NJ Hunter Sets Record with 770-Pound Black Bear

Brian Melvin, a hunter from West Orange, New Jersey, has set a new state record by killing a 770-pound black bear with a bow and arrow in Kinnelon, marking the largest bear taken by an archer in the state's hunting history. After tracking the bear for three years, Melvin achieved this feat on a Tuesday morning, having spent significant time gaining permission to hunt on various lands. The bear hunt was part of the state's bear hunting season that began earlier in the week. Melvin expressed respect for the bear's intelligence and noted the importance of not wasting the animal, as he preserved its meat and plans to have it mounted. This bear surpassed the previous record of a 700-pound bear taken in 2019. The New Jersey bear hunt has seen a high harvest rate, with nearly 300 bears culled in the first week alone.