Florida hunters will have a chance to kill more bears later this year than during the 2025 hunt, with up to 215 permits available for the Dec. 5-27 hunt. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will offer 193 permits beginning Sept. 11, while 22 will go to qualifying private landowners. Last year's hunt, the first state-sanctioned bear hunt in Florida since 2015, resulted in 52 bears killed. Opponents are again expected to seek permits to undermine the hunt after non-hunters acquired many last year. Supporters say hunting could help manage bear populations and human-bear interactions, while opponents favor non-lethal measures. The hunt will take place in four regions, with 78 permits in the East Panhandle, 31 in the North, 21 in Central Florida and 63 in the South. Private landowners must generally own at least 5,000 contiguous acres, have a bear management plan and document at least five bears to qualify. State officials previously warned that efforts to reduce the number of bears killed by securing permits could lead to higher quotas in future hunts. In 2025, the hunt took place in areas with an estimated 3,609 bears, with 52 ultimately killed.
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