Florida black bear
FWC to host virtual public meeting to hear comments about potential options for regulated black bear hunting in Florida
The FWC's Bear Management Program gave Commissioners a 5-year update on implementing the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan at the December 2024 Commission meeting, highlighting recent bear management and research efforts. Following the presentation, the Commissioners directed staff to return to a future Commission meeting to propose options for implementing a potential bear hunt.
The FWC wants to hear from the public about their thoughts on potential options for regulated black bear hunting. We have therefore scheduled a virtual public meeting on March 13, beginning at 6 p.m. EDT.
Background
The black bear population has come back from just several hundred bears in the 1970s to over 4,000 today and is one of Florida’s most successful conservation efforts.
Regulated black bear hunting occurred in Florida in the 1930s and continued until 1994. Hunting was closed until 2015, when it was reopened in the fall. No bear hunting seasons have been open since 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions about Potential Options for Regulated Bear Hunting in Florida
The FWC’s Bear Management Program gave Commissioners a 5-year update on implementing the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan at the December 2024 Commission meeting, highlighting recent bear management and research efforts. Following the presentation, the Commissioners directed staff to return to a future Commission meeting to propose options for implementing a potential bear hunt.
The primary objectives of regulated hunting are to balance species population numbers with suitable habitat and to maintain a healthy population, as stated in the 2019 Bear Management Plan. Hunting provides people with recreational and economic benefits. A hunter can use the meat, pelt, fat, and other parts of any bear they harvest.
Yes, the public will have multiple opportunities to share their comments, concerns, and ideas on potential options for regulated black bear hunting in Florida before anything is presented at a Commission meeting. Additionally, the public will have the opportunity to provide comments after the proposals are presented during a future Commission meeting.
The FWC encourages the public to participate in a virtual public meeting scheduled for March 13 at 6 p.m. EDT to share their thoughts on this topic. The public can also email their comments to BearComments@MyFWC.com.
The FWC will review previous bear hunting regulations in Florida as well as hunts in other states and public comments. Staff will then develop multiple options and bring those to the public for their feedback, make appropriate changes, and present that information to Commissioners at future Commission meetings.
The FWC must allow for at least one generation length (10 years for Florida black bears) between population abundance estimates to accurately track changes over time.
Conducting abundance surveys too frequently would likely count the same individuals repeatedly and thus reduce the ability to detect true population change.
Following the most recent statewide population estimate in 2015, multiple bear subpopulations were determined to be large and healthy enough to sustain a hunt. The FWC estimates the four largest subpopulations have grown annually since that time and no subpopulations have shown evidence of decline.
For more information, please visit our 2015 Florida Black Bear Hunt FAQs page.
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