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From the Hunterdon County Democrat:
State wildlife officials held out the possibility yesterday that the state's black bear hunt could end early, if previously tagged bears continue to be killed in too high a percentage.
If that sample was too high, the hunt may be claiming too many bears from the total population, said Martin McHugh, head of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
As of Tuesday night, Mr. McHugh said that 202 bears had been checked in at the five designated stations. That number was generally on pace to meet the state's goal of a reduction of about 300 in the state's bear population, estimated to be between 1,600 and 3,200.
Of the 202 bears killed in the first two days of the six-day hunting season, state officials said on Wednesday morning that four were killed in the zone that encompassed northern Hunterdon. That area lies between routes 78 and 80 and west of Route 287.
The state reported that 136 bears were shot Monday, including one that weighed more than 700 pounds. Another 66 bears had been checked in through Tuesday. The first day's kill was higher than in 2003, but Mr. McHugh noted the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area was closed to hunting that year.
It is the first bear hunt in the state since 2003 and the second since 1973.
State officials said 32 of the first 167 bears killed had been tagged by state biologists earlier this year. If the number of tagged bears brought to check-in stations rises to 25%, or about 57, of the estimated 230 tagged bears in the state, officials would consider ending the hunt before Saturday, said Mr. McHugh, for fear of taking too many bears from the population.
In the first full two days of the 2003 hunt, 192 bears were killed. Mr. McHugh said the number of potential bear hunters was about 15% less this year. There are 4,434 potential hunters this year, compared to 5,243 in 2003. To be able to hunt for bears, licensed hunters had to attend a special seminar.
At least three bears previously identified as "nuisances" had been killed, Mr. McHugh said. They had been collared and tagged after being sedated and removed from incidents in which they had fed from bird feeders or garbage pails, for instance.
The bear hunt coincides with the six-day shotgun season for deer. Mr. McHugh said 1,919 deer were killed on Monday.
State wildlife officials held out the possibility yesterday that the state's black bear hunt could end early, if previously tagged bears continue to be killed in too high a percentage.
If that sample was too high, the hunt may be claiming too many bears from the total population, said Martin McHugh, head of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
As of Tuesday night, Mr. McHugh said that 202 bears had been checked in at the five designated stations. That number was generally on pace to meet the state's goal of a reduction of about 300 in the state's bear population, estimated to be between 1,600 and 3,200.
Of the 202 bears killed in the first two days of the six-day hunting season, state officials said on Wednesday morning that four were killed in the zone that encompassed northern Hunterdon. That area lies between routes 78 and 80 and west of Route 287.
The state reported that 136 bears were shot Monday, including one that weighed more than 700 pounds. Another 66 bears had been checked in through Tuesday. The first day's kill was higher than in 2003, but Mr. McHugh noted the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area was closed to hunting that year.
It is the first bear hunt in the state since 2003 and the second since 1973.
State officials said 32 of the first 167 bears killed had been tagged by state biologists earlier this year. If the number of tagged bears brought to check-in stations rises to 25%, or about 57, of the estimated 230 tagged bears in the state, officials would consider ending the hunt before Saturday, said Mr. McHugh, for fear of taking too many bears from the population.
In the first full two days of the 2003 hunt, 192 bears were killed. Mr. McHugh said the number of potential bear hunters was about 15% less this year. There are 4,434 potential hunters this year, compared to 5,243 in 2003. To be able to hunt for bears, licensed hunters had to attend a special seminar.
At least three bears previously identified as "nuisances" had been killed, Mr. McHugh said. They had been collared and tagged after being sedated and removed from incidents in which they had fed from bird feeders or garbage pails, for instance.
The bear hunt coincides with the six-day shotgun season for deer. Mr. McHugh said 1,919 deer were killed on Monday.
