Bear harvest permit applications for the 2025 regulated bear hunting season in Florida open at 10 a.m. EDT on September 12 and close on September 22.
A bear harvest permit is required for hunting bears in one of the four selected Bear Harvest Zones from December 6 to 28, 2025.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old by October 1, and each application costs $5, plus handling fees. Permits will be distributed by random drawing, with a cost of $100 for residents and $300 for nonresidents, plus handling fees.
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Hunters can submit their applications online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com by logging into their account and selecting ‘Apply for Limited Entry/Quota Permits.’
Alternatively, they can complete an application worksheet and present it to a license agent or a tax collector’s office.
Only one nontransferable permit may be issued per person, and no more than 10% of all permits will be issued to nonresidents.
For more information on how to apply, hunters can visit MyFWC.com/License and click on ‘Limited Entry and Quota Permits.’
Additional details about bear hunting in Florida can be found at MyFWC.com/BearHunting.
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