ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida wildlife officials said on Tuesday that 52 black bears were harvested during the 2025 hunting season, the first conducted under newly approved rules establishing Bear Hunting Zones across portions of the state.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission adopted the amendments after staff presented options for a highly regulated hunt and the public weighed in during August and November 2025 meetings. The rules, which took effect for the 2025 season, created Bear Hunting Zones within four of the state’s seven Bear Management Units.
A total of 172 permits, out of more than 160,000 applicants, were issued through a random drawing in the East Panhandle, North, Central and South BMUs. Each permit allowed hunters to harvest one bear within their assigned zone.
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FWC officials said the 52-bear harvest reflects a success rate comparable to other states with similar hunt structures. All harvested bears were physically checked by agency staff and contracted bear responders, providing data that will guide future management decisions. A full harvest report is expected in the coming months.
“The 2025 black bear hunt, rooted in sound scientific data, was a success,” FWC Executive Director Roger Young said. “The limited number of permits issued in areas with the largest bear populations and other components of the hunt prioritized a conservative approach that ensures the long-term health of bear populations in Florida, while providing opportunity for hunters.”
FWC Chief Conservation Officer George Warthen said regulated hunting remains a key wildlife management tool. “
It’s about helping bears succeed over the long term in our state and is a way for us to guide an iconic Florida species into the future, for their benefit and ours,” he said.
FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement increased staffing during the hunt to support compliance and education. Officers reported strong adherence to regulations, issuing only one warning for a minor Wildlife Management Area violation and no citations. All reported wildlife violations were investigated, and none were substantiated.
“Our officers maintained a strong, engaged presence throughout the hunt to help ensure it was conducted safely and legally,” said Colonel Alberto Maza, the division’s director. “While our officers were there to uphold the rules, the primary focus was education.”
Regulated hunting is one of the tools outlined in the 2019 Florida Black Bear Management Plan to help manage population growth in areas with the largest subpopulations. FWC noted that while hunting can support long-term population management, it does not necessarily reduce human-bear conflicts, and prevention efforts must continue.
Before Tuesday’s announcement, several wildlife advocates said they are concerned because the agency had not provided updated numbers on how many bears have been killed, calling the lack of transparency troubling.
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“This executive director — we called on him to shut down the hunt and release the numbers. He has done nothing,” said Chuck O’Neal with Speak Up for Wildlife. “The last commission at least realized in 2016 that this was a fiasco, and they shut it down completely for nine more years.”
More information on regulated bear hunting is available at MyFWC.com/hunting/bear.
Guidance on reducing conflicts and general information about bears can be found at MyFWC.com/wildlifehabitats under “Black Bears” and at BearWise.org..