Hunting Florida Bears

[Jenksy]

FLORIDA BEAR HUNT NUMBERS SET

Florida wildlife officials have approved the killing of 320 black bears next month during the state's first bear hunting season in more than 20 years.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 3-2 for a harvest plan recommended by staff during a meeting this week in Fort Lauderdale.

Wildlife officials estimate the state's bear population at about 3,000, but the animals are increasingly coming into residential areas in search of food. The hunt is part of the management strategy to reduce the bear population, along with getting residents to secure their trash.

A crowd of roughly 200 gathered at Wednesday's Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting to discuss the controversial hunt that has garnered significant media attention.

Earlier in the day, the commission also discussed a new strategy for Florida's endangered but growing panther population, saying the current plan was untenable.

 

[Teresa]

Makes me sick. Florida black bears were protected for many years as the state put into place programs for helping the population to grow back to normal after years of hunting them. Florida black bears were once a "protected species". Now the population is growing and we don't know how to live with them so we shoot them. And the panther is next?

 

[Misty]

Thank Gov. Scott Teresa.

 

[Teresa]

And the Florida Wildlife Commission has recommended a limited hunt. The same state entity that has protected them through great programs. There's a big protest going on statewide.

 

[Misty]

And the Florida Wildlife Commission has recommended a limited hunt. The same state entity that has protected them through great programs. There's a big protest going on statewide.

Limited hunt? How is that supposed to work? They have issued over 1,200 licenses for a population of maybe 3,000 bears max. (The season hasn't even started yet either.) They say they can call off the hunt after so many reported kills...how do you reach someone knee deep in the woods? How are they going to call the hunt off? Via cell phones? This is probably the most asinine thing the Florida Fish and Game have done to date....but they sure had a lot of help from the Gov.

 

[Low Brow]

Makes me sick. Florida black bears were protected for many years as the state put into place programs for helping the population to grow back to normal after years of hunting them. Florida black bears were once a "protected species". Now the population is growing and we don't know how to live with them so we shoot them. And the panther is next?

The studies out by the state as well as several other independent agencies all show that the Florida Black Bear population is high enough to sustain a limited hunt.
Side not: Read up on the "Panther" and it's impact on the native mammals in the areas of South Florida like Big Cypress. The Florida Panther is not even a sub species, it's no different than Mt. Lions that exist elsewhere in this country.

Limited hunt? How is that supposed to work? They have issued over 1,200 licenses for a population of maybe 3,000 bears max. (The season hasn't even started yet either.) They say they can call off the hunt after so many reported kills...how do you reach someone knee deep in the woods? How are they going to call the hunt off? Via cell phones? This is probably the most asinine thing the Florida Fish and Game have done to date....but they sure had a lot of help from the Gov.

The limited hunt is done off of a tag system. You buy a license and it grants you the opportunity to hunt Oct 24-25. If the quota is met, then the hunt is over, if not they will continue until the quota is met. When you purchase the tag all of this is detailed out. ALL black bears must be checked in at one of the check stands. This is going to be a well run hunt that is a long time coming. There are many residential areas(suburbs of Orlando) and Forgotten Coast areas(Lanark/Appalach/Carabelle) where these folks deal with bears on a daily basis. The cost to dart/relocate these bears only to have them venture right back is not an option. After the two attacks last year on people in residential areas, it's hard to believe that anyone would be against a limited hunt.

So to all that, I say, "Great Job FWC for doing the right thing and returning the bear hunt!".

 

[Jimmy T]

How do the Florida Wildlife officials ensure that ALL black bears are checked in at one of the check stands? And how do they communicate to the active hunters that the quota has been met?

 

[Misty]

How do the Florida Wildlife officials ensure that ALL black bears are checked in at one of the check stands? And how do they communicate to the active hunters that the quota has been met?

From the Orlando Weekly:

The hunt will be halted in each region —- the FWC intends to communicate daily with hunters via text and email —- once quotas for the areas are reached.

 

[Misty]

If they are going to limit the number of "kills" why wouldn't they limit the number of permits issued?

 

[Low Brow]

How do the Florida Wildlife officials ensure that ALL black bears are checked in at one of the check stands? And how do they communicate to the active hunters that the quota has been met?

After the 25th, if the hunt is still has remaining tags, every hunter is required to check-in and see if the season is still open.

If they are going to limit the number of "kills" why wouldn't they limit the number of permits issued?

It's hunting, its no guarantee you will even see a bear, let alone kill a bear. This is a great revenue generator to preserve black bears. The FWC euthanizes a lot of nuisance bears every year. Euthanizing animals costs a small fortune. Hunting is a huge part of species preservation. $100 a tag for an opportunity to kill a bear x however many they sell. Most of this will go back in to habitat restoration and enforcement of wildlife laws. It's a good thing.