Hunters reported killing 473 black bears in 2024 during New Jersey’s annual hunt, a two-part season that ended December 14. The first part of the season was October 14-19. A quarter of the bears sported ear tags, which state officials used to help determine the harvest rate for future seasons. The hunts have been controversial, with state officials over the years vacillating depending on the political winds.
During the December 9-14 hunt period, 73 bears were killed and reported. Of those, 46 were in Sussex County, 20 in Warren, three each in Morris and Passaic, and one in Hunterdon. The late season figures typically are lower than the first season, when weather, mast and interest — along with a chance of success — is greater.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish & Wildlife officials said the October 14-19 hunt saw 397 bears reported. That included 192 from Sussex County, 102 from Warren, 70 in Morris and 23 in Passaic. Six were killed in Hunterdon, along with three in Bergen and one in Somerset.
New Jersey officials say a harvest rate of 20 percent is needed for effective management. The second season, in December, nudged the harvest rate above that goal. Once it hit that mark, on December 16, officials shut down the season. Officials said the 2023 harvest total was 493 bears.
