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New Jersey

Hunting

Hunting

Bear Hunting Regulations

A current and valid archery or firearm or all-around sportsman hunting license and a Black Bear Hunting Permit is required to hunt black bear. See Black Bear Management Zones Bear Hunting Regulations; see also Black Bear Hunting Permits this page.

Youth hunters aged 10 through 13 on or before Oct. 11, 2024, must be under the direct supervision of a properly licensed adult (21 years of age or older) while bear hunting. The adult must also possess a black bear hunting permit. Direct supervision means the youth hunter and the supervising adult are together at the same location. The youth hunter may not hunt independently of the adult.

The Black Bear hunting season consists of two separate segments, Segment A in October, and Segment B in December. In total, a hunter with valid permits may harvest up to two bears, one in each segment. The season bag limit is one bear per permit, but only one bear may be taken per segment, regardless of the number of permits the hunter holds.

Apprentice License holders may NOT hunt black bear. The skills necessary to hunt black bear are not commensurate with an introductory hunting experience as the apprentice license program is intended to provide.

Black Bear Hunting Permits

Permits are valid for the entire black bear hunting season, including Segment A in October and Segment B in December. A hunter may not possess more than two unfilled permits at any time during the entire season; these permits must be for different zones.

If no bear is taken during Segment A, the permit(s) is still valid for hunting in Segment B. If a hunter harvests a bear during Segment A, that permit is no longer valid, though the hunter may purchase a permit for that same zone to use during Segment B, if available when permit sales re-open on Nov. 1. Hunters who purchase only one permit prior to the end of Segment A, and do not harvest a bear during Segment A, may continue to use that permit during Segment B, plus may purchase a second permit after Nov. 1 for a different zone.

Hunters who purchase two permits prior to the end of Segment A and do not fill either permit during Segment A may NOT purchase a third permit when permit sales reopen in November.

Permit sales are broken into two periods: 10 a.m. on Sept. 9–Oct. 19 and again beginning at 10 a.m. on Nov. 1 until the end of the season or until permit quotas are reached. Hunters are strongly urged to purchase permits during the early sales period. Permits can be purchased at licenses agents or online.

Black Bear Hunting Regulations

  • Black bears under 75 pounds live weight, and adults in the company of cubs weighing less than 75 lbs live weight may NOT be harvested.
  • No person shall attempt to take or kill a black bear or have in their possession or control any firearm, bow or other weapon of any kind within 300 feet of a baited area. On National Wildlife Refuges and at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the distribution of bait and/or hunting over bait is prohibited. Hunters should also check with the landowner or administrative agency before placing bait on any hunting area.
  • Firearm black bear hunters must wear a hat of solid fluorescent orange or an outer garment containing at least 200 square inches of fluorescent orange material visible from all sides at all times while bear hunting. If hunting from a blind, 200 square inches of fluorescent orange material must be atop or adjacent to the blind, as specified under Hunter Orange, General Hunting Regulations. During the last three days of Segment A, bowhunters in tree stands should consider wearing hunter orange.
  • It is illegal to use dogs to pursue or run black bears.
  • Allowable hunting methods: stand hunting, still-hunting, or drive hunting.
  • It is illegal to take or attempt to take a bear in a den structure.

After Harvesting a Bear – Mandatory Bear Check Requirement

Properly licensed hunters who harvest a black bear shall immediately complete and affix to the bear hide the “Black Bear Transportation Tag” from their Black Bear Hunting Permit. Information to report, on the black bear transportation tag shall include hunter’s name, address, and Conservation ID number; date and time of kill; nearest road; county and municipality of kill; and the sex of the black bear. When field dressing a black bear, leave the sex organs intact, attached to the body. A harvested black bear may be quartered and brought out of the field in sections. Hunters shall surrender the black bear transportation tag and will be issued a legal possession seal. Bears MUST be brought to a designated black bear check station on the day harvested.

Any legally killed black bear recovered too late to be brought to a designated black bear check station by closing time on the date of the kill must be reported immediately by telephone to the Northern Region Office, Bureau of Law Enforcement (908) 735-8240. Hunters must leave their name, address, and a telephone number where they can be reached. The hunter will be contacted with instructions for the bear to be registered and to receive a legal possession seal. To protect the meat from spoilage, the hunter may retain only the head and hide for checking the next day. Note: within 48 hours after a bear is checked, a hunter may be required to produce the meat of the bear or produce records relating to the location of the meat, such as a butcher shop, upon request of a conservation police officer. After Saturday during the regular season segments or Saturday during a season extension (if announced), hunters reporting a bear harvest via the Law Enforcement recorder will be contacted by a NJDEP Fish & Wildlife biologist on Sunday to legally check the bear and to collect biological data.

For locations and hours of mandatory Black Bear Check Stations and additional information regarding bear hunting in New Jersey visit dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/bear-hunting-season-information/

Mandatory Black Bear Check Stations

In the event of a season extension, bear check station information will be announced on NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's website NJFishandWildlife.com and sent out through email and text message.

Hours

Segment A: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Segment B: noon to 7 p.m.

Warren County

  • Pequest Wildlife Management Area
    605 Pequest Road, Oxford

Morris County

  • Black River Wildlife Management Area*
    (Segment A only)

    275 North Road, Chester
  • Green Pond Golf Course
    Green Pond Rd, Rt. 513, Rockaway

Sussex County

  • Flatbrook Roy WMA**
    Rt. 615 (Walpack Rd.), Sandyston
  • Whittingham WMA
    148 Fredon-Springdale Rd., Newton

* Operating Opening Day and Saturday during Segment A only.

** Operating all week during Segment A plus operating only on Opening Day and Saturday during Segment B.

Black Bear Season Extension

In the event of a season extension, bear check information will be announced via news release, placed on NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s social media pages and website, and sent out through email and text message.

Black Bear Management Zones

Map for general reference only.

Black Bear Management Zones Map

For a complete description of the Black Bear Management Zones, scan this QR code or see NJDEP Fish & Wildlife’s bear management zone webpage at NJFishandWildlife.com/bearzonemap.htm.

Black Bear Hunting Seasons 2024

  • Both a valid firearm or archery or all-around sportsman hunting license and bear hunting permit are required to hunt black bears. Bear hunting permits are specific to a bear management zone.
  • There is a physical bear check requirement (there is no Automated Harvest Report System for black bears). See below for information on checking a harvested black bear.
  • See Bear Hunting Regulations for information on obtaining a Black Bear Hunting Permit.

Season Segment

Season Dates

Hunting Hours

Authorized Weapon Types / Harvest Reporting

Segment A - Black Bear Hunting Season

Segment A

Mon., Oct. 14–Sat., Oct. 19, 2024

½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset

Archery: Mon., Oct. 14–Sat., Oct. 19, 2024

Archery/Muzzleloader: Thurs., Oct. 17–Sat., Oct. 19, 2024. (Muzzleloader rifle legal during the last three days of Seg A plus all of Seg B).

Harvest Reporting: By 9 p.m. on the day of harvest.

See additional regulations below.*

Bag Limit: One bear, >75 lbs live weight

Segment B - Black Bear Hunting Season

Segment B

Mon., Dec. 9–Sat., Dec. 14, 2024

½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset

Shotgun/Muzzleloader: Mon., Dec. 9–Sat., Dec. 14, 2024

Harvest Reporting: By 7 p.m. on the day of harvest.

See additional regulations below.*

Segment B Extension
(If authorized. Notification of this will be made on Monday, Dec. 16)

Wed., Dec. 18–Sat., Dec. 21, 2024

½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset

Shotgun/Muzzleloader: Wed., Dec. 18–Sat., Dec. 21, 2024

Harvest Reporting: By 7 p.m. on the day of harvest.

See additional regulations below.*

Bag Limit Segment B including Extension: One bear, >75 lbs live weight

Firearms, Bows and Ammunition Legal for Black Bear Hunting

Weapon

Segment

Weapon Type

Gauge, Caliber or Draw Weight

Projectile(s)

Firearm Sights, Bow Releases

Weapon Transportation

Bow

Segment A: October 14–19, 2024

Long, recurve, compound, or crossbow. Only bows capable of firing a single projectile may be used.

35 pounds of pull at draw length(long and recurve) or peak weight (compound) or 75 pounds minimum draw weight (crossbow)

Well-sharpened metal broadhead with a minimum width of 3/4"

Handheld release devices are permitted. Prohibited: Any sight or device that casts a beam of light

All bows MUST be unnocked or uncocked.

Muzzleloader (must also have Rifle Permit)

Segment A: October 17–19, 2024 and all of Segment B and Extension

Single-barrel, single shot flintlock, percussion, or in-line rifle

Not less than .44 caliber

Single projectile

Telescopic sights permitted. Prohibited: Modern smokeless powder.

MUST be cased and unloaded while being transported in or on vehicles, including ATVs and UTVs. Unloaded means percussion caps is removed or powder emptied from the pan and frizzen is covered.

Shotgun

Segment B and Extension

Smooth or rifled bore; not capable of holding more than 3 slugs

Not smaller than 20 gauge or larger than 10 gauge

Lead, lead alloy, or copper rifled slug or sabot slug only. NO BUCKSHOT.

Telescopic sights permitted. Must have an adjustable open iron or peep sight or an affixed scope.

MUST be cased and unloaded while being transported in or on vehicles, including ATVs and UTVs