NJ May Have First Bear Hunt In 5 Years

[PocketProtector]

http://cbs3.com/topstories/black.bea...2.1547536.html

TRENTON (AP) ―

New Jersey's Fish and Game Council is set to propose the state's first black bear hunt in five years on Tuesday.

Acting Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin says several studies have confirmed the number of bears in the state and complaints associated with them are growing.

Former Gov. Jon Corzine blocked the hunts in favor of non-lethal controls.

Opponents say the state hasn't done enough to get people to shield their trash so bears aren't attracted to residential neighborhoods.

Estimates by state biologists showed a 62 percent rise in the number of bears in Sussex and Passaic counties between 2002 and 2007.

Martin says a series of public hearings will be held and he'll make the decision on whether a hunt goes on during six days in December.

[BrowningBoy]

My father lives in West Milford. It is odd if he doesn't see 4 or 5 bears a week. He had a bear break into the kitchen through the screen door last summer. My sister lives in Upper Greenwood Lake and had a large bear break into her front porch on two consecutive evenings through different windows. The problem is out of control.

Last week a dog was killed by a bear in Wayne. They are everywhere if they are in Wayne. In NJ that bear better be facing you when you shoot or at minimum you'll get a free night sleep in county.

[runningdeer]

Former Gov. Jon Corzine blocked the hunts in favor of non-lethal controls.

HAHAHAHA I love when this tree hugging bullshit flies back in their face

[God's Country]

I'll believe it when it happens.

[Brown-Bear]

Could be a good source of revenue for NJ. I believe that it was NAHC magazine that predicted the country's black bear record to fall on the 1st day of NJ's season if they ever opened one.

[wis bang]

Could be a good source of revenue for NJ. I believe that it was NAHC magazine that predicted the country's black bear record to fall on the 1st day of NJ's season if they ever opened one.

Sure, they are well fed...and the 'feel good' types are bitching already...

You know this is gonna' end up in court...........

[BrowningBoy]

NJ did have a bear season five years ago. From that time on it was always blocked. They did kill some large bears. There are some large areas of state forest and many garbage cans to make them fat.

[Qtrborecrazy]

I`d leave the bear alone. Let them eat the LIberal Bastards just like the left coast when it comes to Mtn lions, poor little kitty. They started the anti hunting BS let them deal with it. Strange when the animals they so cherish eat thier expensive shrubs like the deer were doing in Princeton they call in people from out of state to kill them at night with silenced weapons and let the meat go to waste. Damn shame. SCREW THEM

[MikePrekopa]

Didn't they try this like 10 years ago ?

It was right before I moved out when I was 10. I lived in Franklin Nj, and people started baiting the bears and feeding them, then when the hunt fell through we had a butt ton of bears wandering around looking for food.

[ungawa]

For this discussion.
.

For Immediate Release:
March 17, 2010

Contact: Elaine Makatura (609) 292-2994


DEP ACTING COMMISSIONER APPROVES PROPOSED
COMPREHENSIVE BLACK BEAR MANAGEMENT POLICY

(10/P16) TRENTON - New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Acting
Commissioner Bob Martin today approved the New Jersey Fish and Game Council's 2010
Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy.

"The Council incorporated the latest research and science into its proposed black
bear management policy that shows the population is sustainable and growing," Acting
Commissioner Martin said. "This growth coincides with an increase in serious bear
incidents supporting the need for population control in addition to continued
nonlethal management tools including public education and outreach."

The DEP also supports legislation that would increase penalties for people who feed
black bears and draw the animals into populated areas.

The most recent black bear population estimate for the portion of New Jersey north
of I-80 is approximately 3,400 based on a 2009 DNA study by East Stroudsburg
University. The bear population in this area has increased to its current level from
an estimate of 500 bears in 1992.

Category I bear incidents, involving black bears exhibiting behavior that is an
immediate threat to human safety, or those causing agricultural damage to farmland
or property damage over $500, have increased 96 percent from 2006 to 2009. Category
I, II and III incidents combined have increased by 130 percent during the same time
period.

The Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy's integrated approach to managing
black bears includes research and monitoring, non-lethal and lethal control of
problem bears, public education on coexisting with bears, law enforcement to reduce
conflicts between bears and people, and a controlled hunt.

Over the past 10 years, bear education programs have been presented by the DEP to
more than 100,000 people, and more than 3 million pieces of bear education
literature have been distributed. This year 31 bear education programs and outreach
efforts have been conducted with an additional 21 programs scheduled.

DEP Conservation Officers inspected more than 4,600 residential properties in high
bear incident areas and found 98 percent were in compliance with black bear garbage
management guidelines. This spring, Conservation Officers will focus enforcement
efforts and education outreach on commercial properties in high bear incident areas.


In 2005, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that the Council may authorize a black
bear hunt only if a hunt is consistent with a comprehensive black bear management
policy developed by the Council and approved by the Commissioner. In 2007, the New
Jersey Appellate Division required that any comprehensive black bear management
policy be adopted in accordance with the New Jersey Administrative Procedure Act.

The proposed plan will now be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for
publication in the April 19 New Jersey Register. Following publication, the public
will have 60 days to comment on the proposed policy in writing, and will also have
the opportunity to comment during a public hearing on May 11 at 6 p.m., New Jersey
State Museum, 205 West State St., Trenton, NJ 08625.

To review the Fish and Game Council's proposed Comprehensive Black Bear Management
Policy, visit: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearpolicy10.htm

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