In Florida, the first black bear hunt in a decade wrapped up with a markedly lower number of bears taken than the state had anticipated. The FWC confirmed that hunters, who were granted 172 single-use permits statewide, successfully harvested 52 bears. The commission noted that this success rate aligns closely with those in other states that have comparable hunting regulations.

The hunting season spanned from December 6 to December 28, targeting areas within four designated Bear Management Units deemed capable of sustaining a controlled hunt. In Northeast Florida, these zones included regions west and south of Jacksonville.

FWC Executive Director Roger Young expressed satisfaction with the results, stating, “The 2025 black bear hunt, grounded in robust scientific research, was a success. We are proud to join over 30 states that manage black bear populations through regulated hunting. By issuing a limited number of permits in areas with high bear populations, we ensured a conservative approach. This strategy not only prioritizes the long-term health of Florida’s bear populations but also provides meaningful opportunities for hunters.”

“The 2025 black bear hunt, rooted in sound scientific data, was a success. We’re proud to have joined the more than 30 states that manage black bears with regulated hunting,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. “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.”

According to FWC’s website, the “best scientifically valid population estimates” are from 2015, indicating more than 4,000 bears in the state.

During the hunting period, the FWC Division of Law Enforcement reportedly found widespread compliance with regulations and investigated all reports of potential wildlife violations. No citations were issued, although one hunter received a warning for a minor Wildlife Management Area violation, FWC said.

The 2025 results are vastly different than the 2015 black bear hunt, which had to be shut down after just two days as hunters quickly neared the quota. Over 300 bears were killed, including underweight bears and bears with cubs. That year, permits were given to anyone who could pay for it; this time, officials implemented a lottery system.

It’s possible that some of the 2025 permits intentionally went unused, and that more were killed than reported. 

Adam Sugalski of Jacksonville is the Executive Director of One Protest, and he was against this particular bear hunt.  He believes permits may have been issued to more people who were against the hunt than were for it.  Many wildlife advocacy groups, such as the Sierra Club, urged people against the hunt to apply for a permit themselves to keep it from being used.

Sugalski also notes that more than 52 bears may have been killed because of what he describes as a lack of physical oversight in the fields. In 2015, there were FWC check stations. In 2025, hunters self-reported the kills online and through phone calls before the bear was checked by officials in person. Large swaths of the hunting areas were also on private property.

These were issues brought up by advocacy groups like Bear Hunters United, which filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping the hunt. Outside of court, the Sierra Club also urged people against the hunt to apply for a permit themselves to keep it from being used.

More bear hunts with differing rules and methods are anticipated in future years in Florida.