Posted on 12/05/2005 4:27:11 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at phillyburbs.com ...
" Somehow, this seems like a particularly stupid thing to attempt."
It sounds like a great Far Side strip to be written.
"Hey Merv, should we act wounded again so they come help us again. Great idea Larry, the last humans tasted great"
These people are dumb. Last year a small bear was hit by a car and killed by the roadside. A hunter who hadn't shot any bears decided to go home, get his rifle, shoot the bear and claim it. Meanwhile, anti-hunting activists gathered around the bear, and told reporters that they had watched it as it whimpered and cried and died in agonies and they tried to comfort it. Reporters bought the story; eventually the truth came out; the hunter was fined.
Now it's hard to believe anything the anti-hunters say, even though I'm not really pro-hunter.
Thanks for the ping Ladysmith.
That's `Br'er Bear' (as in `brother') from Walt Disney's "Song of the South" (1946).
Zipahdeedoodah, zipahdeeay....
"bliss-ninny"! I love it! Never heard that before.
Personally, I think they should go to Alaska and tend to all the wounded and unwounded Grizzlies they can find. Should thin the ranks of these ativists a bit, don't you think?
how many activists have they shot?
Why do we need 3,000 bears running around in New Jersey?....nuts!
You don't soak it overnight in buttermilk?
LOL! Now there's a keeper!
"...Why do we need 3,000 bears running around in New Jersey?..."
That's just the point. There are plenty of people in the state of New Jersey who have been there LONG before these fearless bears arrived. The animal-rights crackpots want to have everyone believe the overpopulation problem can be resolved by properly sealing garbage cans, banging on pots and pans, and nonsense like that.
~ Blue Jays ~
Eventually, it will be a risk to go outdoors. Wait til they have a lion and other predator overpopulation.
At my father's camp in mid-state PA someone got a 500+ lb. black bear.
Kill em ALL, let God sort the dead bears out (or BillyBob, Earl, Hank, Wayne, etc etc)
This truth is the downfall of the ALF terrorists, as banning hunting results in unnecessary human and animal loss. Protect 'em and they'll move right in to your home and look at you as food.
Bliss-ninny is not my coinage. It's standard vernacular on all of the gun threads. It refers to ban-the-guns tree hugger birkenstock wearing hippies.
Obviously, you do not spend much of your life on the gun forums! (Good for you!)
No kidding!
But if we must have somebody try this dangerous exercise, why not let the PETA crowd do it?
What does one do with a dead bear?
depends alot on what you're hunting. there's alot more people out for gun season for deer than just about any other season. also, that's when most of the yahoos are out. so we wear the blaze orange for safety.
turkey, bow, bear, and elk will see a much smaller crowd and there is less likelihood of there being another hunter in the area. that and bear and turkey see in colour.
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