Officials say the hunt is needed to control the state's growing black bear population. While most bear communities hibernate during the winter, black bear populations tend to grow as they are not true hibernators.
State officials estimate that upwards of 3,000 black bears roam the northwestern region of New Jersey. The population is expected to reach 4,000 by 2027.
Those numbers have nearly doubled in six years with more people spotting them in their backyards.
Dangerous interactions between black bears and the public skyrocketed by 237 percent between January 2022 and October 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.
Officials say 62 incidents reported were aggressive interactions with humans, 1 human attack, 12 dog attacks, 12 home entries and at least 89 instances of property damage.
Last year alone, 493 bears had to be killed. Why killed? Because if they are tranquilized and moved.
"That's not humane either," said NJ DEP Fish and Wildlife Assistant Commissioner David Golden. "You're taking an animal and moving it to a totally different foreign land they don't know where they are and they don't know dangers - like where the cars are."
Archers can begin hunting the big game at dawn on October 14.
Later this week on Thursday, hunters using muzzleloaders can join in on the hunt.
Meanwhile, shotguns can't be used until December when segment B of the hunting season begins.
ALSO READ | The 2024 Fall Foliage Forecast with the Leaf Daddy: Weather or Not
The 2024 Fall Foliage Forecast with the Leaf Daddy | Weather or Not
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More New Jersey news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube