How Do YOU Feel About the New Jersey Bear Hunt [PUBLIC OPINION]

The second phase of the New Jersey bear hunt (12/4-12/9) has begun. The hunt is used as a way to reduce the black bear population in New Jersey. Although bears are not a problem for us here in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, many either are in favor or oppose the hunt ... a very polarizing topic here in the Garden State.

According to an article by the NJ Herald....New Jersey established an archery season for bear last year. A December hunt for shotguns was established in 2010. In the NJ Herald article, the archery season is the first Monday of October and continues through Saturday. The final three days of the season is also open to muzzleloader rifles. A second, six-day shotgun hunt starts Today.

According to the State Division of Fish & Wildlife ..... Last year, 562 bears were killed during the archery/muzzleloader season. Seventy-four were killed in the 2016 December shotgun season, for a total of 636 bears killed.

How Do YOU feel on this issue?