N.J. STAT., ch. 35, §§ 1–4 & 6 (William Bradford 1752) (Law Passed 1722).

"CHAP. XXXV.

An ACT to prevent Killing of Deer out of Season, and against Carrying of Guns and Hunting by Persons not Qualified.

    Sect. 1. BE IT ENACTED by the Governor, Council and General Assembly, AND IT IS HEREBY ENACTED by the Authority of the same, That if any person or Persons, after the Publication hereof, shall kill or destroy any wild Buck, Doe or Fawn, or any other Sort of Deer whatsoever, at any Time in the Months of January, February, March, April, May or June, every such Person shall, for every such Offence, forfeit and pay the Sum of Thirty-Shillings, for every such Buck, Doe or Fawn, or other Deer, so killed or destroyed as aforesaid, contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act; one half thereof to the Poor of the Township or Precinct where the Offence is committed, and the other half to him who shall Inform or Sue for the same before any Justice of the Peace of this Province, who is hereby empowered^[1] and authorized to hear and determine the same, and to convict the Offender by the Oath or Affirmation of one or more Witness. Provided, That such Conviction be made within two Months after such Offence committed.

    2. AND for the better Convicting of Offenders against this Act, BE IT ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid, That every Person in whose Custody shall be found, or who shall expose to Sale, any green Deer Skins, fresh Venison or Deer’s Flesh, at any Time in any of the Months of January, February, March, April, May or June, aforementioned, and shall be convicted thereof, as aforesaid, shall be deemed Guilty of the said Offence.

    3. PROVIDED ALWAYS, That nothing contained in this Act, shall be deemed or construed to hinder any Person from killing any kind of Deer, within his Fields where Corn is growing, at any Time in the Month of January, nor to extend to any Free Native Indians carrying Guns, hunting, killing or having in their Custody any Skins or Deer’s Flesh for their own Use; any Thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding.

    4. And whereas divers abuses have been committed, and great Damages and Inconveniences^[2] arisen by Persons carrying of Guns and presuming to hunt on other Peoples Land; for Remedy whereof for the future, BE IT ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons shall presume, at any Time after the Publication hereof, to carry any Gun, or hunt on the improved or enclosed^[3] Lands in any Plantation, other than his own, unless he have License or Permission from the Owner of such Lands or Plantation, and shall be thereof convicted, either upon the View of any Justice of the Peace within this Province, or by the Oath or Affirmation of any one or more Witnesses, before any Justice of the Peace, he shall, for every such Offence forfeit the Sum of Fifteen Shillings, with Costs attending such Conviction. And if any Person whatsoever, who is now Owner of one Hundred Acres of Land, or otherwise qualified, in the same Manner as Persons are or ought to be for electing Representatives to serve in General Assembly, shall at any Time after the Publication hereof, carry any Gun, or hunt in the Woods or unenclosed^[4] Lands, without Licence or Permission obtained from the Owner or Owners of such Lands, and shall be thereof convicted, in Manner aforesaid, such Offender shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Ten Shillings, with Costs as aforesaid, for every such Offence. All which Penalties and Forfeitures shall go one Moiety to the Informer, and the other to the Poor of the Township or Precinct where such Offence is committed; but if convicted upon View of a Justice of the Peace, the whole Forfeiture shall be to the Use of the Poor. And if the Offender refuse to pay the same, with Costs, as aforesaid, shall be levied^[5] on by Distress and Sale of the Offender’s Goods, by Warrant under the Hand and Seal of the Justice before whom such Offender shall be convicted, returning the over-plus, if any be, the Charge of Distraining being first deducted. And for want of Effects whereon to make such Distress, every Person so Offending, contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act, shall be committed to Prison, when the Forfeiture is Thirty Shillings, for the Space of Fifteen Days; and when the Forfeiture is Fifteen Shillings, for the Space of Eight Days; and when the Forfeiture is Ten Shillings, for the Space of Five Days, without Bail or Mainprize...

    ...6. AND IT IS ALSO FURTHER ENACTED by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act, nor any Part thereof, shall be construed to extend to Negro, Indian or Mulatto Slaves, so as to commit them to Prison, during the Time in this Act limited,^[6] in Case they should be guilty of any of the Offences in this Act prohibited; but that then, and in such Case, such Indian, Negro or Mulatto Slave, killing and destroying any Deer as aforesaid, or carrying or hunting with any Gun, without Licence from his Master, shall, at the public^[7] Whipping-Post, on the bare back, be Whipp’d, not exceeding Twenty Lashes, for every such Offence, for which Whipping the Master shall pay to the Whipper the Sum of Three Shillings, and pay no greater or other Cost whatsoever; any Thing in this Act to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding.