Florida is one step closer to holding its first black bear hunt in nearly a decade after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 4-1 on May 21 in Ocala to advance proposed hunting rules. The final vote is expected in August. If adopted, changes would take effect in the 2025-26 season.
FWC staff recommend four hunting zones, including a South Zone covering parts of Lee, Hendry and Collier counties. A statewide quota of 187 bears is proposed, with 55 allotted to the South Zone.
The season would run from the first Saturday through the last Sunday in December, with one bear allowed per hunter. Cubs, females with cubs and bears under 100 pounds would be protected.
The proposals focus on managing bear population growth within Bear Management Units with the largest subpopulations. FWC officials said hunting would serve as a tool for population management, but it is not intended to address human-bear conflicts, which require ongoing prevention efforts.
