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).
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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.
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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.
