Florida wildlife officials are one step closer to reinstating a statewide black bear hunt, with proposed rules drawing heated debate during a public meeting in Ocala this week.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), 75% of submitted public comments were against the hunt. Still, commissioners are moving forward with draft rules that would establish a 23-day season in December and set a statewide quota of 184 bears.
The proposal stems from data showing Florida’s black bear population has nearly doubled since 2002. The animals now occupy more than half of their historic range — up from just 17% in 1992. However, FWC has not released new population estimates since 2015.
Under the plan, bear permits would be awarded at random. Residents could apply an unlimited number of times for $5 per entry, with permit winners paying $100. Non-residents would pay $300, but no more than 10% of total permits could go to out-of-state hunters.
Each hunter would be issued a bear tag and must report any harvest within 24 hours. Cubs under 100 pounds and females with cubs would be off limits. The rules would also allow the use of bear hunting dogs and bait stations on private land, as well as bow and arrows.
The proposed regional quotas include 68 bears in the East Panhandle, 55 in the South Region (including Collier, Lee, and Hendry counties), 46 in the North, and 15 in Central Florida.
Commissioners will vote on the proposal at their next FWC commission meeting in August.
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