the staff oif the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division has lifted the stay on the bear hunt. The bear hunt is now open.
On November 15, 2022, the Governor enacted a new Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy (CBBMP) through emergency rulemaking. An approved CBBMP is required for a bear hunt to occur. The action is due to increasing public safety concerns associated with the growing bear population. These concerns are based on a 237% increase in bear damage and nuisance reports, received by the DEP between January 1, 2022, and October 21, 2022, compared to the same time period in 2021. As a result of this action, a bear hunt will occur for Segment B (December 5 – 10) of the 2022 bear season. At the same time, the Fish and Game Council (Council) reviewed and approved changes (below) to the Game Code relating to New Jersey’s bear season.
State lands will also be reopened to bear hunting. You may hunt bears on any State, private, municipal, county, or federal land open to bear hunting and for which you have permission.