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Success Or Failure? Only 52 Bears Harvested During Hunt

    Florida’s first harvest of Florida Black Bears in over a decade ended with less than 1/3 of approved bear tags being redeemed.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission this week reported that 52 bears were harvested during the roughly month-long hunt, with 172 permits having been issued.
    The new rules established Bear Hunting Zones (BHZ) within four of the seven existing Bear Management Units. Through a random drawing, permits were issued across the East Panhandle, North, Central and South BMUs, and each permit allowed the harvest of one bear within the assigned BHZ.  It was believed that over 100,000 applications had been received for permits.
    The FWC said the results of the hunt mirrored a hunter success rate very close to other states with similar hunt parameters. All harvested bears were physically checked by FWC staff and bear response contractors, providing data that will influence future management strategies. Analysis of the data collected is underway, and a full harvest report will be released in the coming months.
    “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.”
    “Hunting is an effective tool for managing wildlife populations around the world and is a key part of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” said FWC Chief Conservation Officer George Warthen. “It’s about helping bears succeed over the long term in our state and is a way for us to guide an iconic Florida species into the future, for their benefit and ours.”
    The hunt was a hot topic in the state leading up to and during the event, with some bear support groups offering up to $2,000 to hunters with tags if they would turn over their tag instead of taking a bear during the hunt.  It is unknown how much that campaign as well as hunters inabilities to harvest a bear in their designated hunt area impacted the season’s results.
    The FWC Division of Law Enforcement allocated additional resources to support a productive hunt while maintaining accountability among participants. Increased officer engagement and hunter education led to strong compliance with hunting regulations. Out of numerous positive interactions between officers and hunters, only one hunter received a warning for a minor Wildlife Management Area violation, and no citations were issued. Additionally, the Division of Law Enforcement investigated all reported wildlife violations, and no wildlife violations were found.
    “Our officers maintained a strong, engaged presence throughout the hunt to help ensure it was conducted safely and legally,” said Colonel Alberto Maza, Director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement. “While our officers were there to uphold the rules, the primary focus was education. I’m proud of our officers for protecting this important resource and supporting the goals of the agency’s Bear Management Plan.”
    As one of the management tools included in the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan, regulated hunting allows the FWC to manage population growth rates in areas with the largest bear subpopulations. Balancing wildlife numbers with suitable habitat keeps populations healthy. Hunting is an important and effective tool for managing wildlife populations worldwide, but it is essential to recognize that managing bear populations does not necessarily mitigate human-bear conflicts. Conflict prevention and bear management practices will still need to continue.
    For more information on regulated bear hunting, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit MyFWC.com/hunting/bear. Tips to reduce conflicts and general information about bears are available at  MyFWC.com/wildlifehabitats followed by selecting “Wildlife” and then “Black Bears” and at BearWise.org.