Shotgun: not smaller than 20 gauge nor larger than 10 gauge with rifled slugs. Lead, lead alloy or copper rifled slug or sabot slug. Buckshot is prohibited.

     Muzzleloader Rifle: single-barrel, single shot rifles not less than .45 caliber. Flintlock, percussion and in-line ignitions. Double barrel muzzleloaders prohibited. Persons hunting with muzzleloader rifle must also possess a current and valid rifle-hunting permit.

     Baiting: No person shall attempt to take or kill a black bear or have in their possession or control any firearm, or other weapon of any kind, while elevated in a standing tree or in a structure of any kind within 300 feet of a baited area. On National Wildlife Refuges and at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the distribution of bait and/or hunting over bait is prohibited. Hunters should also check with the landowner or administrative agency before placing bait on any hunting area.

     Black Bear Hunting Area No. 1: That portion of Warren and Sussex counties lying within a continuous line beginning at the intersection of the Portland Bridge and the Delaware River at Columbia; then northward along the east bank of the Delaware River to the New York state line; then east along the New York state line to Rt. 519; then south along Rt. 519 to its intersection with Rt. 627; then south along Rt. 627 to its intersection with Rt. 626; then south along Rt. 626 to its intersection with Rt. 521; then southwest along Rt. 521 to its intersection with Rt. 94 in Blairstown; the southwest along Rt. 94 to the Portland Bridge, the point of beginning in Columbia. The islands of Labar, Tocks, Poxono, Depew, Namanock, Minisink and Mashipacong lying in the Delaware River are also included within this Hunting Area.

     Black Bear Hunting Area No. 2: That portion of Sussex, Warren and Morris counties lying within a continuous line beginning at Portland Bridge in Columbia; then northward along Rt. 94 to its intersection with Rt. 521 in Blairstown; then north along Rt. 521 to its intersection with Rt. 626; then north along Rt. 626 to its intersection with Rt. 627; then north along Rt. 627 to its intersection with Rt. 519 in Branchville; then north along Rt. 519 to the New York state line; then southeast along the New York state line to Rt. 517; then south along Rt. 517 to its intersection with Rt. 94; then south on Rt. 94 to its intersection with Rt. 23 in Hamburg Borough; then south along Rt. 23 to its intersection with Rt. 517 in Franklin; then south along Rt. 517 to its intersection with Rt. 15 in Sparta; then south along Rt. 15 to its intersection with Interstate 80 in Dover; then west along interstate 80 to its intersection with Rt. 94; then south along Rt. 94 to the intersection with the Portland Bridge and the Delaware River located in Columbia, the point of beginning.

     Black Bear Hunting Area No. 3: That portion of Sussex, Passaic, Morris and Bergen counties lying within a continuous line beginning at the intersection of Rt. 80 and Rt. 15 in Dover; then north along Rt. 15 to its intersection with Rt. 517 in Sparta; then north along Rt. 517 to its intersection with Rt. 23 Franklin; then north along Rt. 23/ 517 to its intersection with 517 in Hamburg Borough; then north along Rt. 517 to the New York state line; then east along the New York state line to its intersection with Rt. 287; then south along Rt. 287 to its intersection with Rt. 80; then west along Rt. 80 to its intersection with Rt. 15 the point of beginning in Dover.

     Black Bear Hunting Area No. 4: That portion of Sussex, Warren, Morris, Somerset and Hunterdon counties lying within a continuous line beginning at the intersection of Route 78 and the Delaware River; then north along the east bank of the Delaware River to the Portland Bridge at Columbia; then northeast along Rt. 94 to its intersection with Rt. 80; then east along Rt. 80 to its intersection with Rt. 287; then southwest along Rt. 287 to its intersection with Rt. 78; then west along Rt. 78 to the Delaware River the point of beginning.

     When field dressing a black bear, leave the sex organs intact and attached to the body. Remember, It is critical to remove the hide and cool the bear immediately after checking the bear. Cooling a bear with ice from inside the body cavity is inadequate to prevent the meat from spoiling. If the hide remains on overnight, the meat may be unsuitable for consumption.

     Successful hunters must take the black bear to a designated check station by 7 p.m. on the day of the kill. Hunters shall surrender the black bear transportation tag and will be issued a legal possession seal.

     Any legally killed black bear recovered too late to be brought to a designated black bear check station by 7p.m. on the date of the kill must be reported immediately by telephone to the Northern Region Office of the Bureau of Law Enforcement (908) 735-8240. Hunters must provide their name, address and a telephone number where they can be reached on the telephone message recording device, if a Division representative is not available. Said black bear must be brought to a designated black bear check station on the next weekday to be registered and to recieve a legal possession seal.