"Bear Hunt Ends Days After Officials Advance Plan To Ban It"

"TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey's first expanded black bear hunt in more than three decades ended Saturday, just days after lawmakers advanced a measure that would remove the animals from a list of game species.

Hunters killed 549 bears during the six-day hunt, officials announced late Saturday. However, they said that number could increase slightly on Sunday because some hunters may not have been able to bring their bears to the check-in stations before they closed Saturday night.

Hunters could only use bows and arrows to kill their prey during the first three days and muzzle-loading guns were added during the second half.

New Jersey approved resuming the bear hunt in 2003 after more than 30 years as a way to curb a growing population that was increasingly crossing paths with humans. The first hunt didn't take place until 2010.

But animal rights' groups and lawmakers say the hunt causes more problems and is 'inhumane.'"

Shawn Marsh reports for the Associated Press October 16, 2016.