Alligator Hunting

The hunting of them was not always allowed; they were off limits for years. But alligator hunting in Florida was resumed in 1988 after the state population of this former endangered species rapidly recovered. Now residents have them everywhere—backyards, ditches and everywhere in between. But rising steadily, along with the increased gator population, has been alligator harvest. Hunters in Florida tagged just over 2,500 of the big reptiles in 2000, but bagged over 7,700 of the creatures during 2010 hunting season.

So are the strict regulations surrounding alligator hunting in Florida necessary? that is exactly what state officials are asking themselves. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently authorized its staff to begin working on a package of amendments to the alligator hunting law to be presented to the state Legislature. A coordinator of the alligator management program said the review may simply streamline a statute that was probably overloaded with rules because of the sensitivity of hunting a former endangered species. Continue reading Alligator Hunting in Florida: It May Get Easier

The alligator hunting season is less than two months away and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has just released it’s “Applications for Drawings on Public Hunting Lands” for the 2011-12 hunting season. These gator hunts require a $3 entry fee per person and each selected hunter must pay the hunt fee ($80-130) and have a general hunting license ($25 resident; $315 non-resident). Public hunts take place on TPWD-owned wildlife management areas.

This year, a total of six wildlife management areas (WMA) will be offering alligator hunts in Texas. The areas offering hunts are Angelina Neches/Dam B, James Daughtry WMA, Gus Engeling WMA, Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mad Island WMA and J.D. Murphree WMA. The application deadline for these hunts is August 4 and no more than three persons can be submitted on an application card. In addition, an individual’s name and social security can only appear once on an application. In short, you can only apply for a public alligator hunt at a single WMA. More than one application, even if for different properties, will get you disqualified. Continue reading Texas Alligator Permits: State Special Drawn Public Hunts

The alligator hunting season in Georgia always starts in the first part of September. For 2010, hunting will start on September 4 and run through October 3 for hunters that applied and received quota permits. You must be a permit holder to hunt alligators. The alligator bag limit is one alligator per hunter and legal alligators must be greater than or equal to 48 inches (4 foot) in length as measured from end of the snout to tip of the tail.

In addition to having an alligator hunting permit, any person hunting or assisting an alligator permit holder must possess a valid Alligator Hunting License in addition to a regular hunting license. A resident Alligator License is $50 and a Non-Resident License is $200. In addition, a wildlife management area (WMA) license is required if hunting on a WMA. Disability, Honorary and Lifetime License holders are exempt from these requirements. Continue reading Alligator Hunting in Georgia