Chalk one up for science-based conservation. Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) unanimously approved bear hunting, ending a 10-year ban on hunting as a wildlife management tool. Florida was one of only six states that didn’t have a bear season.

“Hunting allows the FWC to start managing population growth rates for the Bear Management Units, or BMUs, with the largest bear subpopulations,” Florida FWC posted to their website. “Slowing population growth will help balance population numbers with suitable habitat, and hunting is an important and effective tool that is used to manage wildlife populations across the world.”

That’s a win for conservation, bears and hunters. After all, conservation means ensuring the natural resources in the country are available for the next generation of Americans – including hunters. Florida FWC recognized that the state’s bear population was growing at a rate that would have spelled disaster for the bears’ future.

“While we have enough suitable bear habitat to support our current bear population levels, if the four largest subpopulations continue to grow at current rates, we will not have enough habitat at some point in the future,” Florida FWC wrote on their site. “The FWC would not want to wait to implement management actions until that occurs because that could result in dramatic swings in the population and risk overall chances of survival for the long-term. Early action would allow the agency to monitor conditions and adaptively manage the population so it never reaches that risk level.”

Florida FWC held a series of public meetings on bear hunting. The feedback collected from those meetings was taken to the Commission in May and approval for a bear hunting season came at their August meeting.

NSSF has long-supported science-based evidence to drive wildlife management decisions. Public conservation policy decisions must be based on the best science available, and the science of wildlife management is based on managing wildlife populations.

Bears are Back
For Florida, the black bear population is estimated to be over 4,000 versus a few hundred back in the 1970s. Now that they’re healthy and vibrant, Florida’s commissioners see that it’s time to use hunting as a wildlife management tool. They have proposed options that would be sustainable to the overall population and not negatively impact it.

This is exciting news for hunters. Harvesting a bear is goal for which many hunters strive to achieve. In a time where inflation and grocery prices are skyrocketing, being able to provide food that’s healthy is the goal of most hunters.

Florida’s FWC recognizes that hunting is a critical component to wildlife conservation.

“The efforts of hunters as conservationists over the past 100 years have restored Florida’s game populations and enhanced the habitat of numerous wildlife species. No other group has come close to sportsmen in contributing the volunteer hours and funding necessary to make such an impact on wildlife conservation,” Florida FWC posted on their website. “Hunting is an integral part of the fabric of Florida’s economy and cultural heritage, and it is also an important wildlife management tool.”

The firearm industry is invested in perpetuating healthy and sustainable wildlife management and conservation across America. Firearm and ammunition manufacturers have paid over $29 billion, when adjusted for inflation, into the Pittman-Robertson excise tax since 1937, which funds wildlife conservation, public land access and public recreational shooting range construction across the country. Florida received over $2.6 million in Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration apportionments, which are funded largely by the Pittman-Robertson excise taxes.

Managed Hunting
It is important to keep in mind that Florida is regulating hunting for bears. The FWC voted to issue 187 permits across the four BMUs, to be distributed through a random drawing. Those who are 18 and older can pay $5 (per entry) to enter as many times as they want. Those fees will also be added to Florida’s wildlife management operations to ensure healthy bear populations continue to strive.

“I am proud that Florida is joining the majority of states that manage black bears with regulated hunting,” said Rodney Barreto, Chairman of the FWC. “The components of the hunt are conservative and prioritize conservation, with a limited number of permits only being issued in the areas of the state with the largest bear populations.”

Anti-Hunting Lawsuit
Anti-hunting groups are already challenging the bear season. Bear Warriors United filed a lawsuit to block the planned bear hunts, arguing the rule allowing the bear season gives the FWC executive director “unbridled authority to issue permits to kill bears annually without any guidance or scientific facts.”

Criticism of the FWC’s decision was rebutted, however, by Mark Barton in Bear Hunting Magazine. He pointed out that FWC’s research showed about 60 percent of Florida residents supported managed bear hunting and follow science-based evidence to ensure healthy bear populations in the future.

“The truth is that while it is great that FWC is being fully transparent about their proposal, they shouldn’t have to cater to the general public, their focus should be on operating within the framework of the North American Model of Conservation (NAMC),” Barton wrote. “This model has been integral in the recovery of more than a dozen species in North America that have been near the brink of extinction at some point in time.”

Florida FWC is doing just that. They are following the science and are not being swayed by emotion-based arguments that will only lead to devastating wildlife impacts. This is a win for science-based wildlife conservation.

— Nephi Cole, NSSF Director for Government Relations – State Affairs, Mountain West Region