NJ Bear Hunting Protest - Part II

Today I went back to NJ for what was supposed to be the last day of the bear hunt. Because the number of tagged bears was so low, the hunt has been extended for 4 days next week.

According to the media site northjersey.com, “Under New Jersey's Game Code, the bear season "shall" be extended by four days if the number of tagged bears taken in the October bow hunt and the December shotgun season is less than 20 percent of the total. Going into Thursday, hunters had taken a combined 153 bears this year, but only 11 percent of the total were tagged bears.”

When I arrived, there was a truck parked at the weigh station already. The bear had already been weighed, a blood and tooth sample had already been taken and the measurement had already taken place. I was able to get only one photo of the 182 lb. bear.

Not much time had passed before another bear was brought in. This little bear was 102 lb. The photos are quite graphic as the bear was gutted. I spoke to the hunter who told me he had been hunting since he was ten - 53 years. He said the bears had become a nuisance which is why he started hunting them. I said I had always heard bears run from you if they see you and he replied that wasn’t always true and that the mother of the bear he had just killed came back for her cub.

There were many more protesters out today compared to Monday’s protest, with many voicing their displeasure at Gov. Murphy for allowing the bear hunt to continue after promising a total ban if he was elected. The organizations The BEAR Group, Animal Protection league of New Jersey and the League of Humane Voters of New Jersey hosted the protests.

They will be holding a vigil next Saturday, the last day of the extended hunt.

This is the 182 lb. bear who had already been weighed when I arrived

This is the second bear that was brought in while I was there. This is the 102 lb. male bear.

I didn’t ask the hunter what he would be doing with the bear. I was told by another hunter at the Monday protest that some bear meat is good, some is bad - it depends on what they feed on.

The actual weighing of the bear

Taking samples

Bear Hunting Protest - Part I

Today I attended a Bear Hunt protest in New Jersey. Being a freelance photojournalist, I was able to use my press pass to gain access to areas the protesters are not allowed. I wanted to be an observer and not talk too much to anyone. I wanted my camera to capture what words could not. Below are a few photos that, to me, are the most powerful. They are also available to view in my gallery.

Note: Apparently Gov. Murphy had promised to ban all bear hunting (when he was elected) but it turns out when he WAS elected, he ended up only banning it on State land. The protesters continue to come out during hunting season to voice their anger and disappointment.

The first bear I saw being brought in was a 69.5 lb. bear.

For each bear brought in to the weigh station, a tooth is pulled to determine the age of the bear, the ear is tagged and a blood sample is taken.

This was the second bear brought in while I was there. It was guesstimated that this bear was about 6 years old.

The bear weighed in at 510 lbs.

Standing with Charlottesville

I couldn’t decide whether these photos should be on the dark or the light page. On one hand, it is a gathering of people who believe in unity, love and hope yet on the other hand, the reason we are all here is because of some very disturbed, misdirected and angry people.

I will probably just keep the photos here on the blog page instead of having to decide which page to post them on.