CBS News: “Florida wildlife officials gave preliminary approval Wednesday for the first black bear hunt since the last one 10 years ago, which was halted early after more than 300 bears were killed in only two days.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 4-1 at a meeting in Ocala in favor of a bear hunt in December of this year and annually into the future, allowing the use of up to six dogs to corner the bears. Methods could include bowhunting, similar to rules for hunting deer, and bear hunting in baited areas.

A final vote is scheduled in August.

The commission staff said the goal is to “begin managing population growth” for bears, which number about 4,000 in Florida….

Hunt opponents contend there isn’t enough scientific evidence to justify killing bears and the most reasonable approach is to convince people in Florida’s ever-sprawling developments to secure garbage and take other non-lethal steps to limit human-bear conflicts.

“I implore you to not allow the slaughter of these majestic animals we have in Florida,” said Leslie Carlile, an opponent whose family goes back several generations in Florida. “Trophy hunting is pure evil in my opinion.””