Crime & Safety
30+ Bears Killed On NJ Hunt's First Day
More bears were killed on the 1st day of the hunt this year than were last year.
NORTH JERSEY, NJ — The number of black bears killed on the first day of a controversial hunt has increased from last year despite the area that hunters are allowed to hunt on decreasing.
Thirty-six bruins were killed during the hunt's first day. Of the 36, 15 were killed in Sussex County. Morris, Warren, and Passaic counties were next with eight, seven, and six bears killed in those counties, respectively.
No bears were killed in Bergen, Hunterdon, Somerset, or Mercer counties.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The numbers are preliminary and subject to revision, the State Department of Environmental Protection said.
Last year, 34 bears were killed on the hunt's first day, mostly in Sussex County, DEP records show. That year's and this year's numbers are not even close to the 206 bears that were killed on the first day of the 2016 hunt. That year saw more than 562 bears killed during the first phase of the hunt and 636 total for the entire season.
Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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.
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.
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.
In August, Gov. Phil Murphy Murphy signed an executive order directing the DEP 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.
Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com
Image via Shutterstock
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
