New Jersey's Fish and Game Council was set to propose the state's first black bear hunt in five years on Tuesday.
Acting Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said several studies have confirmed the number of bears in the state and complaints associated with them are growing.
Former Gov. Jon Corzine blocked the hunts in favor of non-lethal controls.
Opponents said the state hasn't done enough to get people to shield their trash so bears aren't attracted to residential neighborhoods.
Estimates by state biologists showed a 62 percent rise in the number of bears in Sussex and Passaic counties between 2002 and 2007.
Martin said a series of public hearings will be held and he'll make the decision on whether a hunt goes on during six days in December.
The New Jersey DEP offered the following safety tips for bear encounters:
Never feed or approach a bear!
Remain calm if you encounter a bear.
Make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.
Make sure the bear has an escape route.
If a bear enters your home, provide it with an escape route by propping all doors open.
Avoid direct eye contact and never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away.
To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact and do not run.
If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It is usually not a threatening behavior.
Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area.
Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the DEP's 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).
Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a "Bear Plan" in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back! WCBSTV
