Judge could decide on Florida bear hunt Thursday

A judge in Tallahassee will hear arguments from opponents of a state-sanctioned black bear hunt set to begin next month.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit by a Seminole County organization seeking to block the state’s upcoming bear-hunting season.

Chuck O’Neal and attorneys Brooks and Lopez will be available for comment following the hearing.

Lawyers for the state argued that the rules for the hunt were well thought out.

“Speak Up Wekiva” is concerned more than 320 bears could be killed in the first two days, exceeding the quota.

The Florida black bear hunt scheduled to start October 24 can go ahead despite complaints from animal protection groups that it could be harmful. The News-Press reports more than 2,200 hunters have obtained state licenses to participate. For a population facing intensifying threats such as habitat degradation and mortality due to collisions with motor vehicles, this hunt could be devastating.

Reynolds denied a petition from Speak Up Wekiva for a temporary injunction against the hunt today, saying the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission had made a successful scientific basis for the hunt, but said the FWC “could have had a few better timing” by waiting until after a more recent population study was released.