State high court gives environmental chief control over bear hunt

The Philadelphia Daily News ^ | Feb. 28, 2005 | BONNIE PFISTER

[neverdem]

Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - The state's environmental chief has final say over whether a bear hunt can take place in New Jersey, not the council that planned the hunt, the state's highest court ruled Monday.

The decision by the state Supreme Court gave Environmental Commissioner Bradley Campbell his second victory in the most recent spat over bear hunting in the Garden State.

Bradley successfully opposed a hunt late last year after the Fish and Game Council had approved one. He was bolstered by a high court decision that said the state needed to adopt a comprehensive bear management policy before a hunt could take place.

But the court in its December ruling that nixed the hunt set aside the issue of whether Campbell could refuse to issue hunting permits after the council had approved a hunt.

The hunt would have been the state's second in 34 years. Proponents argued the hunt was needed to thin the bear population because of the increasing contact between bears and humans, mostly in the northern areas of the state.

The court's 7-0 decision issued Monday reversed a lower court ruling that said the volunteer council could decide who may hunt New Jersey's black bears.

State statutes on the environment intend "to create a unified approach to conservation and environmental protection under the authority of the Commissioner," the decision said.

The council's action "exists within a larger universe of comprehensive environmental policies. If the Council does not act in accord with those policies, the Commissioner is empowered to intervene," the judges ruled.

In 2003, hunters killed 328 animals over a six-day period.

Campbell has said a bear contraception program could better manage the population, and that people who reside in areas where bears live need better safety education.

[neverdem]

BANG!

[One Proud Dad]

More PETA crap.

[OldFriend]

It's NJ after all.

[jmaroneps37]

"Campbell has said a bear contraception program could better manage the population, and that people who reside in areas where bears live need better safety education." Yes they have to learn how to safely slip a condom on a grizzle and then everything will be fine.

[VeniVidiVici]

This guy is a freakin' loon.

Somebody please tell me that the survivors of the first person killed by a bear after this has grounds to sue the hell out of this moron.

[neverdem]

Yes they have to learn how to safely slip a condom on a grizzle and then everything will be fine.

In the East, we only have black bear. What kind of contraception program they're discussing will be interesting.

Male Bass in Potomac Producing Eggs

[Major Matt Mason]

Yes they have to learn how to safely slip a condom on a grizzle and then everything will be fine.

Ha! this is the same nonsense we have in NY with the deer population. These contraception programs are expensive and don't work very well, but that is probably just fine by the environuts.

[wingnut1971]

Keep in mind this is the same Supreme Court that decided that even though the Constitution mandates free education for those over 5 years old, it also provides for free education (i.e. free daycare) for poor 2-5 year olds. That part is written in invisible ink and can only be seen with special rose colored glasses worn after drinking copious amounts of Kool-aid.

[JerseyHighlander]

There's been graffiti about threatening the life of Campbell and others when a child dies... County and State LEO's have been looking into it.

[OldFriend]

This is the supreme court that said that there was no problem at all for swapping one candidate for another even tho it was past the date allowed.

[Coleus]

 

LONEGAN SAYS BEAR HUNT DECISION FURTHER PROOF THAT NJ SUPREME COURT JUSTICES MUST BE REPLACED 

BOGOTA – Bogota Mayor and GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan today called this morning’s State Supreme Court decision effectively banning the proposed bear hunt “a victory for animal rights extremists and a blow to decades of sound wildlife management practices.”  

“Once again the people of New Jersey have to suffer because of another poor decision by one of the most liberal and activist courts in the nation,” said Lonegan. “The New Jersey Supreme Court today has given us another example of why its members should be replaced by people who want to interpret the law, not make law that favors extreme positions.”   

Today’s court decision gives total control over all hunting regulations to the politically compromised State Department of Environmental Protection and its commissioner Bradley Campbell and takes it away from the Fish and Game Council, which has for decades carefully and expertly regulated hunting activity in the state, Lonegan said. 

 “The DEP Commissioner is not concerned with proper wildlife management.  He is concerned with running political interference for the governor,” said Lonegan.  “This suit started because of the political decision to protect former Gov. McGreevey from the extremists in his own party who want to abolish hunting.  As governor, I would return hunting decisions to the capable people on the Fish and Game Council and pick a DEP commissioner who doesn’t endorse the radical animal rights agenda,” he added. 

“It’s sad that wildlife, suburban and rural homeowners and sportsmen all have to suffer another politically correct decision by our state’s  Supreme Court justices, who are more interested in upholding radical chic causes than in upholding the rights of our average citizens.  I look forward to replacing as many of them as possible.” added Lonegan.

[d-back]

Bump to the top; ping to NJF.