ORLANDO, Fla. — The first Florida bear hunting season in ten years kicked off Saturday. Permits were distributed to those in favor and against the hunt.

What You Need To Know • Florida's first black bear hunting season in a decade kicked off Saturday • 172 permits were distributed across the state, though some against the hunt obtained them and say they won't use them • 18 permits were available in the Central Florida region • The bear hunting season ends Dec. 28

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced 163,459 applications were submitted. 172 permits were distributed across the state.

In Central Florida, only 18 bear tags were available — the smallest of all four regions — based on the agency’s bear population growth model. Only one bear can be harv

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