Washington – Special to The Outdoor Wire – With New Jersey’s weeklong black bear hunting season now under way, Safari Club International (SCI) again thanks the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for continuing with the hunt, despite incessant cries from anti-hunting zealots for its cancellation. For several years, SCI has fought successfully in court to protect the annual bear hunt, defeating the anti-hunting groups repeatedly.
Black bears are the largest land mammal in New Jersey. As the NJDEP has found, they are an integral part of the state’s natural heritage and a vital component of healthy ecosystems. However, for NJDEP to properly manage New Jersey’s ecosystems, they need to manage the number of black bears at a sustainable population in the northwest region of the state.
Controlling black bear numbers improves public safety by reducing the number of bear encounters with humans. The citizens of New Jersey this year became keenly attuned to the need to intensify such management when a college student hiking in a nature preserve was fatally mauled by a black bear in September.
The state’s Fish and Game Council developed and the NJDEP approved the New Jersey Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy to scientifically guide black bear management. That Policy calls for an annual well-regulated bear hunt. Actions taken under the Policy have effectively managed black bears living in north New Jersey, which continues to have a robust black bear population. Scientifically calculated and conservative estimates show approximately 2,200 to 2,500 black bears living in the hunting areas.
The mission of the Department’s black bear management program is to maintain a healthy black bear population that provides a balance of recreational opportunities for and sound population numbers to ensure sustainability. SCI fought for years in the courts to protect the annual black bear hunt in the face of unrelenting opposition from anti-hunting groups. The triumph of science and sound management was well worth the effort.
SCI has over 51,000 member worldwide, including many who live and hunt in New Jersey. This membership contributes to the sustainable use of wildlife in the area. Over 794,000 registered sportsmen in New Jersey spend over $1.26 billion annually. These sportsmen and women also support 16,905 jobs in the state.
Meanwhile, anti-hunting activists contribute nothing to the conservation and management of wildlife and habitat. There’s no doubt that hunters are more committed to taking care of our natural resources. Learn more about SCI’s legal efforts on behalf of American hunters by clicking here.
