NJ Bear Encounters Spike As Controversial Hunt Begins

NORTH JERSEY, NJ — As New Jersey's controversial bear hunt begins this week, recent reports from experts say bear encounters have significantly increased in the northern part of the state.

According to NJ Fish and Wildlife, bear encounters so far in 2026 are already more than 22 percent higher as of Sept. 21 than in all of 2025.

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The largest increases are seen in the northern counties, with Morris County reporting more than 100 bear encounters between Jan. 1 and Sept. 21 than in the entirety of last year. Somerset County is reporting a near 160 percent increase in bear encounters compared to last year, the data shows.

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The bear encounters recorded by NJ Fish and Wildlife are categorized as follows:

Category I: Can include aggressive behavior, unprovoked human or pet attacks, vehicle break-ins, home entry, and more.

Category II: Can include nuisance, garbage destruction, campsite sightings, and unprotected livestock attacks.

Category III: Can include bears hit by cars, bears found dead, bears being killed illegally, and bears in urban areas.

See a county-by-county breakdown of New Jersey bear encounters this year compared to 2025, provided by NJ Fish and Wildlife:

The above numbers reflect a statewide increase of 22.42 percent.

2026 Bear Hunt

As these numbers show a stark increase in bear sightings, New Jersey hunters prepare for the state's annual bear hunt.

The hunt, which is broken up into phases, kicked off Monday morning. The two segments of the 2026 bear hunt are: Oct. 12 to Oct. 17, and Dec. 7 to Dec. 12.

The first few days of the October segment are archery hunting only, with the last three days allowing muzzleloader rifles. The entirety of the December segment is muzzleloader rifle or shotgun hunting only.

According to NJ Fish and Wildlife, the state's black bear population is around 3,000 and rising, up from around 1,500 bears in 2018. Projections indicate the population could reach 4,000 in two years, according to state officials.

During the season, each hunter is limited to killing one bear over 75 pounds live weight, or 50 pounds dressed, per segment.

Once a bear is killed, hunters must report it to one of the following five bear check-in locations: Pequest Trout Hatchery in Warren County, Whittingham and Flatbrook WMAs in Sussex County, and Green Pond Golf Course and Black River WMA in Morris County.

Last year, the hunt was extended after the first two segments yielded more than 450 bear carcasses, less than 20 percent of the population. Conversely, if more than 20 percent of the population is killed before the hunt is scheduled to end, it will wrap up early.

Controversy

For years, the state's bear hunt has sparked debate on ethical and environmental concerns.

The black bear hunt was suspended in 2018 by Governor Phil Murphy, who campaigned to end the hunt for good. The move was an attempt to "evaluate the feasibility of exclusively using non-lethal measures" to limit bears' interaction with the public.

However, after a drastic increase in black bear incidents, including aggressive interactions with humans and property damage, the hunt was reinstated in November 2022.

"The facts on the ground have shown that we cannot rely on nonlethal methods alone to protect New Jersey residents from a growing black bear population," said Murphy in a 2022 statement. "Today's actions will facilitate the reinstatement of a regulated black bear hunt this year to help limit dangerous interactions between people and bears to protect public safety."

Animal advocates from across the state still want the hunt banned, including the Animal Protection League of New Jersey. The institute has been speaking out against the killing of the bears, adding that public education, garbage containment, and attractant control are ethical alternatives to the hunt.

Additionally, a 2019 poll conducted by Remington Research Group for the Humane World for Animals showed an overwhelming opposition from the public to the state's bear hunt.

State officials, however, say the hunt is necessary, not only for public safety, but for environmental harmony.

"Dense populations of bears can also lead to inadequate natural sources of food for the animals and territory for young males," an NJ Fish and Wildlife statement read. "This causes wider dispersion of bears into areas where they are even more likely to come into conflict with people and increases the risk of bears seeking sources of food such as trash, pet food left outside, seed from bird feeders, agricultural crops, and poultry and livestock."

To learn more about New Jersey's bear hunt, click here