A second vote on the hunt must be taken by the state in August, but all indications point to a 187-quota hunt that could last ...

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) voted 4-1 to move forward with the state's first bear hunt in a ...

FWC staff said there is a sufficient bear population to allow for a sustainable hunt. They estimate there are around 4,000 black bears in Florida. In the 1970s, there were just several hundred bears.

Florida wildlife managers have proposed a black bear hunt with a quota of 187 bears, likely to occur in December. FWC officials state the hunt is a conservative measure to address increasing bear ...

FWC staff will discuss the black bear hunt during their commission meeting on May 21 and 22 in Ocala at the College of Central Florida. Visit FWC’s website to read the entire draft proposal for ...

FWC is scheduled to vote on the bear hunt one final time in August, and then it's expected that 187 permits will be issued to take bears in parts of the state.

On May 5, a bear attacked an 89-year-old man and his dog in Collier County, marking a tragic end to a long life.It all comes as FWC plans for a black bear hunt in December.

FWC commissioners voted 4-1 May 21 to have a black bear hunt for 23 days in December, but the measure must be voted on again in August to be finalized.

The FWC’s plan is about restoring long-term balance. The proposed hunt is tightly controlled and grounded in data. It allows for just 187 tags across four Bear Management Units — less than 5% ...

What people have told the FWC about the bear hunt When the agency tallied the 3,941 unique emailed comments received from Dec. 6, 2024 through April 20, 2025, there were: 3,201 anti-hunt, 81.2% ...

FWC weighs ‘Bear Hunt’ as people on both sides speak out. ... — A proposal to allow bear hunting in Florida is drawing sharp reactions from both conservationists and animal rights advocates.

In a statement, the FWC said it will present rule amendment options during its May 21–22 commission meeting in Ocala. The agency says its goal is to create a sustainable, repeatable hunt ...