Bear Killed With Bow and Arrow in Hackettstown

The New Jersey Department of Protection’s Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement bureau is investigating the impetus behind a black bear being shot earlier this week, spokesperson Bob Considine said.

While no charges or summonses have been filed, it is possible the person in question could be charged once all details are acquired, Considine said.

The bear was shot in a residential Hackettstown neighborhood on Baldwin Street by an arrow Wednesday night. The DEP would not release the shooter’s name, as the investigation is ongoing.

The female bear weighed in at 266 pounds, Considine said.

There is a one-week legal bear hunt in New Jersey, which is currently not taking place. Shooting bears by way of bow and arrows is illegal at all times, however, Considine said.

Considine said there are no recent records at the Department of Fish and Wildlife of nuisance calls regarding bears coming from Hackettstown, either.

The investigation is expected to be completed next week. Patch is following this story as details develop.