(NewsNation) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved rules for “highly regulated” black bear hunting Wednesday, paving the way for the state’s first hunt since 2015 despite rampant opposition.
Under the new rules, 187 bear hunting permits will be distributed through a lottery system. Eligible hunters can apply — and pay the $5 entrance fee — as many times as they want.
Each permitted hunter would be allowed to kill one bear.
If selected, hunters from the Sunshine State will pay $100, while out-of-state hunters will owe $300 to participate. The hunt is scheduled for December.
Wildlife advocates oppose Florida black bear hunt
Members of the FWC on Wednesday unanimously voted in favor of the hunting plan, which had already been preliminarily approved back in May.
The commission contends that hunting allows it to “start managing population growth rates for the Bear Management Units, or BMUs, with the largest bear subpopulations,” and describes hunting as an “effective tool” for handling Florida’s habitats.
But wildlife advocates point to the practice as cruel, with many attendees at the vote voicing disapproval of the proposal.
Humane World of Animals Florida State Director Kate MacFall told NewsNation local affiliate WMBB that the day of the vote was the “most discouraging and disheartening and really disappointing” since she’s worked alongside the commission.
“There was very little consideration of the public input, and the cruelty factor honestly wasn’t even brought up in the whole deliberation,” MacFall said.