ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ Florida’s wildlife management commission has started selling permits for bear hunting, despite a legal challenge to the hunt.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Monday started selling the permits for hunting bears in Florida during the last week in October.
The permits cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for nonresidents.
They can be purchased online, in tax collector offices or in some sporting goods stores.
Wildlife officials say the goal of the hunt is to help manage the state’s bear population.
But an advocacy group last week filed a lawsuit in Tallahassee, challenging the hunt.
The lawsuit filed by Speak Up Wekiva claimed the hunt violates an amendment to the Florida constitution that requires the state to make adequate provisions to protect its natural resources.
