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TRENTON, N.J. (77WABC) — New Jersey’s controversial black bear hunt is on.
The New Jersey fish and game council voted to reinstate the hunt during its meeting Tuesday in Trenton. State governor Phil Murphy — who previously opposed the hunt — agreed to it due to an increase in bear sightings around the state.
The governor also cited predictions by wildlife officials that the state’s bear population could grow to more than 4,000 in the next two years. The council approved an emergency rule allowing the bear hunt to coincide with the annual 6-day shotgun season for deer from December 5-10.
