TRENTON (11/16/05) - Being a bear in New Jersey is worse than being a chicken in China, unless it’s a smart enough bear to hibernate during the six day hunting season in December each year for the next five years.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell yesterday gave permission for a bear hunt every year for the next five years during six days in the month of December. The permission came in a letter to Ernest P. Hahn, chairman of the state Fish and Game Council.

The first hunt will start this December 5th and run through December 10th. It will be the first one since 2003, which at the time was the first in 35 years.

The hunt is the major part of a "bear management policy" detailed in a 64 page policy manual. The policy also calls for improved trash control, public education about bears and expanded scientific research on bruin bears.

It is estimated that there are more than 3,200 bears just in the northwest area of the state. Bears have been seen in all of the state’s 21 counties though most are in the northwest area.

"As the black bear population has expanded incidents involving risks to public safety and property, which subsided after the 2003 hunt, has increased significantly, Campbell said in the letter.

"Moreover, excess population in areas of suitable black bear habitat has led to increasing black bear migration to areas of the state where little suitable habitat exists and where risks to populous communities are consequently greater," Campbell said

The five year black bear management policy was ordered by the State Supreme Court last year when it stopped a proposed six day hunt in December a year after the previous hunt in 20003. The court ruled that comprehensive management policy, detailing goals to maintain bears and way to manage their numbers, was needed before the state could have another hunt.

The hunt will be limited to a 1,558 square mile area north of Route 78 and west of Route 287. Some 4,000 hunters have applied for permits

State biologists estimated in 2003 that some 3,200 bears roamed the 1,558 square mile northwest region. Last March they reported that their studies showed 1,606 bears were counted in just a 580 square mile section of that larger area.

When the state conducted the bear hunt in 2003, 328 bears were reported killed. In the following year complaints about troublesome bears dropped from 1,308 to 756

The bear management policy and hunt authorization has its critics in environmental and animal rights organizations.

Mark Markarian, executive vice president of the Humane Societies of the United States said his organization was going to explore all possible options to stop it, including legal.

Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club criticized the policy saying it does not require mandatory use of bear proof trash cans or a ban on putting out garbage at night.

He also said the policy is not adequately funded. It’s projected cost is $1.25 million but, Tittel said there is only $35,000 in the current budget for bear management.

He also criticized Campbell saying he should have withheld approval of the management policy and bear hunt until Gov. Elect Jon Corzine took office. Corzine opposed the bear hunt during his campaign.

Barbara Metzler of the anti hunt group Bear Education and Research, charged that the Fish and Game Council is "hunter dominated." She said, "their whole interest in life is to kill for fun."

In the meantime Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Senator Robert Littell (both R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon) released a statement applauding the DEP’s approval of the bear hunt.

"Over the past several months since last year’s hunt was cancelled, the state has experienced ever increasing incidents of aggressive bear behavior, said McHose. I am pleased the commissioner today agrees with the need for a hunt because he alluded to himself the need is based on sound wildlife management practice,"

To me the issue of a bear hunt always has been a public safety matter," said Senator Littell. "I believe a hunt will help control the bear population so that we lessen the chances of a real human tragedy.