From Sierra Club Florida
Sierra Club Florida, Speak Up for Wildlife, and a growing coalition of organizations released an expert-reviewed fact sheet detailing nine major problems with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) proposed black bear hunt. The document outlines how the rules rely on outdated science, reward wealthy landowners, and mislead the public under the guise of “wildlife management.”
Related: OP/ED - Floridians don't want trophy bear hunts.
The proposal – set for a vote at the FWC’s August 13-14 meeting in Havana – would bring back the use of hounds to chase bears, a practice prosecuted as animal cruelty by Florida’s former Attorney General. It also permits baiting and archery methods that most Floridians consider inhumane. In the FWC’s survey, three of four Floridians said no to a bear hunt.
Starting in 2026, the rules would create a separate trophy-style hunt for wealthy landowners with 5,000+ acres. This would allow them to bypass the public lottery, use dogs and bait, and hand-pick who gets to kill bears, turning public wildlife into luxury trophy hunts for profit. The plan is being sold as “access,” but it privatizes the hunt for the politically connected.
Another key concern: the new rules would give FWC staff permanent authority to approve bear hunts, removing future decisions from public oversight or Commission vote.
“The FWC’s bear hunt plan is barreling ahead with no evidence of need. It creates a new system with reverse-engineered science and no public accountability,” said Chuck O’Neal of Speak Up for Wildlife. “Our fact sheet lays out exactly why this hunt is bad for bears and bad for everyday Floridians who deserve an FWC that responsibly manages wildlife.”
“This isn’t hunters vs. environmentalists. It’s ethical, science-minded Floridians who care about protecting our bears vs. trophy-hunting special interests who scorn public opinion and rig the system for their personal gain,” said Kris Cunningham, Sierra Club Florida Executive Committee Chair. “Trophy hunting has no place in our wildlife spaces in Florida.”
We emphatically call on Governor DeSantis and the Commissioners to stop the hunt.
Floridians are urged to:
ABOUT SIERRA CLUB FLORIDA: Founded in 1892, the Sierra Club is the oldest and largest environmental advocacy organization in the nation. The Florida Chapter boasts over 240,000 members and supporters committed to exploring, enjoying, and protecting the earth's wild places. To learn more about Sierra Club Florida, click here.
ABOUT SPEAK UP FOR WILDLIFE: Created to add a voice for the voiceless in matters of public wildlife management, our mission is to protect and conserve Florida’s dwindling native wildlife populations. To learn more about Speak Up for Wildlife, click here.
