FLORIDA, USA — With the first black bear hunt in ten years officially complete, the actual number of bear kills reported was far lower than what state officials would have allowed.
After 172 single-use permits were issued across the state, 52 bears were killed, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). In its announcement, FWC wrote that the hunter success rate was “very close to other states with similar hunt parameters.”
The hunting period was Dec. 6 to Dec. 28, with approved zones in four Bear Management Units that the state determined had a large enough population to handle a hunt. In Northeast Florida, that included areas west and south of Jacksonville.
“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,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. “The limited number of permits issued in areas with the largest bear populations and other components of the hunt prioritized a conservative approach that ensures the long-term health of bear populations in Florida, while providing opportunity for hunters.”…