Florida Black Bear Hunt Over In Just 2 Days

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — After just two days, Florida has ended its controversial black bear hunt because the targeted number of bears had been killed.

Wildlife authorities said late Sunday that 295 bears taken overall, nearing the official limit.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission posted a statement on its website saying it had closed the 2015 hunt because it was approaching an agency “objective” of 320 bears overall.

“The 2015 bear hunt is officially over,” the statement says.

Wildlife officials had already shut down hunting in designated central and east Panhandle regions of Florida after the first day Saturday. The statement late Sunday said additional North and South units were closed to hunting after the second day, meaning hunting had ended in all four “bear management units” were it was allowed.