4 Bears Killed In First Day Of Extended NJ Hunt

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A total of four bears were killed on the first day of the extended second segment of a state-sanctioned hunt on Wednesday.

The hunt was extended due to harvest objectives not being met. The hunt will run through Saturday, NJDEP announced.

Two bears were killed in Warren County, followed by one each in Sussex and Morris counties. No bears were killed in the remaining Passaic, Somerset, Bergen, Hunterdon and Mercer counties. This brings the total of bears killed in the second segment to 142.

The original last day of the hunt was supposed to be Dec. 9. The total number of bears killed was 138 in the second-segment of the hunt. A total of 68 bears were killed on the first day, 17 on the second, 12 on the third and 12 on the fourth.

Only guns may be used during the December hunt. Bows and arrows and muzzle-loaded weapons were allowed during the first six-day hunting period in October when 244 bears were killed.

The hunt is designed to control the state's black bear population. The animal is mostly common in the northern part of the state.

This is the 10th bear hunt in New Jersey since 2003. The hunt has been held every year since 2010. Last year was the first time in nearly 50 years hunters could use bows and arrows to hunt bruins in New Jersey.

(Image via Morguefile/Sgarton)

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