State wildlife officials say a regulated hunt is needed to manage the bear population. Opponents say the new rules will lead to trophy hunting.

The agency says the regulated hunt is to help manage the black bear population. Officials say Florida’s black bear population has gone from several hundred in the 1970s to over 4,000 today. The last official hunt was in October 2015.

The first black bear hunt in Florida in a decade takes place in December under a rule adopted Wednesday by state wildlife officials. This is despite strong opposition to the eventual use of dogs