Animal rights groups rallied against the state-sanctioned bear hunt this weekend.

Protesters say they've launched a public media campaign against the annual bear hunt. They're urging Gov. Phil Murphy to keep his vow of putting an end to the hunt.

The demonstration took place Saturday in Middletown where Murphy lives.

"Men in the woods with guns shooting creatures--that may work in Alaska or Colorado or something but New Jersey is a very densely populated state and we just think there's a better policy to eliminate unwanted human and bear encounters," said Jay Lassiter of Cherry Hill.

A billboard also went up in Middletown urging the end of the bear hunt.