Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade approved despite strong opposition
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans a lottery permit system allowing up to 187 bears to be hunted annually to address population and safety concerns.
- On Wednesday in Havana, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 5-0 to approve a regulated bear hunting season starting December 2025.
- Facing a growing population and rising bear-human contact incidents, FWC reports there are more than 4,000 black bears in the state and at least 42 encounters since 2006.
- The hunt would remove up to 187 bears via lottery permits, with participants applying online and paying a $5 application fee across four designated zones.
- Over 10,000 public comments and more than 160 speakers highlighted deep divisions at Wednesday's Havana meeting, with at least 100 from Tampa, Orlando and Daytona Beach opposing the hunt.
- The rules set a 23-day hunt in December and enable hunting dogs starting in 2027 alongside archery and baiting stations.
46 Articles
46 Articles
FWC Give Final Approval For Florida Black Bear Hunt (But Not In Escambia, Santa Rosa) : NorthEscambia.com
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has given final approval for black bear hunting in Florida. The new rules establish Bear Hunting Zones (BHZ) within four of the seven existing Bear Management Units. FWC said 187 total permits will be issued through a random drawing across the east Panhandle, North, Central and South BMUs, [...]
Last Call for 8.13.25 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics. First Shot Florida just put a price on black bear lives — five bucks. The same price as a cheap-o locking lid for your trash can, a device that would prevent “nuisance” encounters more effectively than the killing of 187 Florida black bears. On Wednesday, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the state’s first black bear hunt in a decade, setting a Dec. 6–28…
Florida Restarts Black Bear Hunts Again Despite Protests
Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade is officially set to move forward after a unanimous vote by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Wednesday morning, despite opposition from animal rights groups. The regulated hunt will take place over 23 days in December this year. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The vote occurred at the end of a hearing with over an hour of public testimony in the Panhandle city of Havana, …
First bear hunting season in 10 years starts in December
Florida bears are attracted to unsecured garbage. (Photo via FWC)Bear hunts in Florida will resume following a unanimous vote Wednesday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Following a preliminary approval in May, commissioners took final action during a meeting in Havana, in Gadsden County, Wednesday that was heavily attended by opponents and hunters hopeful for a hunt. The first hunt will be 23 days long during December, m…
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