Florida to Allow Black Bear Hunting After Ten Years

• Hunting of black bears in Florida will resume in December 2025.
• The commission has approved new rules, including limits on the number of bears that can be hunted.
• Opponents of hunting consider it unnecessary and cruel.

In December 2025, the state of Florida will conduct its first black bear hunt in ten years. This decision was made by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during a meeting on September 13, despite strong opposition from the community. During the public hearing in the town of Havana, where 168 people attended, the commission unanimously supported the plan, stating that there is a need for control due to the increasing bear population.

On the territory of Florida, it is estimated that around 4,000 black bears are currently living. Opponents of hunting consider it unnecessary and cruel, asserting that the real problem is the rising human population, which encroaches on bear territory. Some residents report occasional encounters with bears that wander into backyards and rummage through trash.

The plan includes stricter regulations than in the previous hunting season in 2015, when over 300 bears were killed. This time, the number of permits will be limited to 187, and each hunter will only be allowed to kill one bear in certain areas of Florida. Hunting will be permitted from December 6 through December 28, 2025.

Along with the new regulations, hunters will not be allowed to hunt bears with dogs. For Florida residents, the cost of a permit will be $100, while for non-residents, it will be $300. In the future, hunting is planned to take place between January 1 and December 31, depending on the bear population.

Tags: USA/Politics