Muzzleloader hunting joins archery Oct. 15–17, and the Morris County bear check station operates only on the segment’s opening and final days.
NORTH JERSEY – New Jersey’s first 2026 black bear hunting segment opened Monday, Oct. 12, and is scheduled to continue through Saturday, Oct. 17, with archery permitted throughout the six-day period and muzzleloader rifles permitted during the final three days.
The dates and weapon restrictions appear in the state’s 2026 bear-hunting regulations published through eRegulations.
Legal hunting hours extend from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Hunters need a valid hunting license and a bear permit for the designated management zone.
Dates, limits and reporting requirements
The season has two scheduled segments:
| Segment | Dates | Permitted hunting methods |
|---|---|---|
| October | Oct. 12–17 | Archery throughout; archery and muzzleloader rifles Oct. 15–17 |
| December | Dec. 7–12 | Shotguns and muzzleloader rifles |
Hunters may take one bear per segment, regardless of how many permits they hold. Regulations prohibit taking bears below 75 pounds live weight or 50 pounds dressed weight, as well as adults accompanied by cubs below the specified weight threshold.
Hunters also may not pursue bears with dogs or hunt within 300 feet of a baited area.
Harvested bears must be tagged immediately and brought to a designated check station on the day of the harvest. October check-station hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Black River Wildlife Management Area check station, 275 North Road in Chester, operates only on the October segment’s opening day and Saturday. Other listed stations are at Pequest in Warren County and Flatbrook Roy and Whittingham in Sussex County.
The schedule can change
Only bear management zones 1–5 are open and that the state may end the season early if the cumulative harvest reaches 30% of bears tagged in 2026.
A possible Dec. 16–19 extension depends on the harvest rate and state authorization. It is not an additional period hunters should assume will occur.
Hunters should check the NJDEP bear-season information page for current closures, permit information and check-station instructions before hunting or transporting a harvested bear.