Florida bear hunt opponents, unable to dissuade state wildlife commissioners last week from authorizing a sanctioned killing of the once imperiled species, are now trying their luck in court.

This year’s bear hunt, set for 23 days in December, would be the first in Florida since 2015 when hunters killed an unexpectedly high 304 bears in two days, forcing a shutdown that has lasted a decade.

Bear Warriors United, a not-for-profit organization based in Seminole County, filed a 53-page challenge Friday with the Division of Administrative Hearings, arguing the state Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) failed to follow rules requiring that “sound research, science and management techniques should prevail over politics when it comes to wildlife conservation and management.”

By takin

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