The annual Garden State Deer Classic features outstanding white-tailed deer harvested during the previous year's hunting seasons and recognizes the hunters who took them. The deer had been entered in the Outstanding White-tailed Deer Program.

The Deer Classic is held at the Garden State Outdoor Sports Show at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Edison. The 2016 show and Deer Classic was held Thursday through Sunday, January 7-10 - an event ideal for sportsmen and sportswomen and for exhibitors, drawing 40,000 sporting enthusiasts. The Deer Classic is jointly sponsored by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, United Bowhunters of New Jersey, the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation and the Garden State Outdoor Sports Show. A highlight of the Classic each year is a stunning display featuring some of New Jersey's largest bucks. The 2016 event culminated in an awards ceremony on Sunday, January 10, at 2:30 p.m.

2015 Deer Classic winners assemble with their deer. Click to enlarge Photo courtesy of Rick Wolven

As part of the Deer Classic, division biologists are present the entire time to answer questions and discuss management strategies, goals and issues. Hunting and fishing equipment manufacturers' pro-staffers, division biologists and others also conduct seminars on various topics.

For seminar information please visit the Garden State Outdoor Sports Show website.

Winners of the 2015 Deer Classic (pdf, 55kb)
Winners of the 2014 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2013 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2012 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2011 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2010 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2009 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2008 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2007 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2006 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2005 Deer Classic
Winners of the 2004 Deer Classic

Outstanding Deer Program and All-time Winners Lists