Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday halted New Jersey's annual bear hunt on all state land this year.

The governor, who said during his gubernatorial campaign he would end the hunts that were in place under former Gov. Chris Christie, signed an executive order that has been hailed by supporters as a good first step in ending black bear hunts in New Jersey.

"Today, I am fulfilling my commitment to stop the bear hunt to the greatest extent of my authority by ordering the Department of Environmental Protection to prevent bear hunting on all public lands under the DEP's jurisdiction during the 2018 season," Murphy said in a statement.

"I am also calling on the Legislature to take action on this critical issue," he said. "My first concern has always been public safety and before we authorize another hunt, we should review all non-lethal options."

The order bans hunting on all state forests, state parks and recreation areas, and state Wildlife Management Areas -- about 700,000 acres, according to the New Jersey Sierra Club.

That leaves 1 million acres privately owned or owned by counties where hunting is still permitted.

Murphy has been criticized by some environmental groups for not ending bear hunts in the state.

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, called the executive order the "first real step we've had in a long time to limit the unnecessary bear hunt."

"We believe that today's action by the governor is an important step in the right direction and will reduce the number of bear mortalities," Tittel said in a statement. "We still need a full moratorium on the bear hunt this year and in future years."

According to a report released just before Murphy took office, ending the bear hunt could cause the state's bear population to double by 2022.

"The removal of hunting as a management tool will quickly allow the population to rebound to unacceptable levels," concluded the 12-page report from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The governor's executive order was met with anger from New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, which favors the hunt.

"We are shocked and distressed that the governor would take such an action," Cody McLaughlin, a spokesman for the group, said in a statement.

"Those who have read the countless science on this and other issues of hunting know, it is the best tool in the toolbox for wildlife management of any species - including bears - and this ban flies in the face of a mountain of research urging the contrary," he said.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.