the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New Jersey’s annual bear hunt is set to kick off next week as a key strategy for controlling the state’s rapidly growing black bear population. With increased bear sightings and encounters in suburban areas, this year’s hunt aims to address concerns about safety and manage the rising bear numbers in the region.
The four-day archery portion of the hunt begins just before sunrise on Monday, followed by muzzleloader hunters joining the action on Thursday. A second hunting segment, allowing shotguns and muzzleloaders, will take place starting December 9th.
The Rising Black Bear Population in New Jersey
The state’s black bear population has been steadily rising, with sightings reported in all 21 counties, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). However, the majority of bears are found in the northwestern part of the state, which is the focus of the hunt. In just the past five years, the bear population in the eight-county region has surged to an estimated 3,200, nearly 80% higher than the 1,800 counted in 2018.
The bear hunt, reinstated in 2022, is one of the few population control measures in place. Female bears in New Jersey typically have litters every two years, with an average of three cubs per litter, and sometimes as many as five. Without hunting, these numbers would continue to climb unchecked.
How the Bear Hunt Works
The designated hunting area includes parts of Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren, Bergen, Hunterdon, Somerset, and Mercer counties. A total of 11,000 hunting permits will be available, but the exact number of participants won’t be known until the hunt concludes. The hunting zones are divided into five areas, and hunters must hold a zone-specific permit in addition to a general state hunting license.
Participants are allowed to purchase two permits, but they are limited to harvesting one bear in October and one in December. After each kill, hunters must bring the bear to a state check station, where biologists will weigh the animal, identify its sex, and collect a tooth and hair sample for further analysis.
Regulations to Keep in Mind
Hunters must adhere to strict regulations, including the following:
- No bears under 75 pounds can be taken.
- No adult bear with cubs may be hunted.
- No hunting within 300 feet of a baited area is allowed.
These regulations help ensure that the bear population is managed in a sustainable and ethical manner.
Is New Jersey’s Bear Population Growing?
Yes. Officials from the Division of Fish and Wildlife estimate the black bear population at about 3,000 in core counties, and that number is projected to exceed 4,000 within the next two years if left unchecked. The growing population has led to increased interactions between bears and humans, including serious incidents involving property damage, pet attacks, and even injuries to people.
In 2023, the archery and shotgun seasons saw a harvest of 493 bears, primarily from Sussex County and Warren County. The state aims for a 20% harvest rate to stabilize the population, and the hunt can be extended for up to four additional days if that rate isn’t met by the end of the December season.
Bear Encounters on the Rise
With more bears roaming the state, reports of bear encounters have increased significantly. So far this year, the DEP has received 125 reports of serious bear encounters, up from 95 last year. Bear sightings alone have more than doubled, with 467 reported through September compared to 242 during the same period last year.
Sussex County saw the most activity, with 646 bear-related calls, up from 399 in 2023. Other counties, including Morris, Bergen, and Passaic, have also experienced significant increases in bear sightings and incidents.
Staying Safe and Reporting Bear Sightings
Residents in areas where bears have become more common are urged to be cautious and report sightings or encounters to local authorities or the DEP. Specific training has been provided to local police departments for handling problematic bears, and particularly troublesome animals may be trapped and relocated.
As New Jersey continues to grapple with the challenges of its growing bear population, the annual hunt remains a crucial tool for managing these majestic creatures while ensuring the safety of residents.
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And how much are we infringing on their habitats by overdevelopment? Enough said.
leave the bears alone
I’d rather see the deer hunt promoted to reduce the population and provide meat to those in need.
I don’t like shooting a helpless animal just to hang its stuffed head over your pool table.
If you shoot it… eat it
we need to do a lot more deer hunting