For the second year in a row, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is set to hold a bear hunt this December with 215 bear hunting permits issued through a lottery system.
Our goal? Buy up all the tags to keep them out of hunters’ hands.
A huge thank you to all our fellow non-hunters who joined us in entering the bear tag lottery! If you entered, here's what to do next:
Bear Tag Lottery: Next Steps
Lottery drawings: Applications for bear hunting permits will be selected by random drawing with three rounds of claim windows.
Round 1 Claim Window:
09/25/2026 – 10/05/2026
Round 2 Claim Window:
10/09/2026 – 10/19/2026
Round 3 Claim Window:
10/23/2026 – 11/02/2026
- How to check if you won: Lottery winners will be notified by FWC via email. Results will also be posted on applicants’ GoOutdoorsFlorida.com accounts. To view your application status:
- Log into your Go Outdoors Florida account
- Scroll down and select ‘Limited Entry Quota Applications & Awards’
- If you are selected for a permit: You must purchase it by the designated claim window deadline. Permit costs:
- Florida residents: $100
- Non-residents: $300
- Need financial assistance? Contact us.
- If you are selected for a permit and don’t buy it: It will be forfeited and made available in the next claim round to applicants with a “waiting in line” status.
NOTE:
- To ensure you don’t miss your chance for a permit: We strongly recommend monitoring your email inbox and spam folder, and logging into your Go Outdoors Florida account on a daily basis through November 2 to check your application status.
For all the information, see the FWC website here
Stay Informed
2026 Florida Black Bear Hunt Fact Sheet
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