Tried searching the forums on this...

 

What are the laws with carrying in state parks? Thought I had heard it is legal to carry there but find that hard to believe in NJ.

 

Our friends like to hike in the mountains but want to be protected in the event of a bear interaction, and this park is known for bear sightings

 

Is it legal to carry a handgun within the park area?

No.

 

Go the NJ's DEP site for state parks and it's specified that firearms (handguns) are not allowed. Some state parks allow hunting for deer though, so shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows are allowed provided permits are procured and you are in possession of a valid hunting license.

I'm confused, you say no but then that handguns are allowed. Not clear

 

I'm searching the dep site but its hard to find exactly what I am looking for . Will keep searching

Sorry. I need to proof-read my comments better. Handguns are not allowed.

 

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/camprules.html

 

Firearms — A person shall not possess or discharge any firearm, pellet gun, bow and arrow, slingshot or other weapon capable of injuring people or wildlife. Hunters in compliance with Division of Fish and Wildlife hunting laws are exempted. Target practice is prohibited.

Thank you. I guess we are limited to spray for protection which isn't too encouraging

Better then having city people go hiking and shoot bears at first sight... You really shouldn't have issues with bears in this state or any if you understand how to deal with them... When was the last time you herd of a bear attacking someone in NJ?

Better then having city people go hiking and shoot bears at first sight... You really shouldn't have issues with bears in this state or any if you understand how to deal with them... When was the last time you herd of a bear attacking someone in NJ?

 

Close call in 2010 -

 

By BRUCE A. SCRUTON

 

[email protected]

 

WEST MILFORD -- A hiker in Ringwood State Park was attacked and injured by a black bear that may have been startled, but also apparently has charged at least two other hikers previously this year.

 

The unidentified man was not seriously injured, but his unleashed dog was apparently bitten and clawed by the 200- to 300-pound female bear. The dog is expected to recover and is being treated at a local veterinary hospital.

 

Pat Carr, the senior biologist with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife who oversees the black bear unit, said the incident occurred along a trail in what is known as "jungle habitat," an area of the park that was once a safari park.

 

"The man was walking his dog along the trail and entered an area where there is brush," Carr said. "The bear was in a patch of that brush, apparently eating berries, and it charged."

 

The animal knocked the man to the ground and the man kicked back at the bear. It was either that action, or actions of the dog, that caused the bear to get off the man and attack the dog before running off.

 

The man sustained scrapes, scratches and bruises in his encounter with the bear, but there were no injuries caused by the bear's teeth or claws.

 

Carr said there have been at least two other incidents involving the same bear this year in that same area. While the bear charged in both incidents, apparently neither of the hikers was injured.

 

But the fact the bear charged, and has no apparent fear of humans, qualifies it as a Category 1 bear and subject to be euthanized under the state's policy of how nuisance bears and handled.

 

Carr said traps have been set in the area and state park police are patrolling along with wildlife technicians.

 

"If they see the bear free ranging, she will be euthanized at the scene," Carr said. If the bear is trapped, it will be transported out of the area.

 

He said it will be possible to positively identify the bear. The bear gave birth to the cubs in January and they probably weigh between 12 and 20 pounds each. The cubs are likely to survive on their own given that there are no natural predators.

 

As to the issue of confrontations between hikers and bears, Carr said, "We have people hiking in the woods all the time, but we don't have this sort of escalation on the bear's part."

 

He said despite the rarity of bear-human conflicts, people walking in the woods should take some common sense precautions, including making noise, such as singing or talking, or wearing "bear bells."

 

"Make yourself visible and hearable and you shouldn't have problems," he said.

 

While the park is open, he said, the trail in question is closed until the area is deemed safe.

 

 

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/authorities_search_for_bear_th.html

 

oddly enough, that's about 3 miles from where i live...

 

If your walking in the woods you need to understand that your in the bears home, i don't know about the other 2 instances, but if you unknowingly sneak up on any bear they may feel the need to defend themselves. Not sure where the cubs play into it if they were around yet. The problem here is that the bear wasn't afraid to hang out by populated trails, which increases the likelihood of a confrontation.. and we don't necessarily know how these people handled it. It is an unusual case.. and sometimes people, but not always we do this to ourselves by making the bears comfortable... all it takes is one dumbass feeding the bears. That is a pretty populated area in terms of wilderness. This is more of a problem with the bear being too friendly, and then snapping when instinct kicks in.

For a brief time a few years ago (maybe a week), the federal govt announced that carry was now legal in federal parks.  They immediately added that it was legal to carry as long as you were following the rules of the state the park is located in.  So I guess carry was legal in a few places in NJ for about a week once.

Does NJ have any significant national parks?

Does NJ have any significant national parks?

http://www.nps.gov/state/nj/index.htm?program=all

 

Click on National Parks on the right column and then hover over the dots on the state map which will show each one.

Yeah I found that. But that includes every single historical site in the state. Looking for actual forestry parks.

Yeah I found that. But that includes every single historical site in the state. Looking for actual forestry parks.

 

There are no national forests in New Jersey, only state parks & forests.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/parkindex.html