Florida increases black bear hunting permits for upcoming season

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced that the upcoming black bear hunt will allow for more permits than the previous year. A total of 215 permits will be available, including 193 available to the public via a bidding process starting September 11, and 22 reserved for large private landowners. This is an increase from the 172 permits offered during the 2025 hunt.

The new system for private landowners requires properties to consist of at least 2,000 continuous hectares, with half being bear habitat and five documented bears present. This change follows a previous hunt where opponents of the practice applied for and acquired a massive number of permits to prevent bears from being killed, a tactic that officials warned would lead to higher quotas in future years.

The hunt is scheduled to take place from December 5 to December 27 across four regions of the state. Supporters argue the hunt is necessary for managing bear populations that increasingly interact with humans, noting that hunting rights were enshrined in the state Constitution in 2024. Conversely, groups like the Sierra Club Florida have criticized the new private landowner provisions and continue to encourage non-hunters to apply for permits to protect the bear population.