Bear harvest permit applications open on Sept. 12 at 10 a.m., according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife.

Officials said a bear harvest permit is required to hunt bears in one of the four selected Bear Harvest Zones from Dec. 6-28. A hunting license is also required, unless exempt.

The hunt is planned to be limited to 68 bears in the Apalachicola region, 46 in areas west of Jacksonville, 18 in an area north of Orlando, and 55 in the Big Cypress region, bringing the total to 187 bears to be possibly killed.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old by Oct. 1 to apply and may apply as many times as they want for $5 per application. Permits will be distributed by random drawing. Only one nontransferable permit may be issued per person, and permits will cost $100 for residents and $300 for n

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