I actually won the lottery yesterday, not the big money lottery but the lottery for a New Jersey Black Bear permit for the upcoming 2010 bear hunting season. One of my hunting partners also received the good news that he has received a black bear permit as well. This will be the first Bear hunt in NJ since the 2005 season after which the Anti's were successful in getting Bear hunting shut down until NJ DEP came up with a comprehensive Bear management plan that uses hunting as a management tool and found a Governor willing to listen to the experts they have hired to manage New Jersey's wildlife. Thanks to all of hard work from NJ DEP to hunters and everyday citizens the hunt is finally back on and truly in need if the NJ bear population is going to have any chance of being held in check.
I am looking forward to participating in the 2010 Black bear hunt from December 6 thru December 11 which coincides with the New Jersey six day firearm deer season. I have only been bear hunting once in my life in New Brunswick and although I was unsuccessful and sometimes petrified it was an experience I have never forgotten and always wanted to do it one more time so this year I will give it a try again. I have had many encounters with NJ black bears during my outings in the Delaware Water Gap and I look forward to one more sometime during the week of December 6th.
Here is a link to a blog dedicated to NJ Bear hunting that has followed and blogged about the political, ecological and bizarre fight for a NJ black bear hunt. It is an interesting read for sure and one I have been following for some time.
http://njbearhunt.com/
Wish me luck!
Congrats and good luck!
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the good luck in the world. I am looking forward to report and pics from that trip. Congrats on the tag, and show the anti's who's running the show.
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck and please keep us posted on the events as they happen if you can.
ReplyDeleteWhitetail Woods Blog / Deer Hunting and Blackpowder Shooting at it’s best.
Bear hunting is quite the adventure and if you are lucky enough to fill your tag, the meat is most enjoyable! Congrats and best of luck to you in the field!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and good hunting. I am not a hunter (just a fisherman) but understand the need for selective harvest for bear and other wild game. It amazes me that people can be so naive what happens when these populations are left unchecked and unmanaged.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on winning. I'm sure you'll fill that tag and I can't wait to hear your report following.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, but are your bears still out and about that time of year? What are they eating? Around here they'd be snoozing. Our season has ended and on my last trip out I saw no signs Yogi was out and about.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you! Bear is mighty good eatin'. Hope you find a fat one!
Thanks for all thew luck and wishes. I'll be down in NJ Monnday/Tuesday after thanksgiving for the Muzzle loader opener and I will probably spend more time working on my plans for bear instead of hunting deer.
ReplyDeleteMo - according to NJ DEP the bears don't really hibernate as there is plenty of food and mild winters - for the most part. Last year we saw 8 bears on Dec 29th while muzzle loader hunting. No snow and mild so there is hope.