62 black bears killed on first day of New Jersey’s hunt

TRENTON, N..J (AP) - Hunters killed 62 bears on the first day of New Jersey’s annual bear hunt.

The six-day hunt, which started early Monday, is restricted to Sussex, Warren, Passaic, Morris, Bergen, Hunterdon, Somerset and Mercer counties. The first three days are restricted to hunters using archery, but starting Thursday they also will be allowed to use muzzleloading rifles.

Hunting is prohibited in state parks, forests and wildlife management areas.

The state’s Division of Fish & Wildlife reports that 29 bears were culled Monday in Sussex County, while 17 bruins were killed in Morris County and 11 in Warren County. The hunt got off to a wet start as remnants from Hurricane Delta soaked the state with wind-whipped rain.

The second segment of the hunt, for firearms only, is scheduled to begin on Dec. 7.

Gov. Phil Murphy has said this year could be the last for the bear hunt, which the Democrat pledged to end when he ran for governor in 2017. Murphy cited a new bear management plan that the state Fish and Game Council was studying.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, no bear check stations are available. Hunters must tag their kills and call a number for instructions.

Hunters bagged 315 bears during the 2019 hunt. Most were killed in Sussex County.