RE: Where were all the NJ hunters?
NJ is dominated by these clubs who hunt by lining up and driving the woods. Lots of the more dedicated hunters I know stay home shotgun, and save the vacation days for bow or blackpowder, the drivers pretty much ruin the public land hunting.
Also, those clubs traditionally quit driving at noon on the last Saturrday, for various reasons. They hang out with each other at the club, butcher deer, eat, etc.
Also, those areas you mention are mostly private property, with very little access. No hunting along most of those roads. That's our problem in NJ, the areas open to htuning get hammered with a 2 month gun season, but the areas you mention have a density of 40+ per square mile, with no hunting allowed in most of it. This causes the F&G guys to even more liberalize the seasons, so the areas open to huntign get hammered even more. Wierd state we're in.
Myself, I haven't even hunted my home state yet this year, been heading to head to my club in MD every weekend, a lot safer, and a lot less aggravating. NJ shotgun is a hectic time with buckshot flying everywhere. I'll go buy a NJ license now for the peace and quiet of the blackpowder and winter bow seasons.
"In heaven, even the fish have antlers"