TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — Despite a brief delay, New Jersey’s first bear hunt since 2020 is back on. The hunt began Tuesday and will run through Saturday.
After pushback from opponents enacted an emergency stay, the court ended up rejected the animal rights groups’ challenge and allowed the bear hunt to begin.
The hunt was open as of 4 p.m. Tuesday and will end 30 minutes after sunset on Saturday, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Participants are required to report back at a check-in station after hunting. There are five stations in three counties which include the Pequest Trout Hatchery in Warren County, Whittingham and Flatbrook wildlife management areas in Sussex County and Green Pond Golf Course and Black River areas in Morris County. Check stations will be open from 12-7 p.m. for the remainder of the period.
Black bear hunting will only be permitted in designated zones which include all or parts of Bergen, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties. Permits are zone specific with hunters having the option to purchase up to two permits for two different zones.
Only one bear will be able to be “harvested” for the season per hunter, the NJ DEP website says.
The hunt came together after a reversal from Gov. Phil Murphy who vowed to end the practice. A rise in bear sightings and interactions prompted the call and the officials hope to cut the bear population by 20% with the hunt though the state does not have an accurate estimation for the total bear population.
If the population reduction goal is not met, the bear hunt could be extended another week.
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