NJ's Controversial Black Bear Hunt Began Monday

New Jersey's annual black bear hunt began Monday with promises of protests from activists and expectations that the same number of bruins will be killed this year than last year.

The controversial hunt is designed to control the state's black bear population. The bruins can be found throughout New Jersey, but are most commonly found in the northwestern part of the state.

The New Jersey Sierra Club is joining other groups Monday in Fredon Township at a bear check-in station to protest the hunt.

"This year’s hunt will have the same number of bears killed as last year, a number that is arbitrary and not conducive with a real bear management plan," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. "Until we have a real, science-backed plan, we cannot continue hunting New Jersey’s [bear] population to unsustainable levels."

The Sierra Club, along with the Animal Protection League of New Jersey, The Humane Society, The League of Humane Voters of New Jersey, and others will protest the hunt.

The annual hunt is divided into two phases. The first phase is six days long and ends Saturday. Hunters may only use bows and arrows and muzzle-loaded weapons. The second phase is when firearms can be used, but that December hunt will only be held if the harvest limit is not reached during the first phase.

Five hunting zones cover Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, and some of Bergen and Passaic counties. Hunters may kill one bear per hunt and no more than two.

Nearly 250 bears were killed in the first phase of the bear hunt last year and 409 in total.

"We’re concerned that the bear population will continue to be decimated to unsafe population numbers,” Tittel said in a statement. "Without a real management plan, bears will go from nuisance animals to aggressive ones and will need to be put down."

While campaigning for governor, Murphy said he would work to stop the bear hunt. And he has, in part.

Murphy, in August, signed an executive order directing the state Department of Environmental Protection to close all public lands it oversees to bear hunting for the 2018 season. This includes all state forests, parks, recreation areas, historic sites, and State Wildlife Management Areas.

Murphy does not have the ability to unilaterally cancel a bear hunt. In order for a hunt to be stopped, the state Legislature must act or the Fish and Game Council must adopt new regulations that not include provisions for a hunt. The council has authorized bear hunts through 2021 through its regulatory authority.

Murphy asked for the State Legislature to "take action" on the issue, but none has been.

The 2016 hunt was especially controversial. A bear known for walking on its hind legs and affectionately nicknamed"Pedals" by locals is thought to have been killed on the first day of that year's hunt, sparking an outrage online. Officials were unable to confirm or deny his death. (See related: Pedals, The New Jersey Bear That Walked On Two Feet, Is Feared Dead)

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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