The annual search for record deer antlers is under way in South Carolina.   COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The annual search for record deer antlers is under way in South Carolina. The state Natural Resources Department is holding scoring sessions around the state in advance of the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic scheduled for March 25-27 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia. Natural Resources project supervisor Charles Ruth says the state has almost 5,500 sets of white-tailed deer antlers on its records list. Hunters must document the date and location of the kill when they bring in a set of antlers for scoring. The department uses the Boone and Crockett system for scoring antlers. The goal is to determine where the largest deer are located and use that information for future herd management. The agency has a complete list of scoring locations on its website: www.scdnr.gov

Delaware has had a liberal deer season or seasons the past 10 years. The average hunter could harvest an animal if time and effort was put into the hunt. Our numbers in certain areas seemed to have dwindled and was noticeable during the 2010 season that has just ended.Three years ago we had an outbreak of blue tongue disease that claimed quite a few animals in some of my favorite areas for hunting. Three years ago during the opening of deer season in November I couldn't believe my eyes as the biggest grey fox came within shooting range, it was as large as a small collie. Not wanting to ruin my opening day I let it walk. Later as I told the story I learned that a coyot was supposedly sighted by other hunters in the area. After the season and while talking with my taxidermist in Marydel, Md he told me a young man had shot and brought to him three coyote to be mounted. I thought it strange as to how a coyote could get to our area since the Chesapeake Bay and Canal to the North, Delaware Bay to the east and the Atlantic Ocean would present a problem for Coyotes to get here. Two years have past and while visiting another taxidermist to pick up some waterfowl mounts I asked him about the coyote issue. He told me that the state wildlife officials had brought some here to help curtail the deer numbers. Well, I do not know what has happened in 2009-2010 season, blue tongue, hunter success, coyote introduction or UFO but it seem our number is dwindling in some areas.Anyone else out there wish to comment? This is only one hunters opion

Get to know SeeMeHunt by Neil on January 25th, 2011 Posted In: SeeMeHunt, Chris Avena, SeeMeHunt Today, the Social Network is probably the most powerful tool for just about anything. Keeping in touch with friends or family, following celebrities or just another form of advertising. These such social networks are very common in the world. Pretty much, any website you visit these days has the Blue “F” icon for Facebook, or lower case “t” for Twitter prominent somewhere on the page. I’d like to mention to you about a new and upcoming social website specifically for the hunting niche. A website born last May that has steadily grown to over 1000 registered members. I recently discovered SeeMeHunt after Following this @SeeMeHunt on Twitter. Curious, I clicked on his link provided in his Tweet which brought me to a familiar looking looking web site. I could almost compare it to Facebook but for this guy looking for a new venue of sharing my hunting experiences and getting to know other hunters like me, I figured the creator was a genius! I was honestly frustrated of the same old hunting and fishing forums and jumping all over their sites reading new and different threads pertaining to different items. Here I was staring at a new site and immediately registered as a member. I really struggle to stop making the comparison to Facebook as it acts and feels a lot like it but has it own uniqueness that makes SeeMeHunt one of a kind. So I quickly began fishing around with the site and uploading my profile picture. Entered a few bits of information about myself to share with others. The basics were done. Next was interacting with the members. It became apparent who the creator was after a friendly welcome message appeared at the top of the News Feed page and shortly after a personal message welcoming me to the site and explaining a little bit about it’s purpose. We exchanged a few more messages in the next couple days. Since then, I check SeeMeHunt almost daily now.   Chris & his big boar So who was this faceless person I was chatting with? I only had a name “Chris Avena” and a distant profile picture of a guy standing behind a huge boar with his face slightly shadowed by his hat. So without further ado, here are some Q&A’s for getting to know Chris Avena – creator of SeeMeHunt.com.  UGA: What inspired you to start a hunting related social network site?-How long has the site been up?-How long had you been “planning” a hunting social web site? C.A.: I have been hunting for 30 years. What inspired me to Start SeeMeHunt.com was thedesire to spend more time doing what I love. I have always loved Hunting and beingoutdoors. I had a vision of creating a place where hunters from around the world canmeet and get to know each other. I wanted SeeMeHunt to be a place where hunters couldshare their Knowledge, Friendships and Experience. I launched the site in May 2010 andI am very pleased at how well received it has been.UGA: Do you feel your page layout stands out much better than the other typical forumlayouts?- Do you feel it has its advantages or disadvantages?C.A.: When I had envisioned SeeMeHunt.com I really wanted something that was more interactive than the standard blog or forum format. I wanted a place where hunters can meet, socialize & get to know each other. SeeMeHunt is an ever evolving cycle. Hunters get to indulge themselves and interact with other SeeMeHunt members. There are no disadvantages when everyone is enjoying their favorite sport. This makes SeeMeHunt become an everyday adventure. UGA: Do you have web design or computer technology background? If not, What is yourbackground (work experiences)? C.A.: My time is spent on certain aspects of my website. I have a web designer who works with me but I am responsible for every aspect of SeeMeHunt. UGA: What are some of your most memorable hunting experiences? C.A.: I would have to say that this past October during bow season when I came face to face with a big 350lb black bear at 30 yards was something that I will never forget. It was just about dusk & I was waiting to meet up with my hunting partner Bill and I see this flash of black about 100 yards off. I looked again and I see this black bear heading in my direction. I was on the other side of the stream sitting in a natural ground blind. The Bear seemed to be walking at a normal pace looking for a place to cross the stream. The bear appeared to have a big gate & was closing ground pretty fast. I had an arrow knocked but I couldn’t draw. It kept looking in my direction. It seemed like the closer this bear got to me, the bigger it got. Finally it stopped about 30 yards away. It found the place where he was going to cross the stream. All he had to do was walk five steps down the embankment and I would be sitting on a nice bear rug while I was writing this story. His nose went up testing the wind. I knew that I was busted. Suddenly, he looks right in my eyes! I was perfectly still. Focused on a potential shot staring into his black piercing eyes, both, waiting for the other to flinch. Then he put his head down, which is an aggressive posture. He was testing me but I didn’t move and I didn’t give ground. I knew at that point that either he was going to charge or he was going to retreat. I didn’t even have a chest shot at this point but I was still focused on getting one. Then, just like that, he turned and walked away. As I watched him walking away I realized that I was not nervous or scared about being that close to this potentially dangerous animal and that scared me. That observation is just something that stands out in my mind. UGA: Have you traveled to any foreign countries to hunt? (If not countries, any other states)- If so, what did you hunt? C.A.: To date, I have not, however I have traveled extensively out side the U.S. but not to hunt. This year I do have a September bow hunting trip for deer in Kentucky and a bear hunting trip in Maine. I do have a several trips envisioned. Those trips would be part pleasure, part business.UGA: You recently went to the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Can you explain what that is?- Had you been to Vegas before?     Chris with Lee & Tiffany C.A.: Yes, although I have been to Vegas several times in the past, this was my first Shot Show. The Shot Show is a trade show for the Outdoor Industry where all of the manufacturers showcase all of their latest products. The Shot Show exceeded all of my expectations. I saw everything from the latest rifles and hand guns by Thompson, CVA, Browning to the latest Tree Stands by Ameristep, The New Diesel UTV by Badboy Buggies, The latest Yamaha Grizzlie and the latest by C‘mere Deer, Mossey Oak, Wild Game Innovations, Primos and more. There were celebrity hunters there as well. I had the opportunity to meet Jim Shockey and his daughter Eva, Lee & Tiffany and a few others.   Chris & Jim Shocky They were all warm and friendly people. The whole scene was pretty overwhelming at first but you get into the swing of it pretty quickly. UGA:  Did you go for pleasure or business? C.A.: I did go to promote SeeMeHunt.com but although I was there for business, it really was a pleasure being there. Do we really consider it work when you really love what you do? I am very passionate about making SeeMeHunt.com the largest Social Network for Hunting and Fishing very soon. UGA: In your opinion, who had some of the best booths there? C.A.: Every company brought something unique to the show. To me, it seemed like the larger the manufacturer, the more detailed and elaborate the displays were. Sure I have my favorites but some things are better left unsaid.   UGA: Is there anything new coming out that is note worthy?   Jim's Daughter Eva Shocky & Chris C.A.: Thompson came out with the New Venture rifle that is in various calibers. It is just a beautiful Rifle. CVA also came out with some new models. Ameristep has the new Bone Collector line of Tree Stands with the sling back seats – very cool. There is a new wind direction detector by Firefly, Oilfield Camo, The new slimed down Thermacell with their new holster that you can clip to your day pack. From the moment you walk through the doors to the show you feel like you are in a hunter’s paradise. UGA: What is your hunting preference (Bow, Rifle, Shotgun, other?) C.A.: I had always been a rifle hunter. Over the past few years I have started bow hunting and I absolutely love it. I regret waiting so long to start bow hunting because now I am hooked on it. This past season I started hunting Black Powder as well. With each season that presents that perfect shooting opportunity – That is my favorite. UGA: Being from NY, do you have a lot of access to hunting land? Is it Private or State land? C.A.: Honestly, I think that I have hunted everywhere there is to hunt in New York. There is plenty of state land to hunt but I have always tried to stay on private land. I just felt more comfortable…..and safer. UGA: Do you have any trophies on the wall? Chris @ SHOT Show C.A.: Yes but do we ever have enough of them? UGA: Besides your own web site, where else can your members follow you on the internet? C.A.: I am on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Digg all under SeeMeHunt. UGA: In closing, what else do you feel we should know about you or your web site? C.A.: SeeMeHunt.com is open to anyone worldwide. I am especially fond of the diversity of cultures that it has brought together, sharing not only their hunting stories and experiences but sharing their lives as well. SeeMeHunt.com is expanding into other areas. Our store will be expanding its product line. We are working on a New SeeMeHunt Spice Rub. We have New Sponsors that will be coming aboard as well. We will be planning a few Discounted Hunts for SeeMeHunt Members. Being a new site, we have a lot of plans ahead of us. I personally enjoy target shooting with a bow, rifle or muzzle loader. I like to try out new weapons and evaluate the performance of them. I am always trying to expand my knowledge of the industry and I enjoy reading about it, watching something about it on one of the hunting channels. I also like to cook and try out new game recipes. I enjoy trying new types of food. I just had some alligator last week. No – It didn’t taste like chicken. It was good though. My favorites are duck and rabbit but I will try just about any type of food once. You never know what you will enjoy unless you try it. I want to Thank You Chris for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope after reading this you will go and check his site out and join myself and the other 1000+ members. We’d love to hear from you and share our experiences with you there!

  Las Vegas, NV - Ted Nugent, producer and host of Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild was honored by Outdoor Channel January 20 during the Golden Moose Awards. In recognition of his tireless contributions in promoting the outdoor lifestyle, Nugent received the first ever Lightning Rod Award In presenting the award, Outdoor Channel's Chief Operating Officer, Tom Hornish, stated that Nugent is "on the radio or TV on a near daily basis promoting hunting and the outdoors to the entire nation. And he's not afraid of a little controversy!"Nugent responded, "I could not be more proud to stand up for what's right and good and ultimately be acknowledged for doing so by my great Outdoor Channel team. I shall increase the heat nonstop!" This year's GMA reception was held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas as part of the National Shooting Sports Foundation's annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference (SHOT Show.) As the most popular and longstanding outdoor television awards extravaganza in the country, the GMA's honor producers and on-air talent from Outdoor Channel's industry-leading programming.     Rocker Ted Nugent promotes hunting lifestyle By TOM WHARTON The Salt Lake Tribune First published Feb 02 2011 07:04PMUpdated 5 hours ago Updated Feb 3, 2011 12:13AM Veteran rocker, outdoor writer and hunting show host Ted Nugent defies the stereotypes of a rock ’n’ roll star. He doesn’t do drugs, is conservative and is an avid advocate of gun rights and hunting. “I don’t play games,” said the 62-year-old Nugent in an interview from his Texas home. “I promote and celebrate hunting, fishing, trapping and the Second Amendment. If I drive my critics batty, it’s just a bonus. And doing the right thing drives them batty. If you are not making a--holes angry, you are an a--hole.” Nugent will be giving a bowhunting clinic, signing books and speaking at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo, which opens Thursday at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center for a four-day run. The event features more than 500 guides, outfitters and manufacturers as well as conservation auctions to raise money for state agencies for habitat improvement and purchase. It is sponsored by Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife and the Mule Deer Foundation. Miles Moretti, head of the Mule Deer Foundation, said he expects about 30,000 people to attend. A record number of exhibitors have signed up, as well as record bids for some tags. “There is a lot of interest in the Antelope Island deer tag,” he said. “A lot of people want to be the first to hunt. There is big interest in the statewide deer tag in Utah and statewide tag in Arizona. It seems like mule deer are kind of the tags of the year. Our elk and sheep tags will go for good numbers.” Moretti said organizers invited Nugent because he is a popular figure within the hunting industry. “We brought him in purely as entertainment,” said Moretti. “He represents a lot of views that our members share. We thought he would be a good bet.” Nugent said he is participating in his 61st hunting season. After giving 65 concerts in 77 days in 2010, he dedicated the rest of the year to his pursuit of game and fish and said he has only missed five days afield since Sept. 6. He seems a perfect fit for the often politically active hunters who attend the annual Expo. In his “Spirit of the Wild” hunting show on The Outdoor Channel and his writing for more than two dozen sporting publications and Washingtontimes.com, the father of nine praises the contributions of hunters to the environment, blasts anti-hunters and defends the right to own firearms and carry a concealed weapon. He calls hunting “the last perfect positive force for a healthy, balanced, thriving environment” and says there are more deer, elk and mountain lions now than ever before. Nugent condemns what he calls the “curse of apathy” “Americans have just bent over for so long, so embarrassingly, to allow animal-rights people to have any say in anything,” he said. He is critical of sportsmen not involved in the game-management process at a political level. Nugent maintains that life is a lot like hunting because both pursuits rely on discipline. “For a good bowhunter to hit a damn bull’s-eye requires definitive discipline,” he said. “You cannot be disconnected from the mystical flight of the arrow. Great guitar playing, great parenting, great welding, discipline is the name of the game. ... I’ve been uninhibited and really adventurous, but not to the point to jump off the same cliff all those corpses did. There is a difference between adventure and stimulating creativity.” Nugent is on a roll creatively both as a host of a hunting show and as a rocker. The Outdoor Channel recently gave him its first ever Lightning Rod Award for his efforts in promoting the outdoor lifestyle. Nugent, who has sold some 30 million records, is hoping to get into the studio later this year to record new material.

Hello Everyone,   My name is Wade and I am writing today to tell you about Racks & Tails Magazine!  Racks & Tails is a new quarterly publication written by Hunters for Hunters.  The Magazine has a 75% article to 25% advertisement ratio, meaning that you will always get lots of Great Information and see lots of Great Pictures, taken by average everyday hunters of  their harvested animals. I am hoping that you will find this Magazine interesting and be willing to give it a try!    I am trying to become a Gear Tester for the Magazine and as part of my contract I need to bring 100 + new subscribers to the Magazine.  Now, I really am an avid hunter, but my list of hunters that I personally know totals three, myself and my two hunting buddies.  So I am here today to ask you to check out the Magazine and if you like it, give it a try.  I ask that if you do decide to subscribe to Racks & Tails that you enter ABWW into the referral code section of the subscription page.  Buy doing so you will be helping me and you, as I will be open to any suggestions for Gear Testing and will respond to any questions that you may have.  Please follow the following Links to Racks & Tails Facebook Page and to the Subscription Page.     Thanks,   Wade   http://www.facebook.com/RacksAndTails     http://www.racksandtails.com/

I must say that we did see some interesting product at Shot this year. I saw a treestand by wood'n Trail that you step onto and then you can crank yourself up into the tree. Good idea for a hunter who is disabled. Price point was about 600 dollars. The had a battery opporated version for 1100. Browning came out with an anniversery 22. It is a stripped down version of the 1911. The have the 1911 45 as well that can be purchased as a box set. Ameristep has a new line of treestand. The Bone Collector Edition complete with sling backed chairs. It has comfortable seating. It is a pleasant change from sitting on that cold uncomfortable steel grating. It comes in multiple styles and I am looking forward to trying it out. As usual Tink's is working their magic with some new products this year: Mr. October -an Inflatable Buck Decoy - yes you read that right- an inflatable decoy. Tink's Power Moose Buck Bomb - This scent sticks to everything that it comes in contact with. Tink's Scrape Bomb -this triggers a Bucks 3 key senses-Dominance, reproductive & curiosity. Also- Tinks Vanish Odor Eliminatoer & Floor Blend Odor Eliminator. Both are designed to destroy over 300 odor causing compounds produced by the human body.

Arizona Commission Supports Gray Wolf Delisting 12/7/2010  The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has voted to support congressional action aimed at removing gray wolves from the federal endangered species list.  PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has voted to support congressional action aimed at removing gray wolves from the federal endangered species list. The commission voted 4-1 after a lengthy meeting Saturday in support of federal legislation that would declare the wolves recovered and no longer in need of federal protections. The commission says it sees delisting the gray wolf as an opportunity to break through the gridlock that has stalled an effort to reintroduce the Mexican gray wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf, along the Arizona-New Mexico border. The commission says it wants to work with every stakeholder and all who are willing to negotiate and seek solutions for the troubled Mexican gray wolf program. At last count, Arizona and New Mexico had just 42 Mexican gray wolves.

Sportsmen Split on Western Wolf Issue Posted 18 Nov 20:40 by donna@southwickassociates.com FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Reintroduced wolves have exceeded expectations about adapting to their western environs and many states are seeking authority to manage packs within their boundaries. As a result, the wolf issue is one of the most controversial topics throughout the Rockies where gray wolves now roam. Among those stakeholder groups attempting to be heard on the matter—state and federal legislators, animal rights activists, ranchers and sportsmen—America’s hunters have as much to gain or lose as anybody. However, when asked by HunterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com what they thought about the issue, it is clear that even among our nation’s sportsmen, there remains some uncertainty as to how best to proceed. Asked if they believe western gray wolf populations are recovered and should be removed from the Endangered Species List, well over half of the respondents—57.1 percent—said “yes,” while only 6.7 percent said “no.” As many as 36.1 percent of the respondents said they “do not know.” At a rate of more than 2 to 1, however, sportsmen are concerned that growing wolf populations are having a harmful impact on elk, moose and deer populations within their range. More than 68 percent believe wolves are negatively affecting ungulate species, while 33.7 percent think the affects of more wolves are actually beneficial. Nearly the same amount of survey participants, 62.2 percent, as those who believe wolves are harming other wildlife populations say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate if they supported giving states primary management authority over wolf populations. Thirty-four percent said they weren’t sure if it would influence their vote or said the topic was too complicated to say how they would vote based on the issue. Only 3.7 percent said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who supported state management authority. “Future management of gray wolf populations is an extremely sensitive subject, particularly in the West where it most immediately affects the people and animals that live there,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at HunterSurvey.com and AnglerSurvey.com. “The results of the survey suggest a need for more clear-cut information be made available to the public regarding the current status of the gray wolf in the region and how it is impacting other game species.” One thing respondents seem more united on is their distrust of the motivations behind animal welfare groups’ opposition to delisting the gray wolf or turning over management authority to the states. Only 16.1 percent believe these groups are acting out of genuine concern for conserving and restoring wolf populations, while many more (65 percent) believe they are acting out of an interest to limit hunting opportunities and (38.7 percent) as a means to boost membership and donations. Comments submitted by survey respondents supported these beliefs with many suggesting animal rights groups will say or do anything they can to put a stop to hunting in any form.

  Deer hunting in stands more prevalent than years ago Posted on 18 December 2010 By Joe Mosby When Dad and Granddad talk nostalgically about the good ol’ days of Arkansas deer hunting compared to today, keep in mind that it is an apples and oranges comparison. We don’t hunt deer like they did in 1960. We don’t go after deer. We sit and wait for deer to come to us. We kill many, many more deer than they did in those good ol’ days, but we also have many more deer roaming around than in times past. Scientific and accurate verification is impossible, but likely there are many more deer today in Arkansas than when the first settlers arrive in a territory and state that was virtually covered with forests. It is easier to get a handle on the change in hunting methods. For a couple of centuries, deer in Arkansas were hunted by people slipping quietly through the woods, bottoms and other cover. Deer hunters learned to walk quietly. Their objective was to slip up on deer bedded down in grassy spots, in addition to finding a path made by wildlife and stalking along it. Deer hunters matched their senses with deer. They made great effort to be silent, and they tried to cover their smell with items like a couple of ripe apples in pockets. They depended on eyesight, and here the human could match the deer. The oldtimers didn’t deck themselves out in bright orange, and they didn’t wear camouflage clothing until well after World War II. A warm plaid flannel shirt was commonly used by a deer hunter of old. A warm jacket of some sort was used along with cast-off suit jackets. The deer hunter of old carried a rifle with open sights, not telescopic sights. The “thutty-thutty,” or .30-30, was the most common deer gun. Lever action rifles using cartridges like the .38-40 and .44-40 were often used, and these have less power than the .30-30. Shots at deer were usually less than 100 yards, with long “bean-field shots” unknown. By the time the 1970s arrived, hunters were discovering elevated stands. First came the 2×4 board steps nailed to a tree and leading to a board platform secured to branches. This put the hunter several feet above ground and allowed more visibility at the price of not being mobile. Innovative types developed metal stands that could be moved from one spot to another. They also came up with ladder and platform rigs that could be leaned against a handy tree and tied in place with a strap or rope. Free-standing metal stands came forth as did relatively lightweight portable stands that could be used to climb trees. The old walk and stalk faded in favor of the sit and wait. Available statistics tell us that elevated-stand hunting, the sit-and-wait game, has numbers of deer killed well in its favor. It was the 1970s before the number of deer checked in Arkansas passed 20,000 a year. In recent years the number has approached 200,000 in a season. Another statistic, though, tells us that the 12 or 14 days of deer hunting a few decades back has given way to deer seasons nearly a month long, sometimes more. And this goes along with the increasing population of deer all across the state. All right, is the sit-and-wait practitioner a better deer hunter than the old fellow who eased through the woods on foot and sneaked up on a deer? A definitive answer isn’t likely. The ability to shoot a rifle accurately, however, is just as critical today as in old times. Today’s deer rifles have power that would amaze the oldtimers along with those vision-enhancing telescopic sights. Shooting ability still ranks near the top of deer hunting talents, and a sit-and-wait enthusiast may point out that his or her position provides a more stable shooting setup than a person walking in the woods.

NJ's bear hunt: Hunters kill 264 bears on first day of controversial NJ hunt By ROB JENNNIGS • STAFF WRITER • December 6, 2010  FREDON — Joan Robillard of Boonton was waiting in line Monday to have the bear she shot dead several hours earlier in Montville weighed and registered.    Entering the Whittingham Wildlife Management Area check station shortly after 1 p.m., she and her son, Eddie, were jeered by two dozen protesters who gathered for the first day of New Jersey's first bear hunt in five years.  Protesters, including Ken Vassilatos of Pine Bush, N.Y., were chanting "stop the slaughter" as hunters pulled up in their pickup trucks, with State Police erecting barriers to keep both sides apart. One man was arrested shortly after noon, several hours into the six-day hunt, after police said he breached the barricade, state Division of Fish and Wildlife Assistant Director Larry Herrighty said. By that point, at least a dozen bears had been brought to the check station, one of three in Sussex — the heart of bear country — set up for the hunt. Overall, 264 bears had been killed.  Robillard, who used a Remington 1100 20-gauge slug to kill the bear at 8:35 a.m., echoed the sentiments of several other hunters on Monday — that hunting was part of their heritage and a worthy tradition.  "I've hunted since I was 15," she said.  Protesters took a different view. Angi Metler of Vernon, a critic of the state's last two bear hunts in 2003 and 2005, charged that the public safety rationale used to justify the hunt was manufactured. "This is a massacre that is based on lies," she said. "This is simply a trophy hunt. It's not about population reduction and it's not about reducing nuisance complaints." Herrighty disagreed. "This isn't a trophy hunt. It is a management hunt," Herrighty said.  Herrighty, who was working in Fredon on Monday, estimated that anywhere from 500 to 700 bears would be killed by the end of the hunt. That would represent a small but still significant portion of the bear population. Prior to the hunt, the state Department of Environmental Protection estimated there were 3,400 bears in northwestern New Jersey. According to the DEP, bear complaints involving a threat to safety or property have more than doubled since 2007 — after dropping by 40 following the 2003 hunt and by 15 percent after the 2005 hunt.  New Jersey originally ended bear hunting in the early 1970s when the population was nearing extinction. In Fredon, Anthony Lingenfelter of Howell recorded the first dead bruin — a 327.5-pound, 7-year-old male — on Monday. Joined by his father, also named Anthony, he woke up at 3:15 a.m. for the two-hour drive and brought down the bear at 7:10 a.m. Lingenfelter said he would bring the carcass to the butcher for food, with the hide and head going to the taxidermist. "I grew up in a hunting family," Lingenfelter said, adding, "It's been passed down from generation to generation."  He said it was the first time he had killed a bear. Though only one arrest was reported by midday, tensions between hunters and protesters were evident. Two hunters, upon arriving in Fredon with dead bears, said they did not want to be named for fear of retaliation.  A man from Lake Hopatcong who gave his name as "Bill" said he was concerned the publicity could hurt his insurance business. Another hunter, "Mike," was making a video of protesters who were making a video of him.  In addition to criticizing hunters, protesters were also targeting Gov. Chris Christie for allowing the hunt to proceed.  "Gov. Christie, stop the hunt," was chanted again and again by demonstrators lining the road leading to the entrance.  Claudia Emerson, a bear hunt protester who lives in West New York, said she opposed the previous two hunts in 2003 and 2005 and that the reasons behind her objections hadn't diminished.  "It's not necessary," she said of the hunt.  As in 2003 and 2005, this week's bear hunt is limited to north of Route 78 and west of Route 287, including portions of Morris, Sussex and Warren counties