Permits to participate in Florida’s first bear hunt in more than 20 years will be available to licensed hunters starting Aug. 3.
The hunt, approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission last Wednesday, begins Oct. 24 and will last from two to seven days, depending upon the number of bears killed.
The state agency expects about 300 bears to be killed in the four regions of the state where hunting will be allowed.
The state isn’t putting a limit on the number of special-use bear permit being sold, but hunters will be limited to killing a single bear during the week. The cost for a permit is $100 for Florida residents and $300 for non-residents.
The permits will be available through 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 23.
People who purchased a Lifetime License prior to July 1, 1998 —when those license still covered bear hunting — must still obtain one of the new permits, but are exempt from the cost.