Hunters Bag Nearly 400 Bears During Annual Hunt

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Nearly 400 black bears were killed this year during the Garden State's annual hunt — and the hung may not be over.

Nine more bears were killed on Saturday, bringing the total to 379 during the 12-day, two-segment hunt.

The state may extend the hunt until Wednesday because the target number of tagged bears harvested, 21, is six below the target of 27. The state Division of Fish and Wildlife controls the hunt.

The majority of the bears, 244, were killed during the first six-day segment when hunters could only use bows and arrows and muzzle-loaded firearms. Hunters could use all firearms during the second segment.

Sussex County saw the most number of bears killed with 215. Warren County had the next most with 79. Morris County was next with 47, followed by Passaic County with 37. Just three bears were killed in Hunterdon and one in Bergen.

The hunt is designed to control the state's black bear population, especially in the norther part of the state where the animal is most common.

It is the 10th black bear hunt in New Jersey since 2003. The hunt has been held every year since 2010. Last year was the first time in nearly half a century hunters could use bows and arrows.

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A tranquilized black bear./Courtesy of Fair Lawn Police Department