Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioners voted 5-0 this week to reinstate a regulated black bear hunting season, ending a 10-year halt on the practice in the state. Black bear hunting was stopped in 2015 after hunters exceeded their quota by killing more than 300 bears in just two days, resulting in backlash from critics.
“I am proud that Florida is joining the majority of states that manage black bears with regulated hunting,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a release. "The components of the hunt are conservative and prioritize conservation, with a limited number of permits only being issued in the areas of the state with the largest bear populations.”
The new regulations will begin on the first Saturday in December and run through the last Sunday of the month, or 23 days. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the hunt will be permitted across four Bear Hunting Zones (BHZs) in the East Panhandle, North, Central, and South, with a statewide quota of 187 bears over the first two years, or one per permit.
Approximately 4,000 black bears live in Florida. They are also the only species of bear found in the state.
Notably, black bear cubs under 100 pounds and females with cubs will not be taken under the new hunting regulations. Starting in 2027, a regulation to the amendment will expand to allow hunters to use trained dogs for their hunts.
Permits will be distributed randomly, and anyone 18 years or older can apply for the $5 applicant fee, the FWC said.
Per guidance from its 2019 Black Bear Management Plan, the FWC acknowledged that regulations for black bear hunting would allow the commission to better manage the black bear numbers in the largest subpopulations. They also said that the regulations would help the overall bear population thrive and grow in its natural habitat, as well as limit encounters between bears and humans, thus setting it up for a better future in Florida's ecosystem.
More information on the FWC's plan can be found here.
