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Florida Approves First Black Bear Hunt in a Decade

9/26/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved Florida's first black bear hunt in a decade, Dec 6–28, 2025.
The FWC received 163,459 applications for 172 permits.
Each permit allows one bear in designated areas with sufficient populations.
The FWC has not announced the permit-drawing date, and opposition signs were present at the Ocala meeting on May 21, 2025.

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Story summary

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved Florida's first black bear hunt in a decade, Dec 6–28, 2025.
The FWC received 163,459 applications for 172 permits.
Each permit allows one bear in designated areas with sufficient populations.
The FWC has not announced the permit-drawing date, and opposition signs were present at the Ocala meeting on May 21, 2025.