New Jersey Bear Hunt

For the first time in three decades, New Jersey opened up 1 million acres of land to bear hunters. Pictured: an unidentified volunteer, right, takes down information about a 200-lb. female bear at a Dept. of Fish and Wildlife checking station at Wawayanda State Park, Dec. 9, 2003. The bear was shot by Peter Capella, far left.

Officials hoped the hunt would trim the state's population of about 3,200 bears by 500, and cut down on the number of close encounters with humans in suburban areas. Pictured: Kari Civitan and her daughter Madison, 2, look around in the wooded backyard of their home, Dec. 4, 2003 in Frankford, N.J. Civitan's husband obtained a bear hunting permit because of the frequent appearance of bears in their backyard.

Those opposed to the hunt included environmentalists, who did not want it to take place in a state recreational area, and animal rights activists who said the best solution was educating homeowners about what attracts the bears, such as open garbage cans. Pictured: protesters gather at Waywayanda State Park, Dec 8, 2003.

Deerhunters Brian Sudol and his son, Anthony, 10, make their way back into Waywayanda State Park, Dec. 8, 2003, after taking a morning break. Brian had a bear permit but did not use it because his son was not old enough to hunt with him. Some 5,200 permits were issued for six-day the hunt.

Bears were hunted annually in New Jersey from 1958 to 1970, and was suspended when their numbers dwindled to about 100. Pictured: An unidentified hunter looks at one of two bears he brought into the checking station at Wawayanda State Park, Dec. 8, 2003. The hunter used snowmobiles to tow the bears out of the forest after hand carrying them to the location.

Harry McDole, left, takes a bear that he killed out of his truck, Dec. 5, 2003, in Waywayanda State Park. Officials planned to monitor the daily kill and determine if the hunt should last the full six days scheduled.

A bear hunt protester, right, listens as a he's told where he can stand by a state conservation officer at a bear hunt checking station at Wawayanda State Park, Dec. 8, 2003. Among the protesters at Wawayanda was Janice Wrubel of Nutley, who said the state has not aggressively pursued alternatives to the hunt, including sterilization.

An unidentified hunter, left, videotapes protesters as he waits for New Jersey state officials to check and weigh the black bear he brought into the state checking station at Wawayanda State Park, Dec. 8, 2003. Wildlife biologist at the check station took blood and tooth samples from the bears.

A male black bear is viewed by a girl and her father at the Whittingham Wildlife Management Area, Dec. 9, 2003.