The bear issue in NJ is a political circus. The biggest number of people who want to put a end to bear hunting don't live in bear country. We have " the bear group" the seirra club, the HSUS,PETA and all the pea brain walt disney off spring that follow these groups around. The bear population in the northern part of the state is out of hand. Trust me, I can show you damage beyond your wildest dreams. The funny part is these animals have been picked,pulled and studied till the cows came home and most all the papers end up stating that hunting is the only viable means of controlling the population. What gets me, is the state will use bow hunters to cull the deer heard in every sensitive area in the state but won't allow bow hunting for bears.