‘A Straight Up Lie’ – NJOA Debunks Governor’s Erroneous Season Closure Claim

Trenton – Sportsmen coalition debunks claims of bear season closure by Governor’s office.

The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance on Thursday released a statement debunking a claim made by Governor Phil Murphy on October 5, 2020 during a scheduled COVID-19 daily briefing and in a subsequent tweet that erroneously claimed that a year-old proposal by the NJ Fish and Wildlife Council would end the bear  hunt in 2021 and for the remainder of his administration.

“The notion that the Fish and Wildlife Council is ‘working with the Governor to end bear hunting’ is preposterous, and the Governor once again displays a striking lack of understanding of how the state he ‘governs’ works.” said NJOA spokesman Cody McLaughlin, “More than that, though, merely the current omission of harvest of black bears on DEP-administered lands has led to an insufficient harvest of black bears, resulting in an exploding bear population and escalation of negative bear/human incidents as reported by the Governor’s own DEP. The Governor, once again, is ignoring the facts and science, public safety and the law regarding black bear management in N.J. The complete closure of black bear hunting would be irresponsible and Phil Murphy should be held personably liable for the results of his actions. How many campaign checks from anti-hunting extremist groups is the life of one New Jersey citizen worth?”

The fast facts on the Governor’s claims and the mechanics of the fish and wildlife council are more complex:

• As a matter of administrative law in NJ, the entire subchapter that governs fish and wildlife sunsets. Happens every 7 years, on this occasion June 12, 2021.
• Every five years, the Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy also sunsets, at the end of this year.
• The Governor claimed that a proposal, which was submitted last year, to separate comprehensive bear policy out of the game code would end the bear hunt – this is erroneous.
• The proposal actually decouples the expiring Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy.
• The proposal in question is just that, a rules PROPOSAL, which will receive public comment until December 4, 2020. It is far from settled.
• There is still a black bear hunt in the 2021 game code, as proposed.
• There are many avenues still open to use for exploration, including a rules extension through the administrative procedure act.
• The NJ Fish and Wildlife Council was created by Law in 1945 (N.J.S.A.13:1B-24) and oversees the Division’s operations and appoints a Director (subject to the Governor’s approval)
• The Fish and Wildlife Council is comprised of 3 farmer representatives (who must be recommended to the Governor for appointment by the agricultural convention), 6 sportsmen representatives (who must be recommended to the Governor for appointment by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs), the Chairman of the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee and a public member “knowledgeable in land use management and soil conservation practices.
• The NJ Fish and Wildlife Council is incredibly independent, even of the nation’s most powerful Governor
• The Legislature has empowered the Fish and WildlifeCouncil with the independent responsibility to adopt a Fish and Game Code for the purpose of providing a system for the protection and conservation of fish and game. In addition, the Council has been authorized to perform an advisory and recommendatory function in the development of comprehensive policies in this general area and to:
  • Consult with and advise the Commissioner and director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife with respect to the work of such Division.
  • Study the activities of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and hold hearings with respect thereto as it may deem necessary or desirable.
  • Report to the Governor and the Legislature annually, and at such other times as it may deem in the public interest with respect to its findings and conclusions.

About the New Jersey  Outdoor Alliance: New Jersey Outdoor Alliance’s mission is “preservation through conservation.” NJOA serves as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to the conservation of natural resources and environmental stewardship that champions the intrinsic value of fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders, policy makers, and the public at-large. To learn more about the organization, please visit: https://njoutdooralliance.org/.