Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

tstrube t1_ivwsby0 wrote

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.

18

J0hnnyHammerst1cks t1_iw1fzob wrote

> Most won’t keep the feathers from a turkey, except maybe a fly fisherman,

Traditional bowhunters will use turkey feathers for fletchings.

3

tstrube t1_iw2rg0j wrote

True! Did not think of that. As a (primarily) bow hunter, albeit compound, I’m ashamed to admit that tradbow fletchings slipped my mind.

2

ItsDijital t1_ivwyvb5 wrote

What about shoot-on-sight deer in the suburbs? Seriously their population is totally out of control. I feel like I see more deer than squirrels at this point.

5

tstrube t1_ivxutth wrote

In the email sent out they said they are also going to be talking to counties about upping their deer management programs. The deer herds are also at near catastrophic numbers. If CWD makes it’s way to NJ, it will spread like wildfire because of the population density of our herds.

4

lCt t1_ivzwhtz wrote

I started deer hunting in January of last year. It's not as easy as you think. I've gone out 25 times no deer.

2

ItsDijital t1_iw00hsx wrote

Brother you can drive around in the back of my car. Within 20 minutes you'll have 10 dead deer I promise. These fuckers don't live in the woods anymore they all moved into the suburbs.

4

lCt t1_iw01csa wrote

Dude. I have a heard of 20 deer living in my backyard but it's illegal to shoot in my town. I see tons of deer driving to where I can legally hunt.

2

J0hnnyHammerst1cks t1_iw1g2nl wrote

Crossbows are quiet and easy to use.

2

lCt t1_iw4fpyd wrote

The problem is the 100+ yds they make after the shot. And then do you just dump gut piles on people's backyards? I do use a crossbow though. I passed hunter safety with my compound bow but I just think crossbows are more ethical.

2

J0hnnyHammerst1cks t1_iw4twyq wrote

I was mostly joking, but realistically, it is always a crap shoot. I have seen deer disappear into the brush after what you would swear was a shot straight through the ticker, and others drop inside 10 yards. You just never know.

1

lCt t1_iw501sl wrote

I got a Bassett hound puppy. I'm hoping she's my tracker.

I had a yearling doe on private in PA grazing at 10 yds at my FILs farm. But the role was 3 points on one side or a big doe so I passed on the shot.

2

StrategicBlenderBall t1_iw2jp53 wrote

They need to extend the season through April in a lot of zones. I can’t stand when they want to pay for deer management when there are plenty of hunters available that pay a tax to hunt.

1

[deleted] t1_ivy5pvx wrote

[deleted]

4

StrategicBlenderBall t1_iw2jt04 wrote

When people think of hunters they automatically think of poachers. They’re not thinking about the hunters, like me, that actually give a shit about the environment and the population.

3

[deleted] t1_ivvrdqe wrote

He needs to unfortunately

3

SpacelessWorm t1_ivxpcoy wrote

Someone get the bear that keeps eating my garbage

1