I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents here...

The problem is this, how does NJF&G do it's job when it does not have either the personnell or pay them OT when necessary?? They use the police to do it.

Whenever I have a problem in PA with a Bear, I call the Game Commission. There are Game Wardens and Deputy Game Wardens in my county, some I know and they carry pistols. If you try getting the local cops, they are part time and unfortunately hard to get since they are probably out in their cars patroling. We have 3 part time cops in my town. This year, I had a bear attack my rabbit coop but did't get in. I did not shoot it but rather shot my 22 in the air to chase it off. After I called the PAGC, they were at my house 15 minutes later.

My point here is, NJ is using the local cops to handle the job Game Wardens should be doing. It sounds like it's because of funding issues. This is deffinately a problem since police officers are not game handlers and what happens after a cops shoots a bear, file a report with NJF&C and leaves the carcess there to rot?

The Game Wardens in PA are not paid a lot of money, but they perform an important function. Something needs to be done and it maybe that more state or private funding, higher liscense fees, or other types of funding is necessary to increase funding and hirer the wardens so they can do their jobs versus using the police.

T