I agree with Foofoo, it is a sad day for the bears. I am a hunter so my feelings are bit mixed about the situation. I've never hunted bear, but as a deer hunter I certainly recognize the need for population management through harvesting of game. To me and many others it is obvious that contraception and relocation are difficult, expensive, and painstakingly long processes. This state is cash strapped enough without spending more money on endless studies and contraception and relocation programs. To add to what Foofoo said, a hunt is actually less than free-it makes the state money! Special permits are not cheap and that money goes to support FG&W programs that would otherwise cost taxpayer money.
It is sad though that there would be no reason for a hunt if not for the continued development of the area. My girlfriend, who grew up just a few miles from High Point, has seen firsthand just how much land has been lost to McMansions and shopping plazas. The bear population has stayed constant while the habitat has been dissapearing at a dizzying rate. Sussex County has now become a bedroom community for the more congested areas of North Jersey and New York City. I can't blame these people for wanting peace, quiet, and an acre or two to spread out on, but living in the woods just isn't the same as living in Nutley, Belleville, or Teaneck, where its a rare occurance to have a racoon tear apart your garbage.
I think to an extent these types of people have hyped up the "bear scare" which doesn't help in having a reasoned discourse about the best management solutions. If you want to move to bear country, you should know what to do with your garbage, know better than to leave pets and small children outside unattended, etc... I have little sympathy for someone who builds a $1.5 million dollar home on the side of mountain in Sussex County and then cries to the state that a bear walked through their backyard and that something should be done. If the bear could talk he'd probably say "And just what the hell do you think YOU'RE doing in MY yard!?"
That being said, a bi-yearly hunt needs to be held, because I don't see anyone leaving that area for more urban environs anytime soon. It's only a matter of time before a human/bear interaction results in a mauling or a fatality. The sad part will be that it will more than likely stem from human stupidity-not ursine aggression.