Florida’s Approved Bear Season Has Connecticut Flirting With The Idea As Well 🫦

In the event that the weekend wasn’t quite long enough for you, here’s to hoping that your favorite dispatch from the outdoor world can give you 5-or-so minutes to prep yourself for yet another week.

So, without further adieu, let’s grab that coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Monkey see, monkey do - Florida is out here inspiring bear seasons 🐻

• Plenty of support - Wisconsin hunters support DNR’s new regs ✊

• NY’s deer boom - It’s a good time to be a deer hunter in NY 🦌

• Restrictions removed - WV removes caliber restrictions on yotes and more 🔫

• Lock the truck - Watch this family of bears keeps the tradition going 🛻 

WILL COMMON SENSE PREVAIL?
FLORIDA’S APPROVED BEAR SEASON HAS CONNECTICUT FLIRTING WITH THE IDEA AS WELL

While Florida’s recent decision to move forward with a bear hunt should come at no surprise, especially considering the state endured its first bear fatality in April, the bold moves coming out of the Sunshine State have other bear-leaguered states taking notice.

The state of Connecticut has had their finger on the bear hunting button for the better part of the last decade. The problem, many say, is that the state has not conducted an updated population count in about that same timeframe. Incomplete data leads to incomplete decisions, or at the very least, a lack of supporting evidence for claims that the state has a bear problem and thus, requires a solution.

While there are fairly good estimates out there pegging Connecticut’s bears at about 1,200 animals, Connecticut’s bear problem isn’t something that is hiding out in the woods, away from prying eyes. According to reports, there have been confirmed bear sightings in just about each and every town of the Constitution State. In addition to the sightings, local police departments and wildlife agencies have been inundated with break and enters and attempted entries by black bears for years now…

QUICK HITS // ^{_{FROM AROUND THE WEB}}

Wisconsin Voters show support for DNR fishing and hunting rules change proposals: If approved as expected, the new regulations would allow hunters to leave non-edible parts of big game in the field, extend the fall turkey seasons in two northern Wisconsin zones, allow hunters with disabled permits to pursue deer statewide during the youth deer hunting season, open the inland trout season a month earlier and allow catch-and-release fishing for lake sturgeon on many more waters, to name a few.  Read the full story.

New York’s DEC Reports Deer Harvest Increase for 2024-25 Hunting Season: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that hunters in New York harvested an estimated 223,304 deer during the 2024-25 hunting seasons. In addition, DEC announced the release of a report noting agency actions in response to the Herkimer County chronic wasting disease (CWD) incident and the State’s plans for continued, intensified disease surveillance. Read the full story.

West Virginia DNR Announces Changes to Coyote, Youth and Waterfowl Regs: These changes, which were approved by the West Virginia Legislature during the 2025 regular session, include removing maximum caliber restrictions for night coyote hunting, increasing youth waterfowl hunter maximum age limits and providing clarification on adult supervision during special youth hunting seasons.  Read the full story.

Starting June 1, you can apply for a Georgia quota hunt: Starting June 1, hunters can apply electronically for most quota hunts including certain youth, deer, alligator, waterfowl, dove and many others, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). Read the full story.

SC adds new gator hunting options: The SCDNR has added 400 additional slot-restricted tags to South Carolina’s 2025 alligator lottery. These additional tags will allow a hunter to take one alligator between 4 and 8 feet in total length.  Read the full story.

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🛻 Breaking and entering has become a generational thing for this bear family out in Asheville. In what originally started as a couple of cubs exploring a couple of years ago has turned into a family of four who now continue to carry the torch of curiosity.

Don’t forget to lock the truck…

Having a good look at the week ahead.

📸 : @tuckerbrownrab

Oh, and one more thing…