2025 Florida black bear hunt results released by FWC

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) revealed the numbers from this year's black bear hunt.

According to the FWC, a total of 172 permits were issued through a random drawing. Officials said 52 bears were harvested during the 2025 bear hunt.

FWC said that all harvested bears were physically checked by staff and bear response contractors and that a full harvest report will be released in the coming months.

The regulated black bear hunt was approved to take place in December after the FWC voted in August to approve it for the 2025 hunting season.

"The 2025 black bear hunt, rooted in sound scientific data, was a success. We’re proud to have joined the more than 30 states that manage black bears with regulated hunting," FWC Executive Director Roger Young said via news release.

This was Florida's first black bear hunt since October 2015.

Previous coverage of Florida's Black Bear Hunt:

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