The agency reduces permits by 15, while total applications surpass 100,000 for the limited draw.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has adjusted its plans for the state’s upcoming bear hunt, reducing the number of permits available for the lottery-style drawing.
According to the FWC, the agency is now issuing 172 permits, a decrease of 15 from the original 187. The reason for this change remains unclear at this time.
The hunt, scheduled to take place from December 6 to December 28, has garnered significant interest, with applications flooding in since the process opened on September 12.
As of Friday, the FWC reported a total of 100,296 applications had been submitted. At $5 per application, the sheer volume of entries highlights both the financial interest and the widespread desire for a permit to participate in the hunt. There is no limit on how many times a person can apply, increasing the chances for a determined few to be selected.
The FWC will randomly select the 172 permit holders, each of whom will then be allowed to harvest one bear during the season. This controlled approach is in contrast to the state’s last bear hunt in 2015, which was halted early after over 300 bears were killed in just two days.
The decision to hold a bear hunt has been a subject of considerable debate, with the FWC citing a growing black bear population and an increase in human-bear interactions.
The FWC estimates there are over 4,000 black bears in Florida, and officials have stated that hunting is a valuable tool for managing the population and mitigating conflicts.
READ: Black Bear Hunt Returns To Florida After Decade-Long Hiatus
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