TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey’s first bear hunt in five years began 30 minutes before sunrise Monday.

Some light snow flurries fell as hunters took to the woods in the state’s seven northwest counties. They have six days to bag one bear of any age or sex.

The Animal Protection League of New Jersey and the Bear Education and Resource Group had asked the state Supreme Court to halt the hunt. But Supreme Court Justice Edwin Stern turned down that request over the weekend.

State officials say the hunt is needed to control a growing black bear population estimated at 3,400. Officials believe between 300 to 700 bears will be killed during the hunt.