139 bears killed during hunt, far fewer than last year

TRENTON — A total of 139 bears were killed during the six days of the state's annual black bear hunt, a steep drop — as anticipated — from last year's total following restrictions imposed by the governor.

Gov. Phil Murphy this year barred bear hunting on state-owned lands, removing roughly 40 percent of the lands where bears were hunted over the past eight years. Hunting was still allowed on land owned by the federal government, counties, municipalities or private properties.

In 2017, according to data from the state Department of Environmental Protection, 244 bears were killed during the six-day hunt that opened the season. After a second scheduled six-day hunt and a four-day extension, a total of 409 bears were killed for the year.

The first three days were reserved for bow hunting, while both hunting with bows and muzzle-loading guns were allowed during the last three days.

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has said that New Jersey will pursue more nonlethal methods to manage the state's black bear population. He said last year he would seek to stop the hunt, but later said he doesn't have the power to unilaterally call it off.

Groups that favor hunting have challenged the governor's executive order in court. It's unclear how many bears were killed this year on private property or publicly-owned land.

State officials call the hunt needed to maintain the population and increase public safety following reports of more close encounters with the animals. Critics call it a recreational trophy hunt.

Animal rights activists marked the end of the hunt with a protest. Doris Lin, the staff attorney for Animal Protection League of New Jersey, called the decline in the number of bears killed no consolation.

"We're disappointed that the hunt happened at all," she said. The group has a lawsuit pending against the state seeking to end the hunt.