Sierra Club Florida has announced a campaign to purchase all 215 bear hunting permits issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for an upcoming December hunt. The organization's goal is to prevent the hunt by acquiring all available tags through the state's lottery system.
The FWC's 2026 bear tag lottery opens Friday, September 11, at 10:00 AM EST, with the application period running until September 21. Permits are issued via a random drawing, with three rounds of claim periods from September 25 to November 2. Florida residents can purchase a permit for $100, while non-residents pay $300. Applicants from the 2025 lottery who did not receive a permit will receive special preference in this year's drawing.
"Our goal: buy up all the tags to keep them out of hunters’ hands," said Sierra Club Florida. To participate, individuals must first obtain a Florida hunting license, which is free for residents aged 65 and older. Applications for bear tags cost $5 each and can be submitted multiple times online or in person.
This initiative marks the second consecutive year the FWC is holding a bear hunt, prompting conservation efforts from groups like Sierra Club Florida to protect the state's bear population.