Bear hunters will get cookbooks in New Jersey

NEWTON, N.J. (AP) -- Hunters who bring in a bear to be weighed in New Jersey will receive a cookbook once the season starts.

The New York Times reports that the state is trying to get more people to hunt the animals as a way to deal with its growing bear population.

The state reintroduced bear hunting in 2010. But the number of bears killed and brought in to weigh stations has dropped significantly since that first year.

The newspaper reports that the state has seen a rise in bear encounters among humans this year. That point was evident when a 299-pound bear killed a college student who was hiking in Passaic County last month.

Authorities say a drop in acorns may be to blame for bears' aggressive behavior.

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