I live in Northeast Florida where the bear population is actually pretty high and into the panhandle they are problematic and frequently visit neighborhoods like this bear did. We don't have any in my club that I know of. But in Clay County they are almost everywhere. FWC has finally approved to hunt bear. But the season is a joke to me. 2 days long if quota reached, but no more then 7 days. It week be October 24-25 or through the 30. Permit is 100 bucks also. Not worth it in my opinion unless I knew I could harvest a bear on the 1st day.

I lived in Pensacola for 4 years and we had quite a few bear. I hunted deer and turkey on the Perdido Wildlife Management Area and saw them often enough to know I could hunt one there without too much trouble. There are a lot of them on Eglin Airforce Base over by Navarre too. They even have bear crossing signs on the main roads. Some of the bruins are really big since there is no need for them to hibernate.

But then, what do I know. According to Pete, FL bear aren't worth the $$$ to hunt in the first legal FL bear season.