Florida’s Bear Season Flourishes Despite Anti-Hunting Backlash

That decision, however, was met with backlash by antihunters within the state, especially the Sierra Club’s Florida chapter. The anti-hunting organization concentrated efforts to “buy up all the tags to keep them out of hunters’ hands” in their “Spare a Bear, Bag A Tag!” campaign. This year, the anti-hunting organization looks to continue their cause.

According to its bear hunt fact sheet, the Sierra Club’s Florida Chapter “threw a wrench in things” by pushing its members to apply for bear permits and purchase them if awarded. The fact sheet claims that out of the 172 awarded permits “more than 52” were purchased by non-hunters, though it’s unclear how they gathered that specific information. Not to mention, those odds seem a little skewed, considering that 163,459 applications were submitted. “This year we will be working to spare even more bears,” the fact sheet reads.

In fact, the FWC post-hunt survey report revealed that only 40 permit holders of the 138 that opted for the survey chose not to hunt. Of those 40, 38% reported obligations (family, work, etc.) as their reason, while 13% reported not having time. Another 13% said they didn’t agree with bear hunting, and 25% preferred not to say. It’s hard to know why 25% didn’t specify their reasons, but that does mean that of the 138 permit winners, 13% (5.2 permit holders) could have been from anti-hunting groups. While that number isn’t 0, it’s a far cry from 52.

In spite of the Sierra Club’s efforts, Florida counted its 2025 bear season as a huge success, according to George Warthen, the Chief Conservation Officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. For the 2025 season, 172 permits were claimed. While only 98 of those permit winners reportedly hunted bear, 52 were successful in harvesting, resulting in a 53.1% success rate statewide.

Warthen pointed out that some of the survey responders acknowledged that they were not hunters or were not intending to hunt, while most of the others intended to hunt but couldn’t for various reasons. “Whether you use hunter success based on permits issued versus permits filled or permits issued to people who use them versus filled, both percentages are at the peak, if not higher than most national averages in states that allow bear hunting,” he told MeatEater.

Even though some of the claimed permits went unused, Warthen noted that unused tags factor into any conservation plan, not just bear hunting. Warthen said he and the lead bear manager estimated that at least 30% of the issued permits would go to people who wouldn’t use them (whether for anti-hunting purposes or not). Those numbers were already considered in their determination of permit allotment. Even if anti-hunting groups managed to account for all of the state’s unused permits, Warthen said that number “didn’t make a significant impact.”

Even if anti-hunting groups theoretically snagged a significant amount of bear permits and decreased the hunter success rate, that post-hunt data would be used in determining the next year’s harvest needs and probably lead to an increase in issued permits for hunters. MeatEater’s Jordan Sillars covered this issue last year and alluded to a similar, albeit hypothetical, outcome.

Though FWC didn’t see its harvest goals thwarted by anti-hunting groups, it did increase the number of permits this year from 172 to 215 (22 of which are designated for the Private Lands Bear Harvest Program). Unsurprisingly, the Sierra Club’s Florida Chapter included this new opportunity in its fact sheet, calling it a “privatization” of bear hunting.

Like a lot of states that offer incentives to private landowners who participate in state conservation plans, Florida offers similar opportunities through its deer and now bear harvest programs. While anti-hunting groups might lead their readers to believe that the state is simply allowing wealthy landowners to “bypass” the rules and regulations, that’s hardly the case.

The minimum acreage requirement for landowners who want to participate in the bear harvest program is 5000, but that’s just part of what the state requires. Landowners must demonstrate that at least 50% of their property is deemed “suitable bear habitat,” implement and follow a bear management plan approved by a certified wildlife biologist, follow a list of qualifying conservation activities on that property annually, and document a required minimum number of bears determined by the property size.

All of these are required for eligibility and do not guarantee landowners a permit. Not to mention, those limited permits for the private land program are capped at 22 and separate from the 193 tags allotted for the general lottery. That long list of minimum requirements costs a lot more than just $100 for a bear tag for landowners. You can read the detailed list of requirements here.

“A lot of these landowners are already enrolled in the deer program,” Warthen said. “They’re already going above and beyond and putting a ton of money and resources into wildlife management.”

The extensive requirements of the bear harvest program, contrary to what the Sierra Club claims, isn’t about creating “exclusive” hunting opportunities for private landowners. Rather, this initiative allows the state to work closely with willing landowners to implement certified wildlife management and conservation programs outside of the small percentage of state and federal lands where FWC has agency.

Regardless, Florida hopes to build upon their successful 2025 bear season this year. The small, yet significant increase in permit availability will give hunters more opportunities to pursue black bears and participate in one of the state’s coolest conservation stories.

Florida’s black bear application period closes on September 21. Application chances are $5 each. Selected residents will pay $100 for a permit, while non-resident permits cost $300. Go to FWC’s website for more information or to purchase your application.