TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Florida wrapped up its bear hunt this week, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said hunters reported killing 52 bears since the season started on Dec. 6.
One of those hunters, Frank Richardson, is one of more than 100 people who took part in Florida’s first bear hunt since 2015.
“I hunted for a week straight before even seeing the first bear,” he said. “They were a lot more wary, a lot more crafty, and a lot smarter than I thought they would be.”
Richardson killed a 170-pound bear in Wakulla County. He said he’s glad bear hunting is back, and says this hunt was a good start.
“Seems like a more responsible manner than they went about it last time, where it seemed like a lot more got killed,” he said. “It’s a learning curve for everyone. I think the small number was a decent starting and we can always see where to go from here.“
Richardson is an avid hunter, but this was his first time hunting bear.
The FWC is expected to release a full report on the statewide bear hunt in the next few months.
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