Politics & Government
You Can Bag A Bear In Bergen County This Month. A Protest Is Scheduled. Here's Why.
You can bag a bear later this month in NJ now that Gov. Murphy has authorized hunting season, but animal advocates say it's unnecessary.
BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy has authorized a legal bear hunt statewide starting Oct. 14, and animal advocates are protesting.
The Animal Protection League of New Jersey is holding a rally on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., rain or shine.
They said that while the state believes there's an overpopulation, the numbers don't "bear" this out.
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"Governor Murphy intentionally deceived the residents of New Jersey," the group said in an announcement. "Tell him to do the right thing and cancel his extreme trophy bear hunts in October and December."
Rules About 'Archery' vs. Rifles
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According to the state's Fish & Wildlife Commission, people can hunt from Oct. 14-16 using archery only, and can hunt Oct. 17-19 with a muzzleloader rifle as well.
From Dec. 9-14 they can only use a muzzleloader.
Participants can bag only one bear over 75 lbs. live weight per segment.
The season will close "If the cumulative harvest rate reaches 30 percent of bears tagged."
Such hunts are authorized to manage the black bear population, but not everyone believes it's needed.
“Unnecessary bear hunts that do not solve anything have been a systemic problem in New Jersey throughout multiple administrations," said the Sierra Club last year, noting that 468 bears had been killed in New Jersey by Dec. 11.
On Friday, the League said, "Governor Murphy has broad powers to issue executive orders. In 2022 he used them to start a hunt in December. Now, he could use one to STOP the hunt. Especially in light of the fact that the number NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife put out in 2022 to push for the 'EMERGENCY' hunt was grossly inflated. According to the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the bear population is 1,614, NOT the estimated 3,158 they stated during the 'emergency' meeting in November 2022. In 2003, when the bear population was determined to be less than half the estimated number, then Governor McGreevey canceled the 2004 hunt."
The protest will take place from 1-2:15 p.m. on Route 17 North, on the grassy public space area at The Borough of Paramus, 1 West Jockish Square, Paramus, across from the Hertz Rental Car Company.
To find out more about the animal groups, see:
See the New Jersey permitting and hunting regulations here.
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