FLORIDA — Bear harvest permit applications for Florida’s 2025 regulated bear hunting season will open at 10 a.m. EDT on Sept. 12, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The application window will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 22. A permit is required to harvest a bear in one of the four designated Bear Harvest Zones during the season, which runs from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. A hunting license is also required unless exempt.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old by Oct. 1. Each application costs $5 plus handling fees, and applicants may apply as many times as they wish. Permits will be issued by random drawing, with one nontransferable permit allowed per person.
The cost of a permit will be $100 for residents and $300 for nonresidents, plus handling fees. No more than 10% of all permits issued will be awarded to nonresidents.
Hunters can apply online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com by logging into their account and selecting “Apply for Limited Entry/Quota Permits.” Applications may also be submitted at a license agent or Florida tax collector’s office by using a completed application worksheet.
More details about the process are available at MyFWC.com/License under “Limited Entry and Quota Permits.” Additional information on bear hunting in Florida can be found at MyFWC.com/BearHunting.
