For the first time in more than a decade, hunters took to Florida’s forests in search of black bears as part of the 2025 Florida black bear hunt.The hunt has been hotly contested, pitting animal advocates and significant public outcry against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and hunting groups.Starting Saturday and running through December 28, a total of 172 permits were given to would-be hunters to cull the population of black bears in the state.Of those 172 permits, bear advocates claim to have secured 52 in the lottery system in an attempt to reduce the number of bears killed.”The people who approved the hunt were political appointees, that’s why we were calling on Governor DeSantis to step in and stop the hunt,” said Susannah Randolph, Chapter Director of the Sierra Club Florida.Randolph said her group, which has partnered with other advocacy groups like Seminole County-based Bear Warriors United, is hopeful FWC will enforce the laws and ensure no extra black bears are taken during the hunt.She said they have noticed online chatter from hunters talking of “settling the score” after dozens of permits were secured by non-hunters.”The FWC political appointees have really taken away a lot of the tools for the scientists to actually follow the science and do right for what this species needs to survive for future generations,” Randolph said.WESH 2 spoke with one hunter by phone Saturday who said he didn’t have any luck Saturday. We spoke with him previously in November.”I don’t trophy hunt. When I deer hunt, I don’t hunt for antlers. It’s for meat,” said Jason Howard. “I enjoy deer meat, wild hog meat, turkey meat and I hope to enjoy bear meat as well.”Randolph said she’s worried about future years, when the FWC has said it will allow bear hunting.”It’s extremely cruel, not just to the bears but to the dogs, you lose dogs in the course of bear hunting,” she said. “Even our US Attorney General Pam Bondi prosecuted dog hunters when she was the attorney general for Florida.”
, Fla. —
For the first time in more than a decade, hunters took to Florida’s forests in search of black bears as part of the 2025 Florida black bear hunt.
The hunt has been hotly contested, pitting animal advocates and significant public outcry against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and hunting groups.
Starting Saturday and running through December 28, a total of 172 permits were given to would-be hunters to cull the population of black bears in the state.
Of those 172 permits, bear advocates claim to have secured 52 in the lottery system in an attempt to reduce the number of bears killed.
“The people who approved the hunt were political appointees, that’s why we were calling on Governor DeSantis to step in and stop the hunt,” said Susannah Randolph, Chapter Director of the Sierra Club Florida.
Randolph said her group, which has partnered with other advocacy groups like Seminole County-based Bear Warriors United, is hopeful FWC will enforce the laws and ensure no extra black bears are taken during the hunt.
She said they have noticed online chatter from hunters talking of “settling the score” after dozens of permits were secured by non-hunters.
“The FWC political appointees have really taken away a lot of the tools for the scientists to actually follow the science and do right for what this species needs to survive for future generations,” Randolph said.
WESH 2 spoke with one hunter by phone Saturday who said he didn’t have any luck Saturday. We spoke with him previously in November.
“I don’t trophy hunt. When I deer hunt, I don’t hunt for antlers. It’s for meat,” said Jason Howard. “I enjoy deer meat, wild hog meat, turkey meat and I hope to enjoy bear meat as well.”
Randolph said she’s worried about future years, when the FWC has said it will allow bear hunting.
“It’s extremely cruel, not just to the bears but to the dogs, you lose dogs in the course of bear hunting,” she said. “Even our US Attorney General Pam Bondi prosecuted dog hunters when she was the attorney general for Florida.”