Bear harvest permit applications open Friday for 2025 hunt

FLORIDA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will open bear harvest permit applications on Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. for the 2025 regulated bear hunting season.

Applications can be submitted through Sept. 22 at 11:59 p.m.

A bear harvest permit is required to harvest a bear in one of the four selected Bear Harvest Zones from Dec. 6 through the 28, according to FWC.

A hunting license is also required to hunt bears, unless exempt.

For the bear hunt, FWC is allowing participants to apply for permits as many times as they want for $5 per application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old by Oct. 1 to apply.

Only one nontransferable permit may be issued per person, and permits will cost $100 for residents and $300 for nonresidents.

Permits will be distributed by random drawing, and no more than 10% of all permits issued will be to nonresidents.

Hunters can submit online applications at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com by logging into their account and choosing “Apply for Limited Entry/Quota Permits” or by completing an application worksheet and presenting it to a license agent or Florida tax collector’s office.

You can find more information on how to apply by going to MyFWC.com/License and clicking on “Limited Entry and Quota Permits.” Visit MyFWC.com/BearHunting for more information on bear hunting in Florida.