Bear hunting remains open in several counties after Florida’s first bear hunting season in 21 years yielded 207 harvests Saturday.
Wildlife officials said 99 bears were killed in Central and parts of Northeast Florida and 81 bears were killed in the Florida Panhandle. The hunting season is now closed in those regions, which include Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns counties.
The hunt continues for permit holders in Baker, Columbia, Duval, Nassau and Union counties.
Three bear harvests were reported at Camp Blanding and two at Cary State Forest Headquarters. A harvest total was not available for the Guana River WMA check station, the third check station in Northeast Florida.
Almost 3,000 people bought the $100 hunting licenses, but only 320 of the state’s estimated 3,500 bears can be killed during the week-long season.
A group called Speak up Wekiva sued to stop the bear hunt, but a judge sided with FWC earlier this month.
A final effort to stop the hunt ended Friday night when the First District Court of Appeal denied a group's request for emergency relief.
FWC said the quota is low because the hunt is intended to stabilize the state's growing bear population.
Hunters are required to register bears they kill at one of 33 statewide check-in stations within 12 hours of recovery, wildlife officials said.
The use of hunting dogs and bait is forbidden.
FWC will release an update about the hunt at 3 p.m. Sunday.
