Bear hunt begins with at least 54 kills, tempers high

phillyburbs.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

Bear hunt begins with at least 54 kills, tempers high

By JOHN CURRAN The Associated Press

VERNON, N.J. - Braving freezing cold and irate animal rights activists, camouflage-clad bear hunters hit the fields and forests here Monday, taking aim at a species whose recovery in New Jersey has gone from conservation success to emerging public safety threat.

Black bears have rebounded from near-extinction to become familiar sights across the nation's most densely populated state - rummaging through trash, menacing people and scampering through yards. With residents' complaints mounting, New Jersey's second bear hunt in 35 years was approved as a way to thin their ranks.

"Bears are beautiful animals, but they've got to be controlled," said Joe Giunta, 59, of Frankford Township, who bagged one Monday morning.

State officials said 54 bears were reported killed as of 2:30 p.m. The total number of bears killed during each day of the six-day hunt will not be available until the following day.

The hunt, restricted to a vast swath of northwestern New Jersey and open to 4,434 hunters with permits, went off as scheduled after surviving a late court challenge Friday.

"It's an emotional issue," said Martin McHugh, director of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, which estimates the bear population at between 1,600 and 3,200. Bears have been spotted in each of New Jersey's 21 counties, but are concentrated in the area of the state where the hunt was taking place.

About a dozen hunt opponents gathered at a weigh station at Wawayanda State Park on Monday, confronting hunters and forming "bear rescue teams" with plans to tend to wounded bears and follow hunters in what they said was a mission of mercy.

[Sub-Driver]

54.....not bad for one days work...

[Bob]

...and forming "bear rescue teams" with plans to tend to wounded bears...

Somehow, this seems like a particularly stupid thing to attempt.

[Sub-Driver]

only if the cameras are there.......for Katie Couric in the morning.

[Threepwood]

No-no! This is SMART thing to do. Yes, a very smart thing indeed! I think it might be time to deflate a few misconceptions about the animal kingdom, and ol' briar Bear will almost certainly do the honors.

[Travis McGee]

Gee, I'd really hate to miss a bear and hit a bliss-ninny by accident.......

[southernnorthcarolina]

...camouflage-clad bear hunters hit the fields and forests here Monday...

OK, as a non-hunter (not an anti-hunter, please note), I have to confess some confusion. Camouflage? I thought hunters were supposed to wear blaze orange so as to avoid shooting each other. Are bears colorblind? How about deer and other quarry? Does wearing orange decrease your odds?

[Emmett McCarthy]

Actually, these loons are probably hoping that one of their halfbright members will be maimed or even killed for the PR value. For all I know, they might be running around the woods dressed up as freakin' bears hiping to get shot. I wouldn't put it past them.

[antihannityguy]

I am so sad I just got my hunting license but you need a bear seminar and tag to hunt bear. I missed the tag applicitation deadline and therefore did not take the bear seminar. THen last week they announced there are thousands of tags left over.

[Integrityrocks]

High velocity lead poisening is a much better way to die than what we do to chickens and cattle. Bear is just another meat for the dinner table and I'm all for "wild" game. Much healthier.

[Ladysmith]

You bugger! You beat me by 28 seconds! LOL

[Integrityrocks]

"...you need a bear seminar.."

Ok.. this is a new one on me. What the heck is a bear seminar. They don't give bear seminars in Alaska.

[Ladysmith]

Bear hunt ping!

-------------------------------------- ** If you want on/off the FUN WI Hunters Ping List, please let Ladysmith know**

[mdittmar]

BLACK BEAR STEW 4 to 5 lbs. bear meat cut in 1 inch cubes 1/4 cup flour 1 tbs. italian seasoning 4 tbs. butter 2 tbs. vegetable or corn oil 1 large onion diced 1 8 oz. tin beef broth 4 bay leaves (do not eat) 2 lb. small. potatoes 1 lb. fresh mushrooms if button size do not slice 5 carrots sliced 1 turnip cubed (important ingred..) 5 parsnip sliced (optional) Here's how Bobo does it Preheat oven to 325 Deg.. put flour with seasonings in plastic bag and shake until bear meat coated, combine oil and butter in skillet and brown meat and drain off grease from meat. In a large dutch oven add 2 or 3 qts. of water and all ingredients. Cook approx. 2 to 3 hrs. adding water if necessary checking every 30 mins., serve with fresh rolls or italian bread.

Yummy.

[Waco]

Be a real-hip Wacko, give a bear mouth-to-mouth. One time.

[UseYourHead]

[Ladysmith]

I noticed that, too. Others here on past threads did mention how bears can see colors.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

4,434 hunters
and
About a dozen hunt opponents

Majority Rules!!!!

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

Ever notice that the knuckleheads writing letters to the newspapers saying how "terrible" the bear hunt is live in places like Cape May, Hoboken, Colts Neck, or somewhere else where bears AREN'T found? They might not be protesting quite so loudly if they had large bearprints in the snow three feet from their back door.

~ Blue Jays ~

[Vaquero]

I usually wear green/brown camo head to toe but with a blaze orange camo vest....it breaks up my pattern for deer or bear vision but stands out for hunters to see. Blaze camo:

[don-o]

"Today, for us, is a very sad day," said Lynda Smith, president of Bear Education and Research, one of two groups that unsuccessfully sued to delay the hunt. "They're here to kill them, we're here to help them."

Lynda, you gonnna help them some day eat your babies?

This is so stupid, one has a problem even commenting.

Lord have mercy, these are wild animals who have their territory shrunk. How about Lynda go out and trank shoot 'em and bring the to live in her home? Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Baby Bear. Give them soft comfy beds, porridge and tea?