Overseen by the Department of Environmental Protection, officials say the six-day hunt is needed to reduce the state's bruin population, now estimated at about 3,400.
A wanted poster is displayed during a rally opposing the bear hunt outside The Division of Fish and Wildlife office in Trenton in November. The state's six-day bear hunt starts today.Hunters and animal rights advocates will be out in full force when New Jersey's latest black bear hunt starts today.
Overseen by the Department of Environmental Protection, officials say the six-day hunt is needed to reduce the state's bruin population, now estimated at about 3,400.
But critics claim the state's bear management policy is flawed and was developed arbitrarily. They went to court to block the hunt, but were rebuffed Thursday by a state appellate court.
The groups will return to court today, hoping to win the right to demonstrate at the Franklin bear check station in Sussex County.
The DEP rejected their request late last week, citing public safety concerns. They proposed alternate protest sites, but the groups said those areas would provide them "much less visibility."
Related coverage:
• Anti-N.J. bear hunt protesters plan demonstration in Franklin Borough
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