The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a 23-day hunting season beginning in December, paving the way for more hunts in the coming years.

This is the first black bear hunt since 2015, when nearly 300 bears were killed on the first two days of a week-long season.

Despite emotional pleas from animal-rights advocates, Florida wildlife officials on Wednesday approved a 23-day black bear hunt in December that could result in up to 187 bears being killed. It will be the state’s first sanctioned bear hunt in more than a decade.