Bear hunting has long been a controversial issue in Florida. Supporters say, in part, a hunt could help better manage bear populations as the animals interact with humans. They also point to a voter-approved ballot measure in November that enshrined hunting and fishing rights in the state Constitution.

Florida released proposed rules Wednesday for an annual hunt of the state’s largest land mammal, the black bear, but bear advocates quickly blasted those rules for favoring trophy hunters and said they could spark a massacre of the species.