JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite numerous efforts to try and stop it, the Florida black bear hunt officially kicks off Saturday.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the hunt will end on Dec. 28.
The FWC voted in August to approve the hunt — the first since 2015. The commission used a lottery-style system to grant permits, with each permit-holder able to harvest one bear.
A total of 172 permits were issued.
The FWC said bringing back the hunt would be an “effective tool” to try and balance population numbers, claiming the data shows a black bear population that now exceeds 4,000 throughout the state.
Opponents of the hunt, however, contend that the commission’s approval was not based on sound science and used outdated bear population estimates.
There was an emergency injunction that was filed back in October, but a circuit judge denied the request on Nov. 24 in Tallahassee, which means the hunt is still on.
Raquel Levy, senior attorney and owner of Atlantic Law Center, is representing Bear Warriors United.
“The legal team lost this first battle in court so bears will die starting tomorrow. They will be killed by cowards for trophy rather than consumption,” Levy told News4JAX in a statement.
Levy also said they plan to amend their lawsuit to seek “additional legal recourse against the FWC.”
“I am working closely with my client, Bear Warriors United, carefully evaluating our legal options and strategies to best help the Florida Black Bear in this 2025 hunting season and moving forward,” Levy said.
There are four bear harvest zones: East Panhandle, North, Central, and South.
News4JAX paid a visit to Green Acres Sporting Goods store in Jacksonville.
We spoke with the firearms manager, who said he’s seen a few customers who are gearing up for the bear hunt, but this time of the year, in general, brings in more customers because of the hunting season.
He said gun safety is something to be stressed — especially with this bear hunt coming up.
“If you are doing this, you obviously have a hunting license. You should’ve already completed a hunter’s safety course.” Ziadeh Farhet, firearms manager at Green Acres, said.
The FWC requires both a hunting license and a bear harvest permit in order to participate in the hunt.
Farhet says silencers have been selling more frequently at the store.
“You want to know your target and what’s beyond it,“ Farhet said. ”You don’t want to be shooting at just anything that moves through the woods because you don’t know what exactly it could be, so obviously if you’re bear hunting, you want to make sure you’re being safe.“”
FWC released what it called a “2025 Guide to Bear Hunting in Florida.” Click here to read it.