ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida hunters have just hours left to apply for permits in the state’s upcoming black bear hunt, a controversial season scheduled for December that has drawn more than 100,000 applications.

What we know:

Florida’s upcoming black bear hunt, set for December, has drawn more than 100,000 applications with only 172 permits available statewide. Applicants paid $5 to enter the lottery, which allows each winner to harvest one bear. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission scaled back the number of permits from 187, with 18 allotted for Central Florida.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear whether legal challenges from conservation groups will halt or delay the hunt. Questions also persist about how effective the hunt will be in managing bear populations, and

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