Human Hunters Far Outnumber Bears That Could Be Killed

August 25, 2015

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be asked next week to set a quota of 320 bears for a controversial hunt in October.

The hunt, the first in the state in more than 20 years, has already attracted 1,795 hunters who have purchased permits, according to the commission.

Staff members released a memo Monday outlining updated bear-population counts in two of the four regions in which hunting will be allowed. The memo is expected to go before the commission at a Sept. 2 meeting in Fort Lauderdale. The hunt is scheduled to start Oct. 24 and last from two days to seven days, based upon each region’s quota goals.

According to the latest figures, there are an estimated 1,300 bears in the central region, which includes the St. Johns River watershed to the Ocala National Forest, and 550 bears in the north region, which goes from Jacksonville west to Hamilton and Suwannee counties. In each region, the harvest target is proposed at 100 bears.

The bear quota is 40 in an eastern Panhandle region, which includes the northwestern Big Bend area to west of Apalachicola Bay. In a south region, which includes Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties, the quota number is 80. The south region excludes the Big Cypress National Preserve.

The hunt is intended to help the state achieve a 20 percent reduction in the bear population in each region. The 20 percent figure includes the number of bears that die naturally, are hit and killed by cars and are captured and killed by wildlife officers due to conflicts.

One of the arguments of the hunt’s opponents has been that the state was using old numbers for the bear populations in the four regions. Two of the four regions — the eastern Panhandle and south regions — continue to rely on 2002 study numbers, according to the staff memo.

Black bears were placed on the state’s threatened list in 1974, when there were between 300 and 500 across Florida. At the time, hunting black bears was limited to three counties. In 1994, the hunting season was closed statewide.

The issue has gained attention recently because of conflicts between bears and humans in some areas of the state. Critics of the hunt contend that people are moving into bear habitats and that the state should focus on efforts such as bear-proofing trash containers and prohibiting people from feeding bears.

The cost to get a bear hunting permit is $100 for Floridians and $300 for non-Floridians. The permits will be available up until the day before the hunt begins.

Each hunter is limited to one bear, and the kill will have to be registered and tagged within 12 hours.

Comments

15 Responses to “Human Hunters Far Outnumber Bears That Could Be Killed”

  1. DM on August 27th, 2015 5:13 pm

    @Lilly

    Why in the blue moon are we killing each other and not eating what we kill…give me a break…

    I would guess — because most people are NOT — wait for it …

    CANNIBALS !!!

  2. Lilly on August 26th, 2015 5:10 pm

    oh yeah right…I only kill what I eat…then why in the blue moon are we killing each other and not eating what we kill…give me a break…the whole idea of KILLING is just plain out stupid to begin with…whoever thought that humans would ever fine pleasure and fun and excitement in killing another being on this earth…what a terrible disappointment in human nature….what bout controlling beings in a non lethal fashion without cruelty……duhhhhhhhhh

  3. DLo on August 26th, 2015 7:24 am

    To the uninformed, They track the kills with tags and a log in system, just like they do with alligators, and yes, you have to check each day to see when they close the season, when the quota is met then the season closes. The bears have been protected to the point of overpopulation in certain areas, and the numbers need to be reduced. You would think differently if you had bears killing your pets or livestock, or if your children couldn’t play outside because of them. I’ve eaten bear meat and it is very good, I would venture that most all of the meat will be eaten.

  4. Teresa in Molino on August 25th, 2015 9:58 pm

    I would love the opportunity to hunt one of these beautiful creatures. And for the record. I always eat what I kill. I firmly believe in population management, but I am curious as to how the FWC intends to track and manage quotas..

  5. Alex A on August 25th, 2015 9:55 pm

    What happens if 600 is brought in the first day.you can’t bring back 280 over kill.

  6. Alex A on August 25th, 2015 9:45 pm

    What happens if 600 bears are brought in the first day? Not to mention the bears killed on the road and poached.

  7. Susan on August 25th, 2015 1:18 pm

    It has been a long time for some wildlife to rebound. We keep building out and taking their space. I have hunted and fished during my life time but bears don’t seem like a just take. i’m fairly certain the meat will not be eaten by these guys or gals.

  8. Teresa in Pensacola on August 25th, 2015 11:03 am

    Yes Trish if you want to hunt and fish at least make that a reason to and eat the things you hunt. Why just kill for a trophy? I guess I don’t get it and yes I have my concealed weapon permit so I’m not a gun snob. I’m just curious over 1 thousand people are wanting to kill a small number of bears for what?

  9. Trish on August 25th, 2015 10:41 am

    Teresa, points for you girl! Are they going to make the hunters call in each morning to make sure they can still stalk and kill the “big bad bears”? Probably not, so how are they going to control the numbers? Inquiring minds want to know!

  10. haley on August 25th, 2015 10:25 am

    WOW. Again, this is sickening. And as said above, how will hunters know where the quota of bears have been met? And like Audrey said, I am also a firm believer in eat what you kill. Kill for sport is just messed up. Let’s kill enough bears so that they can be extinct again.

  11. Teresa in Pensacola on August 25th, 2015 9:48 am

    Like most cowardly hunters that take on a unsuspecting animal doing what they do naturally. These guys are chomping at the bit to kill a mean bear. How will the “hunters” know when the quota has been made? Will a bell ring?

  12. willis on August 25th, 2015 9:27 am

    Hunting is a lot like Fishing….

    Just because you do it doesn’t mean you’ll be successful.

  13. Mike on August 25th, 2015 7:37 am

    Wow, this is a real quandary. Do you think some more bears could be brought in from outta state in livestock trucks? :D

  14. farmer john on August 25th, 2015 7:25 am

    Audrey,
    I can understand your belief in not taking animals purely for trophies, but what about the coyote that raided the goats, or the bobcat that killed a working dog, or the coons that indiscriminately murder anything they can get their paws on, like a chicken coop full of brooding hens? Herd of deer wiping out a field of corn? This is the same thing. Population control.

    And for the record – bear is a tad gamey, but quite edible.

  15. Audrey on August 25th, 2015 6:12 am

    How many of you eat bear. I’m a firm believer in eat what you kill.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News