NEW JERSEY The hunt is on. Earlier this week, DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell approved the Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy for New Jersey. He had to approve the policy before the hunt could occur, although in anticipation of approval, it had already been scheduled for next month. It will take place Dec. 5-10 in a 1,600-square-mile territory north of I-78 and west of I-287. Campbell accepted the policy, drafted by the NJ Fish and Game Council, after months of public comment on the subject. In a letter to the Fish and Wildlife Division in which he accepted the policy, Campbell said, “As the black bear population has expanded, incidents involving risks to public safety and property, which subsided after the 2003 hunt, have increased significantly.” Last year, Campbell had opposed a hunt. The policy outlines the following objectives for managing the bear population: Preserve a robust black bear population as part of New Jersey’s natural resource base. Reduce and stabilize the population at a level commensurate with available habitat and consistent with reducing risk to public safety and property. Educate the public on legal prohibitions and common-sense practices that reduce the risk of black bears to humans, their homes, and their communities. Advance our scientific understanding of black bears, including development of alternate and non-lethal control strategies. Ensure that sport hunting remains a safe and effective management tool when appropriate to control populations of black bears. The council believes that there is a continued need to educate New Jersey residents and visitors on how to coexist with black bears. Residents, campers and outdoor enthusiasts within bear country can minimize negative interactions with black bears by adjustments to their activities. All states with bear hunting seasons allow archery, shotgun and muzzleloaders to be used. Past bear seasons in New Jersey allowed both archery and shotgun bear hunting. The council recommended a nine-day bear hunting format for Bear Management Zones 1-4 (which includes West Milford) in 2006 and 2007. This includes a one-day archery bear season, a two-day muzzleloader bear season, as well as the current six-day bear season. About 4,000 people have already applied for licenses to hunt the bears.