New Jersey Opens Black Bear Hunting Season

New Jersey's black bear hunting season commenced on Monday, with officials aiming to control the state's growing bear population, estimated at around 4,000. The first segment of the hunt allows only archery for the initial three days, followed by archery and muzzleloader hunting until October 19. This year's hunt is expected to yield around 500 bears, with 90 already harvested on the first day across eight counties. While proponents argue the hunt is necessary to reduce dangerous human-bear encounters, critics, including animal rights advocates, call for alternative methods to manage bear populations. The second segment of the hunt is scheduled for December 9-14, focusing on shotgun and muzzleloader use. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection emphasizes that the hunt is part of a broader bear management strategy aimed at educating the public on bear safety.