Controversial firearms-only hunt in New Jersey bags record 607 bears so far

[WhiteTara]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/controversial-firearms-only-bear-hunt-new-jersey-record-607-bears/


TRENTON, N.J. - Hunters have killed a record 607 bears in New Jersey.

The number was reached Tuesday when hunters bagged 18 bruins during the second day of the second part of this year’s hunt. The previous record was 592 bears killed in 2010.

The firearms-only New Jersey bear hunt, which began Monday, followed October’s six-day hunt, which was limited to bows and arrows and muzzle-loading guns. In October, hunters killed 562 bears.

The hunt is scheduled to last through Saturday, but officials say it will be suspended once the cumulative harvest rate of tagged bears reaches 30 percent. The season total is currently 24 percent.

Animal rights’ groups and lawmakers say the hunt causes more problems and is “inhumane.”

Opponents are rallying behind the apparent death of Pedals, a bipedal bear and internet celebrity believed to be killed in October’s hunt.

Humans are not going to be happy until the earth is barren of all except oil wells and pipe lines.

[doc03]

1. Damn that is alot of bear I had no idea there were that many bear in NJ nt

[FarCenter]

3. Around 3500 bears in northwestern NJ - Mostly Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Morris Counties

[doc03]

5. Couldn't they spike their food with some type of birth

control meds, just a thought.

[Amishman]

6. These aren't tame animals eating in zoo cages

They don't have a food bowl to mix some meds in

They range widely and forage. They spend quite a bit of time in inaccessible areas.

Giving them birth control is not a reasonable solution both due to logistics and cost.

Plus this would eventually result in an aging bear population which would have its own impacts. Culling through restricted hunting is effective and and the fees pay for significant conservation efforts

[doc03]

7. They do it with racoons here. Of course there is no money to be

made selling racoon permits is there?

[Iggo]

2. Kill! Kill! Kill!

It's fun!

[yeoman6987]

4. Better then the bears starving to death which happens when you have to many

Bears and not enough food sources and land to roam. I can't think of a worse way to die then starvation.