This information is coming directly from the New Jersey Division Of Fish & Wildlife. It is incredibly disturbing to read the answers to these careless questions, especially the answers to question #11 & #12.
Please contact New Jersey Fish & Wildlife directly, to tell them to END the NJ Bear Hunt once and for all!
NJ Fish & Wildlife Main Office (Trenton)
David Chanda, Director
N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife
Mail Code 501-03
P.O. Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
609-292-2965
Fax: 609-984-1414
E-Mail Form Click Here
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NJ Black Bear Hunting Season FAQs
There are significant changes in the Black Bear Hunting Season in 2016, including the addition of a week in October (Segment A; the December portion is Segment B). The following questions and answers pertain to the 2016 black bear hunting season:
General black bear hunting season FAQs:
1. Are there two bear seasons in 2016?
2. Are separate permits needed for the two segments?
3. Can I use bait to hunt black bear if I am hunting from the ground?
4. Can I use bait to hunt black bear if I am hunting from an elevated stand?
5. Can I black bear hunt from my elevated stand after harvesting a deer if the remains from field dressing the deer are within 300 feet of the elevated stand?
6. Can I chase a black bear out of a den or off of an open nest to shoot it?
7. Are still hunting and driving allowable methods to hunt black bear?
8. How far must I be from a building or school playground to hunt with a firearm?
9.Can youth hunters hunt black bear?
10. Can I legally shoot a black bear with tags or a radio collar?
11. Can I shoot a female if it is with cubs?
12. Can I shoot a cub?
13. Where must I place the bear transportation tag after harvesting a black bear?
14. Can I quarter my black bear to transport it out of the woods?
15. After harvesting a black bear can I use an ATV to carry my black bear to my vehicle?
Segment A (October 10-15, 2016) FAQs:
16. What are the dates of the October season?
17. How do I get a permit for the October season?
18. Is a permit good for my choice of either bow or muzzleloader that week?
19. Can I take two bears in October?
20. If I harvest a bear with a bow in Segment A can I take another with a muzzleloader?
21. If I harvest a bear in Segment A, can I harvest another in Segment B?
22. Can I hunt for both deer and bear with my bow?
23. If I get a permit online can I hunt immediately?
24. Is the permit I purchased for October (Segment A) still good in December (Segment B) if I don’t harvest a bear in October?
25. What is the ‘Safety Zone’ for bow hunting bears?
26. Can the October segment be closed before Saturday, October 15?
Segment B (December 5-10, 2016) FAQs:
27. Can I hunt both deer and black bear with a firearm at the same time provided I have the proper licenses and permits?
28. Can I use buckshot for black bear hunting?
29. Can I use buckshot if I decide to only hunt deer on a given day or morning/afternoon?
30. If I have a black bear hunting permit can I take the buckshot out of my gun while deer hunting and load my gun with ammunition legal to hunt black bear if provided with the opportunity to shoot a black bear?
31. Can I use my muzzleloader to hunt black bear in Segment B?
32. Are sights needed on my shotgun to hunt black bear?
33. Can the December segment be closed before Saturday, December 10?
The following questions and answers pertain to the entire 2016 New Jersey black bear hunting season:
1. Q) Are there two bear seasons in 2016?
A) There is one season but it is broken into two periods: a new bow/muzzleloader portion in October (Segment A) and the “traditional” firearm bear season in December (Segment B). There is a one bear bag limit per segment, and a permit is valid for only one bear.
2. Q) Are separate permits needed for the two segments?
A) No. Permits are for Bear Hunting Zones, not season segments.
3. Q) Can I use bait to hunt black bear if I am hunting from the ground?
A) Yes, but you must not be in any type of constructed blind. Baiting on National Wildlife Refuges and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is not permitted.
4. Q) Can I use bait to hunt black bear if I am hunting from an elevated stand?
A) Yes, but your elevated stand must be at least 300 feet from the bait.
5. Q) Can I black bear hunt from my elevated stand after harvesting a deer if the remains from field dressing the deer are within 300 feet of the elevated stand?
A) No. If the deer field dressing remains are within 300 feet that would be considered baiting and would not be legal. The only way to legally utilize the field dressing as bait and hunt within 300 feet would be to hunt from the ground provided you are not in a constructed blind.
6. Q) Can I chase a black bear out of a den or off of an open nest to shoot it?
A) No. Black bear in dens or on an open nest are not legal to shoot and must be left undisturbed.
7. Q) Are still hunting and driving allowable methods to hunt black bear?
A) Yes, both methods of hunting are legal.
8. Q) How far must I be from a building or school playground to hunt with a firearm?
A) You must be outside the safety zone (pdf, 58kb) of at least 450 feet from a building or school playground unless you have written permission from the landowner in your possession.
9. Q) Can youth hunters hunt black bear?
A) Yes, provided they have a valid Youth Hunting License, Rifle Permit (if muzzleloader hunting), black bear hunting permit, and if between the ages of 10-13 be under direct supervision at all times by a properly licensed hunter age 21 or older also in possession of a valid bear permit. Holders of Youth Hunting Licenses age 14 and above are permitted to hunt black bear on their own.
10. Q) Can I legally shoot a black bear with tags or a radio collar?
A) Yes. If you are successful and harvest a bear with tags or a collar be sure to bring them to the check station with your bear.
11. Q) Can I shoot a female if it is with cubs?
A) Yes, you are encouraged to shoot the first black bear that presents you with a safe shot that will provide a quick clean kill. This is a management hunt and all year classes, male and female black bears are legal to harvest.
12.Q) Can I shoot a cub?
A) Yes, any sex or size black bear is legal to shoot.
13. Q) Where must I place the bear transportation tag after harvesting a black bear?
A) The completed transportation tag must be placed in the hide of the black bear.
14. Q) Can I quarter my black bear to transport it out of the woods?
A) Yes, provided that all of the parts (except entrails) are taken to the check station.
15. Q) After harvesting a black bear can I use an ATV to carry my black bear to my vehicle?
A) Only if you hunt on private land and have secured permission of the landowner. ATV use on all state and federally owned properties is prohibited.
The following questions and answers pertain to Segment A (October 10-15, 2016) of the 2016 New Jersey black bear hunting season:
16. Q) What are the dates of the October season?
A) Segment A of the NJ black bear hunting season is October 10-15, 2016. The first three days (October 10-12) will be archery only; the final three days (October 13-15) will be for both archery and muzzleloading rifle hunters.
17. Q)How do I get a permit for the October season?
A) Permits for the entire season will be sold over-the-counter beginning September 12 at 10am at license agents and online. THERE IS NO LOTTERY IN 2016.
18. Q) Is a permit good for my choice of either bow or muzzleloader that week?
A) Yes, but only bow is allowed the first three days. Permits are for a specific bear hunting zone. Use of bow or muzzleloader is dependent on the day a person is hunting; it is illegal to have both a bow and a firearm in possession while hunting.
19. Q) Can I take two bears in October?
A) No. There is a one bear limit during the October segment of the season. Once a harvest is made, that permit is no longer valid.
20. Q) If I harvest a bear with a bow in Segment A can I take another with a muzzleloader?
A) No, not in Segment A. If you have a second permit it can be used in December (Segment B). There is one-bear bag limit for each segment and for each permit; once a harvest is made, that permit is no longer valid.
21. Q)If I harvest a bear in Segment A, can I harvest another in Segment B?
A) Yes, as long as another permit is used to hunt in Segment B.
22. Q) Can I hunt for both deer and bear with my bow?
A) Yes, the Fall Bow Deer Season is open during Segment A.
23. Q) If I get a permit online can I hunt immediately?
A) No. Permits purchased online are mailed, so purchasers need to allow for delivery time. Second-day expedited shipping is available for a fee, and orders must be in by 2pm for 2nd-day delivery. See the license sales website for information and to order.
24. Q) Is the permit I purchased for October (Segment A) still good in December (Segment B) if I don’t harvest a bear in October?
A) Yes. If a hunter does not harvest a bear during Segment A the permit can be used to hunt during December firearm period (Segment B). Permits are valid for the entire season (Segments A and B).
25. Q) What is the ‘Safety Zone’ for bow hunting bears?
A) The bow ‘Safety Zone’ is 150-feet – see Safety Zone Information (pdf, 58kb)
26. Q) Can the October segment be closed before Saturday, October 15?
A) Yes, if the harvest rate reaches 30% of bears tagged in 2016 during the week. In the event of a season closure, notification will be on the permit hotline number (609-292-9192), announced on our website and via the NJ Hunting E-mail list. A season closure will become effective 24 hours from the daily legal closing time of the day on which the decision is made. This means that Segment B would not be held in December.
The following questions and answers pertain to Segment B of the 2016 New Jersey black bear hunting season which runs concurrently with the Six-day Firearm Deer Season, December 5-10, 2016:
27. Q) Can I hunt both deer and black bear with a firearm at the same time provided I have the proper licenses and permits?
A) Yes, provided you follow the legal requirements for the specific firearm and ammunition for black bear hunting found in the Hunting Digest. You may NOT have buckshot in possession while hunting black bear.
28. Q) Can I use buckshot for black bear hunting?
A) No. The only allowable shotgun ammunition is 20, 16, 12 and 10 gauge slugs.
29. Q) Can I use buckshot if I decide to only hunt deer on a given day or morning/afternoon?
A) Yes, but do not have your black bear hunting permit in your possession. If you are in possession of a black bear hunting permit while in possession of buckshot you are in violation of the law.
30. Q) If I have a black bear hunting permit can I take the buckshot out of my gun while deer hunting and load my gun with ammunition legal to hunt black bear if provided with the opportunity to shoot a black bear?
A) No, you can only carry ammunition that is legal to use for black bear hunting while in possession of a black bear permit.
31. Q) Can I use my muzzleloader to hunt black bear in Segment B?
A) Yes, provided you are in possession of a valid Rifle Permit, Firearm or All-around Sportsman license, and a black bear hunting permit and using a single barrel rifle muzzleloader not smaller than .44 caliber.
32. Q) Are sights needed on my shotgun to hunt black bear?
A) Yes, either an adjustable open iron or peep sight, or a scope, must be affixed to the shotgun.
33. Q) Can the December segment be closed before Saturday, December 10?
A) Yes, if the harvest rate reaches 30% of bears tagged in 2016 during the week. In the event of a season closure, notification will be on the permit hotline number (609-292-9192), announced on our website and via the NJ Hunting E-mail list. A season closure will become effective 24 hours from the daily legal closing time of the day on which the decision is made.
From: NJ Fish & Wildlife
