Bear hunting in New Jersey might just be one of the most contentious issues in hunting. In a state that holds the most dense populations of both humans and bears, the issue of bear hunting is one that residents and lawmakers have battled over since the hunt was re-instituted after a 33-year hiatus in 2003.
With countless bear-human conflicts, black bears were an undeniable issue for Garden State residents. Without any natural predators, one of the only ways to tame their populations is through hunting.
The inaugural hunt in 2003 saw 328 bears hit the ground, along with the incredible backlash that came with that publicized number. As animal rights activists alike protested the grotesque nature of hunting (how appalling it is!), the Department of Environmental Protection went as far as to override the Fish and Game Council to cancel the hunt. Calling for alternative management such as contraception and public awareness, those fanciful ideas were unable to tame populations and the following year, the hunt was back on.
Since then, bear seasons have been inconsistent to say the least.
With Gov. Phil Murphy playing with hunters’ hearts on an annual basis, it’s apparent that politicians like him and a few others legislate solely according to the whimsical wishes of the noisy anti-hunting crowd.
As flip-flopping on seasons only when populations are so large that they cannot be ignored has been the preferred method of management of the past, it looks as though the state is vying for a bit of consistency with its recent announcement.
Earlier this month the Fish and Game Council announced that they had approved a bear management plan that would see bear hunting seasons consistently through 2028. Despite vehement opposition from the usual characters, the only thing holding it up at this point is a signature from EPA Commish Shawn LaTourette, who is expected to sign off.
While we’d all like to assume that all is right in the world, or at least in New Jersey when it comes to bear hunting, the quick history lesson illustrated above serves to keep us grounded. Sure, it sounds as though there might be a shred of common sense coming from state legislators, but if I’ve got any sense myself, I remain cautiously pessimistic about four consecutive bear hunting seasons in New Jersey.
Prove me wrong, Phil.
