Bear Hunt

The hunt, which started Dec. 6 and ended Sunday, had been restricted to 172 permit holders who had won vouchers through a random lottery involving more than 160,000 applicants.

The state-sanctioned hunt began Saturday, despite the vocal opposition of critics. Hunters who were issued one of the 172 permits will be able to kill one bear each.

The bear hunt, the first approved by the commission since 2015, could lead to as many as 172 bears being killed in four regions of the state.

Bear hunting has long been controversial in Florida, with the last hunt held in 2015. The commission on Aug. 13 approved this year’s hunt, which is scheduled from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28.

Bear Warriors United's request was part of a lawsuit filed in September challenging the decision by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to approve the hunt.

Florida’s first bear hunt in a decade drew more than 160,000 applicants for just 172 permits.

In the lawsuit, Bear Warriors United contended the agency limited public participation before approving the hunt.

Bear hunting has long been controversial in the state, and this year will be the first time since 2015 that a hunt has been held.

Bear Warriors United filed a lawsuit Friday against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission over bear hunt rules commissioners approved earlier this week.

The hunt will take place in four regions of the state and use a lottery process for hunters to obtain permits.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will take up a final vote Wednesday on proposed rules for a regulated bear hunt.

The proposed rules include a lottery-style permitting process, up to 187 bears being killed in four areas of the state and guidelines to encourage hunters to kill male bears.