According to an SCI press release, “Despite the best efforts of the state's Fish and Game Council, New Jersey's Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection has refused to approve a new comprehensive black bear management policy (Black Bear Policy) that includes hunting as a management strategy.
Under New Jersey law, without a policy in place, the State cannot hold a black bear hunt. The Commissioner's inaction has lead to a drastic increase in bear incidents state-wide since the last bear hunt in 2005.”
Said SCI President Larry Rudolph, “A well regulated hunt is essential for the sound and responsible management of black bear in New Jersey and for the safety of the general public. The goal of our lawsuit is simply to put legal pressure on the Commissioner and the Council to take the necessary action to adopt a Black Bear Policy.
Forcing action on a policy will allow the CouncilËœthe people entrusted under New Jersey law to manage wildlifeËœto decide whether a hunt is both the appropriate means of managing the state's bear population and a valued recreational experience.”
During a six-day season in December 2005, New Jersey hunters took 298 black bears.
Source:Â Safari Club International
