Hunters fighting back against bear protesters

VERNON — Everyone has seen pictures of the New Jersey Bear Hunt protesters. Now hunters, alleges Mike of McAfee's Mountain Mike's Sport Shop, are fighting back against the Anti-Bear Hunt Facebook threats in court.
He said hunters are tired of “death threats” and “people harassing our family members, our businesses, and our customers. It's got to stop because right now it's to the point where it is absolutely jeopardizing the safety of hunters and their families.”
On Nov. 14, Mike filed a harassment complaint in the Vernon Township Municipal Court. Susan Kehoe retained an attorney saying, she is not guilty. “The State vs. Kehoe” case was adjourned on Dec. 13 and rescheduled to Jan. 24, because the state was looking for additional discovery from the defense.
“I have never wasted an ounce of meat in my entire life," Mike said. "We harvest animals. We haven't bought meat from a grocery store in over eight years.” He added, even all the bear and deer scraps get boiled up for the dogs.
On top of that, continued Mike, he is actually part Native American, with Lenni-Lenape roots in his great-great grandmother, who was half Lenni-Lenape. He said, they look at it from the heritage which carries to them.
Mike explained none of these problems happened until people started naming the animals: Bambi, Thumper, Winnie the Pooh, Boo Boo, and Pretty Mamma. He continued now the Anti-Bear Hunters harass and follow hunters, who are carrying guns, into the woods.
Mike added, Peddles — the bear which walked on its hind legs due to mangled front paws — should have been euthanized years ago by the state. He speculated the state probably did not want a backlash from the Anti-Bear Hunters and the bear group. Mike commented, so “basically Peddles was propaganda waiting to happen.”
However, he said, the bear suffered every day of its life because bears are not meant to walk vertically, but horizontally — their spines are not meant to take it. If that bear had been in the wild and not in residential areas depending on handouts, he noted, it would not have lasted five minutes. He continued,
“Bears aren't nice animals," he said. "That's the problem.”
Mike and Dee are peaceful folk, who live life close to their food source. She had looked forward to her Christmas presents: a crossbow and 20-gauge semi-auto shotgun. No yellow cellophane packages of meat for them.
They also are very hospitable.
“Help yourself to water and soda in the fridge," Mike said. "Grab a seat.”
Dee started cutting bear kielbasi on a white paper plate. The fresh smell of garlic — for meat lovers — wafted to the nose; the meat tasted delicious: perfectly moist, without any dryness or chemical flavor.
Mike had harvested the bear with a bow and arrow.
Kehoe's attorney, Daniel M. Perez, was unavailable for comment.