New Jersey’s Bear Hunt Marks First Week with 368 Bears Culled — Controversy Grows
The first annual New Jersey bear hunt killed 368 black bears in six days from October 13 to 18. State environmental authorities said this is one of the more aggressive early rounds in recent history, down from 397 bears last year.
Sussex County harvested half—185 bears—indicating the north has the most bear activity. Warren, Morris, and Passaic counties contributed heavily.
This year’s hunt allowed firearms and archery in the last three days of the first phase but just archery in the first. Safety and conservation were balanced with hunting pressure management and regulated participation.
Although numerous bears were killed, state officials estimate 15.7% of the monitored tagged bear population was killed. The New Jersey bear population is estimated at 3,000, so wildlife officials study tagged bear data to assess how much the hunt has hurt it.
Bear hunting is a contentious state wildlife management technique. 2018–2020 political resistance and court challenges stalled it, and 2021 ended it. In late 2022, a judge granted last-minute permission to resume the hunt, and interim emergency regulations allow it until 2027. The Fish and Game Council must reauthorize the program before 2028 because the rules expire.
Advocates say the hunt is needed to limit bear contacts in houses, protect property, and assure public safety. Relocation, education, and trash disposal are preferred over fatal population management.
From December 8-13, the second hunt is firearm-only. Maintain bear mortality below 20% to hunt a third December session. When 30% of bears are gone, the state ends the hunt early.
New Jersey weighs human safety, ecological stability, and animal welfare as conservationists and hunters argue. A December search should determine whether the endeavor will continue, cease, or grow.
Sources
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection data
Local wildlife management reports
Regional media coverage of the 2025 New Jersey bear hunt
