392 bears killed in hunt

Nearly 400 bears were killed in the first part of New Jersey’s annual black bear hunt.

In the six-day Segment A, 188 bears were taken in Sussex County, 104 in Warren, 68 in Morris, 22 in Passaic, six in Hunterdon, three in Bergen and one in Somerset, according to figures from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Fish & Wildlife section.

Forty-five, or 22.6 percent, of the bears killed had a tag attached to an ear. The tags are used to determine the harvest rate.

State officials are aiming for a harvest rate of 20 percent, which they have said is needed to reduce the black bear population.

Segment B of the hunt will be Dec. 9-14.

Last year, 331 bears were killed in the first part of the hunt and 493 in the entire hunt, short of the 20 percent harvest rate, so the second part was extended by four days.

In 2023, a total of 256 bears were killed in Sussex County, 127 in Warren, 72 in Morris, 32 in Passaic and six in Hunterdon.

This year, during the first three days of Segment A, Oct. 14-16, only archery was permitted. Archery and muzzleloaders were permitted Oct. 17-19.

During Segment B, hunters may use shotguns or muzzleloaders.

Daily hunting hours are from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset.

Black bear hunting is permitted only in zones 1-5, which include parts of Passaic, Sussex, Morris, Warren, Hunterdon, Bergen, Mercer and Somerset counties.

The New Jersey Fish & Game Council last year voted to permit bear hunting through 2028 and set rules, which were formally approved by the DEP.

Among the rules:

• Hunters may not attempt to take or kill a black bear weighing less than 75 pounds (live weight), or less than 50 pounds dressed.

• Hunters may not attempt to take or kill an adult black bear that is in the presence of cub(s) (bears weighing less than 75 pounds).

• Hunters may not attempt to take or kill a black bear or have a loaded weapon within 300 feet of a baited area when hunting bears.

Black bear permits are valid only for a specific zone. Hunters may have up to two permits, each for a different zone, but may harvest only one bear per segment no matter how many permits they have.

If no bear is taken during Segment A, the permit is still valid for hunting in Segment B. If a hunter harvests a bear during Segment A, that permit is no longer valid, though the hunter may purchase a permit for that same zone to use during Segment B.

Apprentice license holders are not eligible to hunt black bear.

Youth hunters with a valid firearm hunting license also must have a black bear hunting permit. Hunters ages 10-13 must be under the direct supervision of a properly licensed adult (21 or older) while bear hunting. The adult must also possess a black bear hunting permit.

Direct supervision means the youth hunter and supervising adult are at the same location. The youth hunter may not hunt independently of the adult.

Hunters must check all bears harvested at a mandatory bear check station. They will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Segment A.

For information, go online to the DEP Fish & Wildlife’s Bear Hunting Season Information webpage at dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/bear-hunting-season-information/