Nobody Wanted to Hunt Florida’s Bears This Year

Only 52 Bears Died in Three Weeks

Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade ended with a number that surprised both sides. From December 6 to 28, 2025, hunters killed just 52 bears out of 172 permits issued across four hunting zones.

Less than a third of permit holders actually shot a bear. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission called it a success.

Wildlife activists who had fought for months to stop the hunt celebrated too, claiming they had put a major dent in the kill count.

Both sides are now preparing for a legal battle that could determine whether Florida ever holds another bear hunt.

Activists Flooded the Permit Lottery

The Florida chapter of the Sierra Club encouraged opponents to apply for permits to prevent bear killings. The strategy worked.

At least four dozen of the permits went to opponents of the hunt who never intended to use them.

More than 160,000 applicants entered the lottery for just 172 tags, and wildlife advocates submitted about 163,000 entries at $5 each.

An additional 43 bear advocates who entered the lottery successfully received hunting permits specifically to keep those tags out of hunters’ hands.

One Woman Spent $31,000

Katrina Shadix, executive director of Bear Warriors United, paid 14 hunters a total of $31,000 not to use their tags. Opponents offered up to $2,000 to some hunters to not use their permits.

One hunter simply wanted Christmas presents for his family, Shadix told reporters.

Some hunters scoffed at the $2,000 offers, saying they could make $10,000 selling bear body parts like gallbladders for folk medicine. But enough accepted the cash to make a difference.

2015 Was a Two-Day Bloodbath

The 2015 hunt resulted in more than 3,700 permits issued to anyone willing to pay. That hunt was planned for seven days, with up to 320 bears expected to be killed.

After two days, it was halted with 304 bears dead.

Of the 304 bears killed, at least 38 were females with cubs, meaning those young bears likely died too. The public backlash was so intense that Florida banned bear hunting for the next decade.

Bears Almost Disappeared in the 1970s

In the 1970s, the population of Florida black bears was reduced to only 300 to 500 throughout the state due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss.

In 1974, bears were placed on the state’s threatened list and hunting was limited to just three counties. In 1994, the hunting season was closed statewide.

The bears that once roamed every corner of Florida had been pushed to the edge.

Conservation Rebuilt the Population

The black bear population has come back from just several hundred bears in the 1970s to over 4,000 today and is considered one of Florida’s biggest conservation wins. By 2002, the population was estimated at 3,000.

A decade later, bears were removed from the state’s list of threatened animals.

Most major populations now live on or near public lands like Ocala National Forest, Apalachicola National Forest, and Big Cypress National Preserve.

Cars Kill More Bears Than Hunters

Vehicle collisions are the top known cause of death for Florida black bears. Since 2012, over 230 bears have been killed each year on roadways statewide.

Bear Warriors United pointed to over 300 vehicle strikes as evidence that bears face enough threats without hunting.

Vehicle collisions with bears have increased steadily since data collection began in 1976, driven by development that fragments bear habitat and forces animals to cross more roads.

FWC Defends the Hunt as Conservative

FWC Executive Director Roger Young called the 2025 hunt a success rooted in sound scientific data. The shift to a limited number of permits reflects lessons from 2015, when unlimited sales created chaos.

FWC now ties permit totals to the maximum number of female bears that could be removed without decreasing populations. The agency said the hunter success rate was comparable to other states with similar hunt parameters.

Critics Say the Data Is a Decade Old

For three of the seven bear management units, the most recent population estimate is from 2015. A fourth is from 2014.

Critics questioned the hunt’s necessity and transparency, citing the lack of check-in stations and reliance on self-reported data through a hunting app.

The kill count may have been lower than expected because the state overestimated the population, suggested Sierra Club Florida director Susannah Randolph.

The Lawsuit Goes to Trial in August

Bear Warriors United filed a lawsuit against FWC after commissioners approved the hunt in August 2025.

A judge denied the group’s request for an injunction to stop the December hunt, but the lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in August 2026 in Tallahassee.

Shadix said the case will include depositions of FWC officials as the group tries to block future hunts permanently.

Activists Want Federal Protection

Conservation groups now plan to push for Florida black bears to be listed as threatened at the federal level. "Buying up the tags was a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution," said Chuck O’Neal of Speak Up Wekiva.

"Now we move to get the Florida black bear listed as threatened through federal court action if necessary. " If they succeed, hunting would be banned entirely under the Endangered Species Act.

Both Sides Claim Victory for Now

After 304 bears were killed in two days in 2015, 52 killed in three weeks is a significant improvement, O’Neal said.

FWC warned that falling far short of the 172-bear quota this year could result in higher numbers of permits being issued in the future. The activists saved most of the bears this time.

Whether they can do it again depends on what happens in court.

Visiting Ocala National Forest, Florida

Ocala National Forest is home to the largest black bear population in Florida and sits at the center of the hunt controversy.

The Central zone, which includes Ocala, was one of four hunting zones open during the December 2025 season. The forest covers nearly 400,000 acres of sand pine scrub and spring-fed rivers about 60 miles north of Orlando.

Admission is free, though some recreation areas charge day-use fees of $5 to $10. The Juniper Springs and Alexander Springs recreation areas offer swimming and paddling year-round.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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