The New Jersey Supreme Court will not consider a case challenging the state-sanctioned black bear hunt.
The court announced Friday that it had turned away a request filed by two animal-protection groups.
The Animal Protection League of New Jersey and the Bear Education and Resource Group challenged the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, which includes an annual hunt.
The court's decision effectively ends the case.
Lawyer Doris Lin, a spokeswoman for the groups, tells The Associated Press they'll continue to fight the hunt by lobbying lawmakers and local officials.
The state says a hunt is necessary to manage the bear population. The division reports 469 bears were killed during a six-day hunt in December.
The groups won a similar legal challenge in 2007.
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