TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida hunters will be able to apply for bear harvest permits beginning Sept. 11 for the state’s 2026 regulated bear hunting season.
Applications will open at 10 a.m. EDT on Sept. 11 and remain available through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 21. A bear harvest permit is required to harvest a bear in one of Florida’s four selected Bear Harvest Zones during the Dec. 5-27 season. Hunters must also have a valid hunting license unless exempt.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old by Oct. 1. Each application costs $5, plus handling fees, and hunters may submit multiple applications to increase their chances in the random drawing.
Only one nontransferable bear harvest permit may be issued to each person selected. Permits will cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for nonresidents, plus handling fees. No more than 10% of permits will be issued to nonresidents.
Hunters can apply online through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com by logging into their account and selecting “Apply for Limited Entry/Quota Permits.” Applications may also be submitted through a license agent or Florida tax collector’s office.
Additional information about the application process is available through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at MyFWC.com/License. Details about Florida’s regulated bear hunting season are available at MyFWC.com/BearHunting.
SOURCE: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
