First Bear Hunt in 5 Years Begins

New Jersey's 2010 black bear hunting season—its first in five years—begins Monday, Dec. 6 and continues through Dec. 11 in areas north of Route 78 and west of Route 287.

Any participant must complete a bear training seminar and possess a permit for one of the state's four bear hunting zones; no hunter can receive a permit for more than one zone.

Each hunter has a bag limit of one black bear. More information is available from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Most New Jersey residents approve of the upcoming bear hunt—at least if wildlife experts say the state has a bear population problem—according to the latest Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll. .

The poll asked voters if they'd approve of the bear hunt "if wildlife scientists conclude that bears are exceeding their recommended habitat limits and are destroying private property." It found 53 percent of those agreed, 36 percent disagreed, and 11 percent were unsure.

A second version of the question—simply asking voters whether they approve or disapprove of a bear-hunting season, but without mentioning the opinion of wildlife experts—showed slightly less support for the hunt, but more approved than disapproved. FDU reports 49 percent approved, and 33 percent disapproved.  And far more people, 18 percent, were unsure whether they'd approve.

But the hunt has attracted the attention of animal-rights groups that say it's unnecessary, and that question the methods used by the state Department of Environmental Protection to collect information weighing into its decision to approve the hunt. This weekend, a Supreme Court justice denied a request by the animal the Animal Protection League of New Jersey and the Bear Education and Resource Group to stop the hunt.