ORLANDO, Fla. — Floridians who want to apply for a permit to participate in Florida’s 2026 bear hunt can begin submitting applications Friday morning.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will begin accepting applications at 10 a.m.
The application fee is $5, and applications will remain open through Sept. 21.
FWC plans to randomly select applicants for up to 215 permits for the December bear hunt.
The annual hunt has drawn opposition from animal-rights activists in the past.
Last year, some activists said they applied for permits not to hunt bears, but to take permits out of the hands of hunters and prevent bears from being killed.
It remains to be seen whether a similar effort will take place during this year’s application period.
Those interested in applying have until Sept. 21 to enter the random drawing.
More information can be found here.
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