I’ve been out and about lately, spending time on a lot of the local public lands scouting for turkeys. I’m happy to report that this year ought to be exceptional for folks headed out after them old long-bearded rascals. Lots of birds and lots of really, impressive ones are being seen with minimal effort. That bumper crop of jakes from two seasons back are now all grown up and beginning to gather their hens and running each other off from the bachelor flocks they’ve been circulating in.
I’ve found the most sign and the greatest abundance of turkeys on the Homosassa, Richloam and Ocala WMAs. Pretty exciting times ahead for those of us addicted to the gobbling. However, one thing I noticed was an area of the Ocala WMA, the Juniper Springs Unit, being temporarily closed due to excessive bear activity.
With the Forestry Service closing public access to our public lands due to the real threat of bear attacks, wouldn’t a hunting season solve the issue? Unfortunately it’s not that simple for the FWC and public opinion matters. I’ll remind all of you about the fiasco of the limited hunting season they allowed in the Fall of 2015. The FWC sold an unprecedented number of permits for the hunt, which was to be conducted over a week, or until the quota of three hundred bears was reached. Well, hunters totally blew away the biologists by checking in the quota, and then some, on the first day of the hunt (a total of 304 was recorded)!
Outcry from anti-hunting protesters forced the FWC to postpone bear hunting in 2016. In April of 2017, the FWC Commission postponed bear hunting for at least another two years, when they said a new management plan which could include hunting would be considered. Brian Yablonski, FWC Chairman released the following statement, “As shown by today’s staff presentation on population, habitat, human-bear conflict and outreach, we have a long-standing, proactive approach to bear management and will continue to build on that existing foundation. We will continue implementing our comprehensive approach to bear management. We directed staff to bring back a revised bear management plan in two years, including hunting as a management tool.” During the April 2017 meeting, Nick Wiley, FWC Executive Director stated, “We’re not ready to go back into another hunting season,” further explaining that additional public education would be needed to sway opinion on hunting.
Commissioner Aliese Priddy expressed frustration, “I told you whenever I saw that the bear hunt was not going to go forward (in 2016) that we’d see ourselves right here at the same place kicking the can down the road one more time. And that’s exactly what happened… There’s really no scientific reason whatsoever to not have a hunt.”
The public research firm, Responsive Management, conducted a study in 2016 on public opinion regarding black bears and their management, for the FWC. Interestingly, the findings in regards to black bear hunting public opinion conflicts with the outspoken few.
“FWC Opinions on Hunting: A majority (70%) of Florida residents supported regulated hunting in general, while 22% opposed it. Slightly more Florida residents supported (48%) regulated hunting of black bears than opposed it (43%).
The percent of respondents who supported hunting for black bear in Florida differed in each of the following situations:
If FWC was monitoring the bear population and regulated hunting was compatible with maintaining healthy, sustainable populations, a majority (62%) supported bear hunting. Just over a quarter (28%) opposed it.
If the goal of regulated hunting of black bears was to keep numbers at their current levels where populations are abundant and healthy, a majority (63%) supported bear hunting. Just under a third (30%) opposed it.”
Hunters are the greatest asset any governing body can utilize to maintain a given population of wildlife. In fact, we not only would do it for free, we’ll readily pay for the privilege! A win, win relationship if ever there was one. There are better ways of protecting a population from bear predation than closing our public lands. First thing that comes to my mind is to thin the predator population via a controlled hunting season, only in a far more thoughtful manner as was previously attempted. Then earmark the funds raised from the sale of the hunting permits to be utilized for further conservation projects involving the bears.
I guess it comes down to why they hosted the 2016 hunt to begin with. People were being attacked and many, seriously injured due to bear encounters. Once enough people were hurt, the FWC decided to act, although. Since that hunt, I’ve been made aware of several other incidents involving bear and human encounters that did not end well. People are still getting hurt.
The Forestry Service’s hands are tied, really. They can’t force the state to open a season, therefore they have to resort to the only tool available to them for public safety, which is to close portions of our public lands. At least they are looking out for us in that regard, but isn’t it sad that the FWC, who can and should take action to control the bear population, doesn’t? The fear of the emotional backlash is no reason for them not to conduct sound conservation practices, not only on public lands, but statewide.
If any of you are out in the woods or on the water this weekend, I wish you the best of luck! And as always, if you have any questions or a story to share, feel free to reach out to me at toby@hernandosun.com. God bless and good hunting!