Earlier this month the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rules for a December black‑bear hunt—the first in a decade. The plan authorizes 187 permits to be distributed by random drawing across four management zones. Each permit allows one bear to be killed and applicants can enter the lottery multiple times for $5 per entry.

Public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. An FWC survey of more than 13 000 respondents found that 75 % opposed the hunt. Even the agency’s own press release stresses that hunting is not the sole tool for reducing human‑bear conflicts and that management should balance populations with available habitat. Advocates also note that Florida’s bears are umbrella and indicator species: protecting them preserves habitat for countless other animals and helps maintain healthy watersheds that defend against flooding and erosion.

Join the Peaceful Response

Opponents of the hunt have a straightforward strategy: buy the permits yourself so they can’t be used. Here’s what that involves:

• Buy a FL hunting license for $17 right now at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
  • No citizenship necessary. Thanks to Amendment 2, "The Right to Hunt", you do not need to be a Florida citizen or even a U.S. citizen to buy a Florida hunting license.
  • Hunter safety course not required. If you were born after 1975, just make sure to select the option to defer the hunter safety certification requirement at checkout.
  • Instructions on how to fill out the application are available here.
• Enter the bear tag lottery when it opens. Details and dates TBD by FWC.
• Apply as many times as you want for $5 per application.
• If you are the lucky winner and awarded one of the permits, please contact us for instructions on the next steps to complete your pledge.

Every permit that goes unused is one less bear killed. After applying, contact Governor Ron DeSantis and urge him to cancel the hunt and invest in BearWise programs that secure garbage and reduce conflicts without killing bears.

By purchasing licenses and buying up tags, citizens can peacefully undermine an unpopular hunt while sending a message that Florida’s bears—and the ecosystems they support—are worth protecting.