJWGR

I shot the ‘White Buffalo’ at 1,123 yards at the @nra Whittington Center in Raton, NM last week! Have you ever been? Go check them out at nrawc.org @nrawomen @REALIZERadio @jpr9954 @2nd4Everyone @cnjfo #2A #nrawhittington #shootlikeagirl

FPC WIN: Third Circuit strikes down New Jersey's "assault weapon" and magazine bans in an en banc decision whose 192 pages include numerous concurrences and dissents: firearmspolicy.org/cheeseman

As a follow-up to our post about the Koons case, our beloved ANJRPC, the #NewJersey @NRA state affiliate, has just filed a letter with the Third Circuit en banc court regarding the Cheeseman case. For those who don't keep up with the cases, Cheeseman is the now-combined lawsuit against the state of New Jersey challenging the unconstitutional "AWB" and "Large Capacity" magazine ban. From our standpoint, both the Hemani and Wolford rulings help our "sensitive places" and "AWB" and mag ban cases more than they hurt. @gunpolicy @cnjfo @NJFOSyndicate @fourboxesdiner @CamEdwards @JohnPetrolino @GunWashington

This Week GFHR #784 Teach your Pets Gun Safety because you never know! Wait till you hear this story! Special guest from Raton New Mexico, Nathan Brown from the NRA Whittington Center and its only on 33,300 acres of Paradise! vist.ly/552v5 and why we all need to visit and support the Center. Please  Listen, Learn, Like, Follow, Share, Donate, & Volunteer! vist.ly/552vc

Over at @AmmoLand learn about the @CCRKBArms Firearms Advocacy Conference. ammoland.com/2026/05/new-eng… @CamEdwards @rpetty @aarmark @bowtiegunguy @2Aupdates @2nd4Everyone @capegunworks @cnjfo @Guns_Gadgets @capegunworks @GOALupdate @CCDL_CarryOn @RidingShotgunWC @REALIZERadio @CherylToddGFR

I got a chance to be on @gunforhirerange Radio on May 10. We talked about a lot of things and events on the show. I wanted to share this list of links about some of the things we discussed. The first link is to the show itself. You can also find Gun for Hire Radio distributed via all the major podcast services. Other topics we discussed include: Friends of @NRA Dinners, @NRAILA's Call to Action on A.222, Petrolino v. NJSP, Permit to Carry Refund Resolution Movement, and CNJFO’s events. Gun for Hire Radio Episode # gunforhire.com/blog/the-gun-… On John Petrolino v. New Jersey State Police newjerseymonitor.com/2026/03… On A.222 Reporting on Permits Bill - Call to Action! Write Your Legislators Here! nraila.org/articles/20260506… Permit to Carry Rebate Resolutions Policy Brief @NJFOSyndicate njfos.org/wp-content/uploads… @CCRKBArms' New England Firearms Advocacy Conference May 30 CCRKBA.org/fac @2AFDN and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Gun Rights Policy Conference and Alternative Mass Media Conference September 25 - 27 AMM-Con.org saf.org/grpc @cnjfo Meet and Greet Cigar Night June 12 cnjfo.com/event-6663606 CNJFO Sporting Clays July 11 cnjfo.com/event-6546600 CNJFO Cigar Dinner August 12 cnjfo.com/event-6663588 Friends of NRA Dinner Links bearingarms.com/john-petroli… friendsofnra.org/events/even… friendsofnra.org/events/even…

Supreme Court Amicus Update:

Thank you, @SN_Weekly_ for spreading the word about the NRA Women’s New Energy Brunch to be held at #NRAAM I’ll see you there! @nra @nrawomen @REALIZERadio @ScottEmslie @jpr9954 shootingnewsweekly.com/gun-n…

The tickets go fast. This Thursday we're at @RecoilNJ in Monroe NJ 6pm till 9pm. We're welcoming all people into the firearms community, educating them on 2A advocacy, firearms safety while eating pizza, winning prizes and having fun. eventbrite.com/e/recoil-2a4e…

Motion for Summary Judgment filed in NJ hollow point case by CNJFO and co-Plaintiffs. “If there were ever an outlier firearm regulation, this would be it.” Read more: bit.ly/47q0Sqc @GunOwners @JohnPetrolino @SN_Weekly_ @Teacher_in_NJ @News2ATeam @gunforhirerange

Join us for a Meet & Greet at @gunforhirerange on Tues, 3/31. Members and non-members welcome! Food and range time. Our in-person meetups are back! South & Central Jersey meetings in the works.Details at: cnjfo.com/event-6593502 @SN_Weekly_ @TheresaInacker @NJWGR @NaturallyArmed

Disarming the innocent is an act of violence in itself. Women in NJ are counting on the 3d Circuit to provide overdue relief. #2A @NJWGR @nra @cnjfo @jpr9954 @gunforhirerange @factorjay1 @News2ATeam @2AFDN @gunpolicy @2nd4Everyone