[looscnnn]

State probably only allows shotguns and muzzle-loaders to to the population density. When I was growing up in MI, there was a line that divided the rifle from the shotgun zones. I think it still is in affect today.

[d-back]

I went hunting yesterday for black bear in NJ--no luck, unfortunately. (It's deer season too, but no luck with the whitetails either.)

The rule in NJ is you cannot use a rifle to hunt: the State's too small, and hunting areas frequently are close to highways and residences. For bear, you use a shotgun with slugs, no smaller than 20 gauge. I use a Mossberg 695 bolt-action slug gun, twelve gauge, with Remington slugs. It'll kill a black bear at under a hundred yards, that's for sure. Kicks like a mule, too.