After a four-day extension, the black bear hunt is officially over in New Jersey. In total, 114 bears were killed, according to state data. The state’s goal was to harvest 20% of the bear population. In the end, the hunt yielded a 7% harvest rate, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.
The hunt began late, after conservation groups lost a court challenge to it. Gov. Phil Murphy long promised to cancel the hunt, even making it a campaign promise, but later changed his mind. The governor cited a sharp increase in bear sightings and dangerous interactions, saying the hunt needed to be reinstated to protect public safety.
