FWC to weigh resuming bear hunt

At a meeting set for May 21 in Ocala, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was set to hear from what would likely be a passionate public whether or not to resume a statewide bear hunt that was halted a decade ago.

Based on a report set to be presented by Morgan Richardson, director of hunting and game management, FWC commissioners would be weighing a set of proposed rules that if adopted, would establish a limited black bear hunting season, beginning in December.

Describing the proposal as a “conservative, well-regulated bear hunt,” Richardson wrote that if hunting is re-opened, the FWC “could begin managing population growth through hunting in the largest subpopulations. Managing population growth is important to balance species numbers with suitable habitat and maintain a healthy population.”

The proposed rules would establish a bear hunting season in designated Bear Hunt Zones (BHZs) within select Bear Management Units, which would have a more limited geographic scope than currently allowed. The East Panhandle BMU encompasses the counties of Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, and Washington. The BHZs would be areas delineated for a sustainable bear harvest based on such things as habitat characteristics, accessibility, and estimated bear densities.

Permits would be issued through a random draw, with a limited number of permits issued in each BHZ based on known population abundance as well as female bear survival and mortality data, he wrote. No more than 10% of the permits would be awarded to non-residents.

Richardson planned to ask commissioners to consider other options, such as the use of dogs when hunting bear. As proposed now, up to nine guest hunters could be allowed per permit holder hunting with dogs, and no more than six dogs at any one time may be used to pursue bears.

Other options could be an allowance to take bear within proximity of game feeding stations, and a private lands bear harvest permit program. FWC could furnish one bear harvest tag for a property 5,000 to 14,999 acres that submit population data demonstrating at least five individual bears using the property. Up to two tags could be issued for a property 15,000 to 24,999 acres that submits data showing at least 10 individual bears use the property, and a maximum of three tags could be allowed for property 25,000 acres or more that submit data demonstrating at least 15 individual bears use it.

He wrote that FWC staff hosted a series of virtual public meetings, met with bear stakeholder groups, and solicited public input through email and a commenting tool that yielded over 10,000 responses.

The proposed season would run from the first Saturday through the last Sunday in December for the first year, a total of 23 days, with future season dates established annually between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31. 

The number of bear permits issued would be determined annually based on known population and mortality data, and would be issued through a random draw. “This contrasts with the current framework authorized in rule that allows an unlimited number of permits to be issued, with the season ending once the harvest quota is met,” wrote Richardson. 

If approved, the proposed rules would be advertised and final approval could then be granted at a future commission meeting.