Always wanted to harvest an alligator? Well if you’re lucky, you may just get to do so. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will offer an alligator season for four specific areas in Alabama; with each zone having a designated number of allowed tags.
The American alligator had been an endangered species for decades due to unregulated harvesting by our forefathers. However, after decades of protection their population has grown to a point where they have been removed from the endangered list. In fact, these reptiles have rebounded to a point locally that regulated hunts are necessary to control and manage their numbers so they will not pose a threat. This marks the twelfth year Alabama has reinstated an alligator harvesting season.
Applications for Alabama alligator season tags must be made online through the Outdoor Alabama Alligator Hunt Registration link beginning June 5th at 8 a.m. Entries will be received until Wednesday, July 11th at 8 a.m. Applicants must be at least 16 years old, an Alabama resident (or have an Alabama lifetime license), pay a $22 administrative fee, and may apply only once per zone. Preference points are given to those who have applied previously. The drawings will be held after registration closes on July 11th for all zones. Those selected must accept by the following Wednesday (July 18th) or their tag will be given to the next applicant on the list. The hunts will begin in mid-August for those randomly chosen.
Good luck and happy hunting!
What are the Alabama alligator hunting zones and how many tags for each?
• SOUTHWEST ZONE (150 tags) -Private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile Counties and private and public waters in Washington, Clarke, and Monroe Counties that lie east of U.S. Highway 43 and south of U.S. Highway 84
• SOUTHEAST ZONE (40 tags) – Private and public waters in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Russell Counties (excluding Alabama state public waters in Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries).
• WEST CENTRAL ZONE (50 tags)- Private and public waters in Monroe (north of U.S. Highway 84), Wilcox, and Dallas Counties
• LAKE EUFAULA ZONE (20 tags) – Alabama state public waters in the Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries, south of Hwy 208, Omaha Bridge (excluding Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge)
Can I apply for more than one zone?
Yes, but if selected for two or more locations you must choose only one to hunt
What if I’m selected?
You must participate in a mandatory training course.
What do I use to harvest a gator? No bait is allowed. Alligators can be captured & released or dispatched immediately upon capture by shotguns with a shot size no larger than #4 or bang sticks chambered in .38 caliber or larger. All harvested alligators must be validated at your designated check station during a specific time and tagged in accordance with protocol.
(Visit http://www.outdooralabama.com/alligators/alligator-hunting-season-alabama for full list of details including registration requirements, reporting, tagging, etc.)
Article written by: Lindsay Schumacher – Marketing & Public Relations Consultant, Great Southern Land, Freelance Writer, and Outdoors Enthusiast Lindsay@greatsouthernland.com