In Mercer County, some sites are closed on specific days for shotgun hunting. Around New Jersey, crossbow hunting is also underway — park users are urged to remain on trails and wear bright-colors.
The bear hunt is authorized under a 5-year plan approved in 2015, meaning an update is needed next year. That gives Gov. Phil Murphy a chance to veto it.
Days after the end of a hunt in which a near-record number of bears were killed, including one sort of famous bruin, a Senate panel voted to prohibit hunts for five years.