Florida Black Bear Management Plan

[GeneRector]

   Howdy! Florida now has about 3000 black bear and will soon begin "managing" them. However, hunting is not being considered at this time. Look at what happened in New Jersey--bears would come into people's yards frequently. What do you think about it? Your views appreciated!  Always, Gene
 
 

[Sourdough]

Something needs to be done to remove Black Bears along highway 27.  Especially between Palmdale and the highway 70 intersection.  The area is full of Orange Groves.  I was cruising through there one evening last November on my motorcycle, a Black Bear ran out in front of me.  It was close, I almost bought the farm on that one.  I swerved and just missed it.  If I had hit that thing at 55mph, it would have been nasty. 

Hunting is not the only means that is practical in my view, there is trapping as well.  Those good ole boys in Central Florida would just love to trap Black Bears.  Black Bear meat is delicious, much like pork.  Needs to be cooked like pork as well.  Weapons needs to be limited, would not want just anybody shooting a 30-06 in those heavily populated areas.   Archery, Shotguns with slugs, or trapping.

Gene, you need to seriously look into trapping.  You don't need those big culvert traps.  You can set up smaller traps made of steel cable and PVC pipe.  It can be set in a manner that dogs won't be a problem.  The depth of the trigger can be adjusted to be selective, to eliminate catching cubs of smaller sows.  In other words you can set the traps up to catch all bears or target cubs only, by using smaller pipe.  Boars or larger bears only by placing the triger farther back so a sow or cub can not reach it.  Big  Boars have longer arms than smaller sows.  No they are not going to be left hanging in a tree by their paw.  They generally fight the cable for a while, then just lie down.  The cable is attatched to the bottom of a tree or a solid anchor.  I've seen some that don't even get up when the trapper arrives.  At first just the meat and hides to mount would be sufficient.  But as you take Bears out of the eco system there is room for more and the sows will porduce.  If the food source is there, unless a high number is being taken, a larger number will be produced.  just like trapping any other animal, the more you catch the more they will produce.  It's a great renewable resource that has been going to waste through out most of the US.  We are trying to get trapping opened up state wide, currently it is only open in selected areas.  The Antis are fighting us hard to stop all trapping of Bears, but we have Bears running out our ears.  Hunting just does not take enough.  If trapped the hides can be sold as Fur Bearers.  That is the incentive that is pushing the trappers to get it opened up state wide.
 
Here is a link to what we are using here in Alaska.
 
http://www.bearbiology.com/fileadmin/tpl/Downloads/URSUS/Vol_17/Lemieux_Czetwertynski_Vol_17_1_.pdf

   

[Swampman]

Bears are thick around where we live.  They turn over the trash and cause all kinds of problems.  My wife saw one in the mall parking lot in broad daylight.  They need to be hunted.

[GeneRector]

   Howdy! +1 for Sourdough and Swampman! Bear meat is very good. I like it better than venison, but I like it too. I know that Florida wants to have a sustainable population of black bear with good genetics. We will see what develops!  Hunting and trapping should be included. Always, Gene
 
 

[Savage .250]

  Hope the DNR does the right thing in getting a handle on bears .  Maybe a very controlled
  lottery   (by the state) program  is a possibility.  The one and done kind or can`t re-apply
   for at least 5 yrs.   In state residents only.  J s/n.
     

[muznut 54]

I live and hunt in Maine I have shot and ate many of black bear I never had one that tasted like pork to me it tasted like a sweet beef and prepared and cooked properly I just soon have that than beef or deer meat.

[Sourdough]

muznut 54:  I for one take the hams, shoulders and side meat, then cure them just like I would a hog.  At that point it taste like pork, cause it was treated like pork.  My neighbor does it just like he does his Moose, (which is like you take care of deer) and it taste along those lines.  Care and Preparation makes the taste.  It also depends on what the Bear has been eating.