Florida Restores Black Bear Hunting — A Landmark Victory for Sportsmen’s Rights

For the first time since October of 2015, sportsmen and women in Florida will have the opportunity to throw their name in the hat to draw a coveted black bear tag and participate in a black bear hunt. Re-establishing a black bear season in Florida has been a priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), along with many of our in-state partners.

Highlights:

• During the December 2024 Commission meeting, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff (FWC) were instructed to put together options for a black bear hunting season in 2025.
• On May 21, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s Assistant Manager, Southeastern States Mark Lance spoke at the Commission meeting, urging the Commission to follow the science presented by FWC staff and vote favorably on bringing a black bear hunting season back to Florida.
• In advance of the August Commission meeting, CSF again provided testimony encouraging the Commission to vote favorably on final approval of re-establishing a black bear season. The Commission voted unanimously to do so.

Hunters in Florida are again afforded the opportunity to pursue black bears through regulated hunting supported by science-based wildlife management decision making.

The conservation dollars generated by sportsmen and women played a significant role in the recovery of the black bear in Florida, and the Commission recognizes the importance and value that hunting plays in maintaining viable, genetically diverse populations of game species.

Similar to the May Commission meeting, more than 165 people signed up to speak on the black bear hunting season proposal during the August meeting. This resulted in hours of public testimony, where arguments ranged from emotionally driven opposition to proponents urging the Commission to follow the science and uphold the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Science-based decision making prevailed as the Commission voted unanimously to re-instate a season that will take place in 4 bear hunting zones within 4 of the 7 bear management units across Florida. The highly regulated season will take place from December 6-28, 2025, where 187 total tags will be issued through a lottery system in advance of the season. Individuals can buy as many $5.00 entries as they want, and successful resident applicants will be charged $100 for their tag while successful non-resident applicants will be charged $300 for their tag. All methods of take currently legal for whitetail deer will be allowed for black bears. This also includes the use of game feeder stations as well as the use of hounds. However, hound hunting will not be allowed until the 2027 season, allowing sportsmen and women ample opportunity to train their dogs to pursue black bears.

This hunt will accomplish the goal of the FWC to balance population growth with suitable habitat so that black bears will continue to thrive in the state. Additionally, the money generated through the lottery system will bolster funding for conservation through the “user pays, public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding.

CSF applauds and thanks the FWC and its Commission for upholding the core tenets of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation in re-establishing a black bear season in Florida.

We are in dangerous times! We are NOT meeting our funding goals! Will you help out?

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