Florida Bear Hunt Applications Open Through September 21

Florida hunters have through September 21 to apply for the 2026 statewide bear hunt. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lists the application window as September 11–21 and the statewide season as December 5–27. Individual wildlife management areas have their own open dates, so a zone permit is not a reason to skip the area brochure.

Applications cost $5 each. Successful applicants pay $100 for a resident permit and tag or $300 for a nonresident permit and tag, with handling fees potentially added. Applicants must be 18 by October 1. Each application carries one zone choice, and applicants may submit more than one application. Selection is by random drawing, not first come, first served.

FWC lists 78 statewide-program permits for the East Panhandle zone, 31 for the North zone, 21 for the Central zone and 63 for the South zone. The first permit claim window runs September 25 through October 5. Winners who miss their claim deadline forfeit the opportunity, and unclaimed permits move to later drawing rounds.

The Private Lands Bear Harvest Program operates separately, with an October 1–December 31 season. Eligibility requires at least 5,000 contiguous acres within an established bear harvest zone, at least half of that acreage in suitable bear habitat, an approved habitat management plan and documented bear presence. Enrolled properties must also carry out at least four qualifying conservation activities annually affecting at least 10% of the property. Ownership alone does not satisfy those requirements.

A statewide bear permit authorizes one bear in the specified zone and is not transferable. Hunters must attach the issued physical tag after harvest and report the harvest within 24 hours. Before applying, review FWC's bear hunting page at https://myfwc.com/hunting/bear/ and permit instructions at https://myfwc.com/license/limited-entry/bear-permits/ for zone boundaries, claim dates and requirements.