On Aug. 13, 2025, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission held a public meeting to hear input from advocates for and against reinstating a black bear hunting season for the first time since 2015. After hearing from both sides, the commission voted unanimously to approve a 2025 black bear season.
The approved season will run from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. The state will issue 187 hunting permits through a lottery system. No more than 10% of permits will be available to nonresidents, with the remaining permits reserved exclusively for Florida residents.
The decision follows recent demographic studies conducted by the commission, which indicate an increase in the state’s black bear population and their occupied range.
Support for the season came from a wide range of stakeholders, including hunters, the Archery Trade Association, other pro-hunting organizations, county commissioners and local law enforcement. Many of the public officials cited safety concerns due to the rising number of human-bear encounters. In May, Florida reported its first fatal bear attack, further heightening calls for action.
During the public comment period, Dan Forster, the ATA’s vice president and chief conservation officer, traveled to Florida to deliver a letter of support and speak on behalf of the association, where he emphasized the importance of including archery equipment in the upcoming season. Archery equipment is typically a target of anti-hunting groups when new hunting seasons are proposed as their unfounded claims focus on archery equipment being an inhumane method of harvest.
In the ATA’s letter to the commission, the organization stated that archery equipment — when used by trained and licensed hunters — is a highly effective and humane method of harvesting black bears. Modern compound bows and crossbows are engineered for power, precision and lethality, making them capable of quick, ethical kills on large-bodied game.
Forster, a former director of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, also noted his experience opening a black bear season in 2011 on private lands in central Georgia.
“I understand the debate, pressures and implications,” Forster said in the letter. “As such, I applaud your staff for bringing forward a sound and scientifically justified proposal, and you for your continued support of these consummate professionals.”
The ATA is proud to have provided its support for the bowhunting community in this newly approved black bear season. Our goal is to continue to be a leader in supporting bowhunters and bowhunting opportunities across the country.
For more information, contact Dan Forster, ATA vice president and chief conservation officer, at danforster@archerytrade.org.
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