NJ Bear Hunt Extended 4 More Days

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — The second segment of a state-sanctioned hunt, that has already racked up 138 bears, will be extended four more days.

The hunt will reopen on Wednesday and run through Saturday, NJDEP announced Monday. The hunt is extended when harvest objectives are not met.

On Saturday, which was the projected last day of the hunt, 12 more bears were killed. The majority of the bears were killed in Sussex County with six, followed by four in Warren County and two in Morris County. No bears were killed in Bergen, Hunterdon, Somerset, Passaic or Mercer counties. The numbers are preliminary and subject to revision by the DEP.

This brings the total up to 138 bears killed so far 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 Pixabay/werner22brigitte)

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