The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has approved amendments to black bear hunting regulations that will take effect in the 2025 season. The decision was made at the Commission’s meeting this week in Havana.
Under the new rules, Bear Hunting Zones (BHZs) will be established within four of the seven current Bear Management Units (BMUs). A total of 187 permits will be available across the East Panhandle, North, Central, and South BMUs. Each permit allows for the harvest of one bear within its assigned BHZ. Permits will be allocated through a random drawing process, and individuals aged 18 or older can apply multiple times at a cost of $5 per application.
“I am proud that Florida is joining the majority of states that manage black bears with regulated hunting,” said Rodney Barreto, Chairman of the FWC. “The components of the hunt are conservative and prioritize conservation, with a limited number of permits only being issued in the areas of the state with the largest bear populations.”
Regulated hunting was identified as one management tool in Florida’s 2019 Black Bear Management Plan. The FWC states that controlled hunts will help manage population growth rates where subpopulations are largest, maintaining healthy numbers relative to available habitat. While hunting is used globally to manage wildlife populations, officials emphasized it does not address human-bear conflicts directly; prevention strategies and management practices must continue alongside hunting efforts.
Further information about regulated bear hunting can be found at MyFWC.com/BearHunting. Resources on conflict reduction and general bear information are available at MyFWC.com/Bear and BearWise.org.
