By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade, resulted in the killing of 52 bears?
The number of bears killed during the time of the hunt allowed between December 6th, to December 28, 2025, was significantly fewer than the 172 permits issued, representing less than one-third of the potential harvest. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) described the outcome as a success, citing a conservative, science-based approach that prioritized long-term bear population health while providing hunting opportunities.
The hunt was conducted across four designated Bear Hunting Zones: the Apalachicola region west of Tallahassee, areas west of Jacksonville, a region north of Orlando, and the Big Cypress region southwest of Lake Okeechobee. The FWC reported a harvest success rate comparable to other states with similar hunt parameters, and emphasized that the limited permit issuance in high-density bear areas reflected lessons learned from the controversial 2015 hunt, which was halted early after nearly 300 bears were killed.
Opponents of the hunt, including the group Bear Warriors United, expressed relief over the low kill count, attributing it to widespread public opposition, habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and their efforts to pay hunters to forgo their permits—reportedly totaling $31,000 to 14 hunters. The hunt has sparked ongoing legal and ethical debate, with a lawsuit filed by Bear Warriors United in September 2025 challenging the use of outdated data in approving the hunt, a case still pending in Leon County circuit court.
The FWC confirmed that every bear killed was physically checked by staff and contractors, with a more comprehensive report expected in several months.