After ten years, Florida has resumed legal hunting of black bears, with hunters now using rifles and crossbows across the state’s wetlands and plains. This has sparked a significant outcry from critics.
The sanctioned hunt kicked off on Saturday, having received over 160,000 applications for a much smaller number of hunting permits. This included individuals opposed to the hunt, aiming to limit the number of bears taken during this initial season since 2015.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a total of 172 bear hunting permits were granted via a random lottery. Each permit allows for the hunting of one bear in designated areas deemed to have sufficient bear populations.
The Sierra Club’s Florida chapter noted that at least 43 permits were given to those against the hunt who didn’t plan to use them, urging more people to apply to aid conservation efforts.
Remarkably, Florida’s black bear population has grown from a few hundred in the 1970s to an estimated 4,000 today, marking a notable conservation achievement.
While opponents have questioned the necessity of hunting, they haven’t managed to get a legal injunction against it.
Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
Limits on Bear Hunting
This season, the 172 permitted hunters can each kill one bear from December 6 to December 28. The hunting occurs in one of four designated areas, with quotas based on local bear populations.
To hunt, individuals must have a valid hunting license and a bear trapping permit, costing $100 for residents and $300 for non-residents, in addition to a $5 application fee.
Supporters of the hunt, like Mark Burton from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, argue that regulated hunting incentivizes bear population health and funds conservation efforts.
Burton believes this annual hunt is crucial for sustaining financial support for ongoing bear conservation initiatives.
Hunting for Wildlife Management
State officials assert that the bear population is sufficiently robust to withstand regulated hunting, necessitating population management strategies.
They emphasize hunting as a globally recognized method for managing wildlife populations, allowing states to fund conservation through permit fees.
The bear hunting guide from the state wildlife commission cautions that while there’s enough suitable habitat for bears, continued population growth might soon outpace available space.
Conversely, critics maintain that the hunt is both cruel and unnecessary, citing issues like the growing human encroachment on bear habitats instead of hunting as a solution.
Stricter Regulations This Year
This season’s hunting regulations are tighter than those from 2015, when permits were issued more liberally, resulting in over 3,700 being granted and a hasty end to the hunting period.
That event saw a higher than expected number of bear kills, with at least 38 being female bears with cubs, leading to premature closure after just two days.
Doug Moore, who manages 6,000 acres of forest in Northeast Florida and heads a local hunting club, generally supports the new bear hunting regulations despite his family not getting permits this time. He reflects on the previous mismanagement and is optimistic about improvements in the current hunting season.
Permits Issued to Activists
Proponents argue that the increasing bear population has led to safety issues, with reports of bears invading residential areas. Activists, however, suggest focusing on alternative measures for managing nuisance bear incidents rather than resorting to hunting.
Though opponents couldn’t persuade the courts to pause the hunt, approximately a quarter of the permits went to activists applying for tags they had no intention of using. One such individual, Joel Cleveland, noted the likelihood of encountering a bear in local properties, which motivated his application.
