More black bear information this weekend...
Hunting black bears in New Jersey is controversial but has been deemed necessary by the state due to population growth. The fact is that there are more bears than the crowded states seem to be able to handle without nuisance, damaging and potentially dangerous human and pet encounters. But the fact is that there is a hunting season in our state for bears, and it opens this Monday, October 13.
This website is primarily focused on the threatened and endangered wildlife of our state, and also with some of its recreational aspects. Since wildlife interactions occur when we are out in nature, things like hunting and fishing do play a role in management and recreation.
Here are some points pro and con on a hunting season for black bears in New Jersey:
Pro-Hunting Season:
Population Management: Hunting can help control the bear population, reducing the risk of human-bear conflicts and maintaining a balance with the ecosystem.
Property Damage: Allowing hunting can help mitigate property damage caused by bears, such as crop damage, property destruction, and livestock losses.
Public Safety: Hunting can help reduce the number of bears in areas where humans and bears interact, potentially decreasing the risk of bear attacks on humans.
Wildlife Health: Hunting can help remove sick or weak bears from the population, promoting overall wildlife health.
Revenue: Hunting and fishing licenses and permits provide a major source of revenue to programs beyond hunting and fishing.
Anti-Hunting Season:
Conservation Concerns: Overhunting can threaten the long-term sustainability of the bear population, especially if numbers are already low or declining.
Ethical Concerns: Some people object to hunting for sport or recreation, particularly if they see bears as intelligent, social animals that deserve protection.
Human Safety Concerns: Hunting can increase the risk of accidents, including hunting-related injuries or fatalities, particularly if hunters mistake other animals or humans for bears.
Alternative Methods: Some argue that non-lethal methods, such as education, outreach, and wildlife management practices (e.g., securing trash and pet food), can effectively mitigate human-bear conflicts without hunting.
For more about this topic, see dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/bears/
2025 Black Bear Season Dates
Segment AOctober 13 – 18, 2025, Archery ONLY
October 16 – 18, 2025, Archery OR Muzzleloader (Muzzleloader rifle legal during the last three days of Segment A plus all of Segment B)
Segment B
December 8 – 13, 2025, Shotgun/Muzzleloader ONLY
Hunting Hours: Legal hunting hours for black bears shall be ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
Season Changes: Following the start of the black bear season, the Assistant Commissioner of NJDEP Fish and Wildlife may announce closure of the entire season or extension of Segment B of the season based upon harvest data.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Fish and Wildlife Division, a total of 473 black bears were harvested during the 2024 hunting season in New Jersey.
By county, the harvest breakdown is as follows:
Sussex County: 238 bears
Warren County: 124 bears
Morris County: 73 bears
Passaic County: 26 bears
Bergen County: 3 bears
Hunterdon County: 7 bears
Somerset County: 1 bear
Mercer County: 0 bears
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