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A strong turnout by New Jersey sportsmen at an upcoming
public hearing is critical to the future of the state’s 2005 bear hunt. The
head of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), who
holds the hunt in his hands, must hear from hunt supporters.
On Aug. 29, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council
proposed bear hunting as part of the Draft Comprehensive Black Bear
Management Policy. Public comment on the policy will be heard on Sept. 21
at Rutgers University’s Cook Campus Center in New Brunswick. Sportsmen’s
support is critical to prevent DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell from
canceling this year’s hunt.
In 2003, the
state held its first bear hunt in over 30 years. It reduced the bear
population, which resulted in a decrease in bear-human incidents.
Commissioner Campbell cancelled last year’s hunt and the number of
bear-human encounters again increased. |
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