The 2015 Black Bear hunting season is on in full swing in New Jersey, and as the temperature is high there are expectations of more bears to be out, said hunters. The bear hunt is carried out to rein in populations that cause potentially risky encounters with humans.

State wildlife officials said the annual hunt is very important part of their bear management plan. They also mentioned that there is high need to control the population and help protect the environment.

But bear hunt welcome a huge anger and criticism from conservationists who consider it inhumane and not necessary.

The state recently expanded its area where the bear hunt will be allowed during the six-day event. The hunt will be allowed in areas of Hunterdon, Passaic, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and warren counties, and some parts of Bergen and Mercer counties.

New Hersey resumed bear hunting in 2013 after a halt of almost 30 years. Last year alone, almost 272 bears were hunted down.

Jerome Mandel, 70, a protestor against bear hunt, who used to work as a science teacher in Newton, said that conducting the Weeklong Bear Hunt is the equivalent of sanctioning mass murder, while claiming that it's imperative and indispensable.

According to state officials, there are presently about 3,500 bears in New Jersey north of Interstate 80, a region known as ‘bear country’.

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey chapter of the group, said, “The Sierra Club has been advocating for an effective bear management plan that would actually reduce these incidents”.