The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is opening permit applications for regulated bear hunting, and if you’re interested, you’ll want to mark your calendar. Applications open September 11 at 10 a.m. Eastern time and close September 21 at 11:59 p.m. The application process is straightforward: you can apply online through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, through licensed hunting agents throughout the state, or at your local Florida tax collector’s office. The cost depends on residency. Florida residents pay $100 for a permit, while nonresidents pay $300. Everyone pays an additional $5 application fee plus handling charges regardless of residency status.
Understanding the permit structure matters if you’re planning to apply. The FWC will distribute all permits through random drawing, meaning your odds depend on how many people enter and how many permits are available. Only one non-transferable permit per person will be issued, so you can’t get multiple chances. Nonresident permits are capped at 10 percent of total permits issued, protecting hunting opportunities for Florida residents. You must be at least 18 years old by October 1 and possess a valid hunting license, though some exemptions exist for military members and disabled hunters.
The actual bear hunting season runs December 5-27 across four designated Bear Harvest Zones selected by the FWC. These zones are determined based on bear population data and management goals throughout Florida. This regulated approach balances wildlife conservation with hunting opportunity. If you’ve been thinking about participating in Florida’s bear hunting season, the September 11 deadline is your window to apply. What questions do you have about the application process or the hunting zones?
