2017 New Jersey Black Bear Hunt Starts Next Week

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The controversial New Jersey fall bow-and-arrow black bear hunt will begin for the season next Monday in northwestern and west-central New Jersey, the Department of Environmental Protection announced.

The bear hunt aims to reduce the population size of black bears in New Jersey, which is robust and with a high reproduction rate. They are native to all counties but are most commonly spotted in the northwestern corner of the state.

“Black bears are an important part of our natural ecosystem,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Larry Herrighty. “Closely managed hunting is a key component of the state’s comprehensive approach for maintaining a sustainable bear population while reducing the potential for property damage and encounters with people.”

The Sierra Club has opposed the hunt for years and spoke out against the use of bows and arrows last year. Last year was the first since 1970 that hunters were allowed to use bows during the hunt.

“Hunting by arrows could maim the bears partially wounding them, which would also threaten public safety,” said Jeff Tittel, Sierra Club director. “This type of hunting is not only inhumane, but dangerous.”

According to Herrighty, the October 2016 hunt led to a 55 percent drop in all bear complaints and a 65 percent drop in complaints with the greatest potential for someone to be hurt. During that hunt, 562 bears were killed. An additional 74 were killed in December 2016.

One of the bears killed proved to be particularly 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 the 2016 hunt, sparking an outrage online. Officials were unable to confirm or deny his death.

Archery and muzzle-loading rifle hunting will be allowed during the October 2017 hunt. A second, gun-only hunt will be held in December if the harvest limit has not been reached.

The hunt will be open in five zones, including all of Warren and Sussex counties, most of Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties and small portions of Bergen and Mercer counties. Hunters can kill one bear per hunt and no more than two total.

Eleven-thousand permits are available, and hunters can apply for permits in up to two zones. So far, 5,400 permits have been awarded. For more information on licensing, visit www.nj.wildlifelicense.com.

For more information on the hunt, visit the DEP's Bear Facts webpage.

Read More:

• Pedals, The New Jersey Bear That Walked On Two Feet, Is Feared Dead
• Controversial 2016 Black Bear Bow Hunt Underway In North Jersey
• 206 Bears Killed On First Day Of Bow-And-Arrow Hunt

Image via NJDEP