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Florida’s long-awaited bear hunt is again for the primary time in a decade. And anti-hunting activists are doing every little thing they’ll to close it down earlier than a single hunter even steps into the woods.
In response to Native Information 10, a bunch of Florida animal-rights activists is providing $2,000 in chilly, exhausting money to each permitted hunter prepared to remain dwelling.
That’s as a result of solely 172 bear tags had been issued statewide after an enormous lottery. And a minimum of 52 of these permits had been deliberately claimed by animal advocates who by no means deliberate to hunt within the first place.
And so they’re not the one ones attempting to sabotage the season. A bunch calling itself Bear Warriors United is providing the remaining allow holders the identical $2,000 payout to hold up their rifles and skip the hunt solely.
Their push doesn’t cease there. The Sierra Membership of Florida informed reporters they need Governor Ron DeSantis to intervene and cease the hunt altogether.
Though the governor signed a 2024 legislation permitting deadly power when bears threaten individuals, pets, or houses. That shift got here after the primary recorded deadly bear assault in Florida, when a Collier County man and his canine had been killed in Could.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) reinstated the hunt after a 10-year hiatus, pointing to robust inhabitants restoration.
Florida’s black bears rebounded from close to extinction to greater than 5,000 animals statewide. Every permitted hunter is allowed to take one bear, and searching is restricted to 4 designated administration zones.
Not each tag holder is tempted by activist money. Hunter Jason Howard, who drew a allow, informed Gulf Coast Information he’ll be within the woods regardless.
“I don’t trophy hunt… Once I deer hunt, I don’t hunt for antlers. It’s for the meat… and I hope to take pleasure in bear meat as nicely.”
Wanting forward, FWC plans to permit the usage of canine for bear searching beginning in 2027, and the Sierra Membership is already gearing as much as combat that rule.
Calling the observe “terribly merciless” to each bears and canine. They be aware that canine might be misplaced whereas pursuing bears, one thing hunters have handled for generations.
One factor is obvious: whereas activists throw cash at allow holders, the demand for the hunt hasn’t pale.
Greater than 160,000 hunters utilized for these 172 slots. This can be a HUGE reminder that Florida’s searching neighborhood could be very a lot alive, and greater than prepared to participate in a fastidiously managed conservation season.
However let’s be trustworthy: would you’re taking $2,000 money to your black bear tag?
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