WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
The National Rifle Association and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida urge for a bear hunt to be held later this year.
Read More »Gun-rights Groups Pushing For Another Florida Bear Hunt
Wildlife Staff Preps For Possible Bear Hunt
Wildlife officials help make their case for black-bear hunt with data from webinars.
Read More »Seminole Commissioners Take Aim At Bear Hunt
Seminole County commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday asking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to reinstate a ban on bear hunting in Florida. The resolution also asks the state agency to maintain a focus on "reducing human-bear conflicts through deterrent techniques and habitat management."
Read More »Wildlife Commission Sets Sights On Another Bear Hunt
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is working to hold another bear hunt. The first hunt after two decades, held in October 2015, was highly controversial and another bear hunt could draw protest from opponents.
Read More »Petition To Make Bears An Endangered Species Will Move Forward
Bears were a threatened species until 2012, when population was thought to be around 3,000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will determine their endangered species status.
Read More »New Bear Numbers Do Not Include Those Killed In Hunt
Florida black bears have emerged as a topic of contention as of late because of 2015's hunt, which killed 304 of the animals.
Read More »Florida Hunters’ Personal Info Remains Public, Senators Rule
The Rules Committee voted 5-4 to reject a measure (SB 1364) that would have created a public-records exemption for personal information — such as names, dates of birth, addresses and telephone numbers — of people getting hunting licenses from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Read More »Early End to Bear Hunt Raises Concerns Over Baiting
Claims of illegal baiting during Florida's 2015 Black Bear hunting season stir controversy. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to issue an in-depth analysis of the hunt in a few weeks.
Read More »Florida Ends Bear Hunt After Second Day; Limit Nearly Reached
After just two days, Florida ended its controversial black bear hunt because a higher than expected number of bears had been killed. Wildlife authorities said late Sunday that 295 bears taken overall, nearing the official limit.
Read More »First Day Of Bear Hunt Brings Kills, Concerns
For the first time in twenty years, hunters entered the woods to kill Florida black bears. At the end of the first day, 207 bears were killed and tagged. Hunting was halted in the Central Florida Bear Management Unit after the 100 bear limit was reached.
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