Two weeks before the scheduled Florida bear hunt, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission held its 16th annual Black Bear and Wildlife Conservation Festival on Saturday in Umatilla.
Some took the opportunity to protest the hunt. A group with the Stop the Florida Bear Hunt lined the street at the entrance to the festival.
Florida Bear Encounters & Statewide Bear Hunt Info
The event raises awareness and appreciation for the black bear, but the group says they don't see a reason to celebrate.
“We find it kind of ironic that two weeks from right now, thousands of hunters will be flooding the forest declaring war on our black bears,” said Adam Sugalski, the campaign director for Stop the Florida Bear Hunt.
Others say the hunt is a way to harvest the bear.
"You shouldn’t be hunting that bear just for its hide, that would be unethical. You should treat the bear like you treat the wild turkey or deer. It’s a consumable animal that makes great table fare when you’ve had it,” said hunter-conservationist David Tetzlaff.
The weeklong black bear hunt is scheduled to start Saturday, Oct. 24.