New Jersey

Final Numbers Are in From NJ's Black Bear Hunt

Gov.-elect Phil Murphy has said he will halt the bear hunt

State environmental officials say a total of 407 bears were killed during New Jersey's extended bear hunt this year.

This year's 16-day hunt was the longest of the 10 hunts held since 2003, when the state ended a three-decade moratorium on bear hunting, NJ. com reports. 

Hunters bagged 382 black bears overall during both segments of the scheduled 12-day hunt in October and December. But only 21 of the 135 bruins culled had been "tagged," or documented prior to the hunt, so it was extended for four days and ended Saturday. 

A record 636 black bears were killed during the 2016 hunt.

Gov.-elect Phil Murphy, who takes office next month, has said he will halt the hunt pending research into other methods for managing the state's bear population.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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