NEW JERSEY’S BLACK
BEAR HUNTING SEASON BEGINS TODAY
(05/130) TRENTON -- The New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) today announced that the 2005 black bear hunting
season is underway and is scheduled to end on Saturday, December
10. The season runs concurrently with the six-day firearm deer
season.
The bear hunting area is divided into four zones that include
Sussex County and portions of Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen,
Hunterdon and Somerset counties.
Daily hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes
after sunset. Only one bear of either sex may be taken by a properly
licensed hunter. All harvested bears must be taken to a bear-check
station where biological and geographical information is collected.
At the check stations, biologists weigh and measure each bear,
record ear tag numbers, and collect biological data, including
hair samples for DNA analysis. Data collected at the check stations
is used to refine the state’s bear population assessment.
All bear hunting permit holders must have completed a mandatory
bear hunting seminar provided by DEP’s Division of Fish and
Wildlife. The seminar covers the biology of bears, hunting laws
and hunting ethics. As with all types of New Jersey game hunting,
bear hunters are required to hold a valid hunting license and complete
a hunter education course. Additional Conservation Officers will
be in the field during the black bear hunting season to enforce
the hunting regulations and laws.
The New Jersey Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, which
was drafted by the New Jersey Fish and Game Council and approved
by DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell on November 14, allows
for a bear hunting season as part of an overall black bear management
strategy. The Comprehensive Management Policy was drafted and approved
in accordance with a ruling from the New Jersey Supreme Court in
2004. The Court ordered that a black bear hunt could not take place
until a comprehensive management policy was formulated by the Fish
and Game Council and approved by the DEP Commissioner.
A primary goal of New Jersey’s new Comprehensive Black Bear
Management Policy is to ensure that black bears are always an integral
part of New Jersey’s natural heritage.
Hunters should consult the 2005 Hunting Issue of the Fish and
Wildlife Digest for all black bear hunting season information and
regulations.
NOTE TO PRESS: Members of the press are advised that DEP will
provide updated daily harvest numbers and other information via
telephone conference. The press should contact the DEP press office
each day at 609-984-1795 to obtain the call in number. The daily
telephone conference will take place at 3:30 p.m.
Harvest numbers and other information will also be available on
DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Web site at: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com
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