I’ve been stumping this point this since Murphy was elected, in this sub a few times as well. I’m not a huge Murphy fan, but I will give him credit for recognizing he was wrong on the position and relenting. The science backed a management program when it was ended, and unfortunately even more so now.

Per the email sent today by NJDEP, the bear population in Morris, Sussex, Passaic, and Warren counties is over 3,000. Within two years, if no changes are made, they expect it to jump to 4,000. And to continue to increase exponentially.

A lot of folks are okay with hunters harvesting deer or turkey, but not bear. There’s a misconception that you can’t eat bear, which is not true at all it’s delicious. I’d argue there’s probably less waste from a harvested bear than a harvested deer or gobbler. Most won’t keep the feathers from a turkey, except maybe a fly fisherman, and few will go through the work of tanning the cape from a deer for some buckskin. But a bear skin rug or blanket is going to come from a bear harvest 99% of the time, let alone the meat and bear grease you can get.

Good move by Murphy, and one all of New Jersey should recognize as a good move.