After Florida wildlife officials approved the state’s first black bear hunt in a decade, wildlife expert Ron Magill became one of several people who disagreed with the decision.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan during a meeting that drew 168 people for a public hearing in the Panhandle town of Havana, with both supporters and opponents present. The panel had given preliminary approval in May, citing a need to manage growing bear populations.

Taking to Facebook, Magill said he supports hunting when it is done to further advance the cause of conservationism.

He said he understands “the value that hunters bring to wildlife conservation and that most hunters are indeed some of the best conservationists that I know.”

But with the decision to bring back the bear hunt in the Sunshine State, Magill said “I strongly disagree with the approval of a bear hunt in Florida.”

Magill said he has not seen proof that there are more bears than the environment can support or that they are a threat to people.

There are an estimated 4,000 black bears in Florida, one of the few states with sizable populations that do not have a bear hunting season. Several pro-hunt speakers noted that bears are much more commonly seen in many areas than in the past, causing interactions with humans that provoke fear and concern.

Magill acknowledged that bear populations have risen, but said that doesn’t mean they should be killed.

Earlier in May, an 89-year-old man and his dog were killed by a bear in Collier County, which is the first documented fatal bear attack in Florida.

The first Florida bear hunt was approved in 2015, where hunting permits were provided to anyone who could pay for them, which led to a chaotic event shut down days early after 300-plus bears were killed, including at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the young bears probably died too.

According to FWC, for this year’s hunt, there will be a random drawing of permits with a limit of 187, and hunters can kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough.

The killing of cubs and females with cubs will not be allowed.

A permit would cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for nonresidents.

The hunt will be held from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28, and the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.