The State of Louisiana administers an alligator program in which ranchers collect over 350,000 alligator eggs, trappers harvest over 30,000 wild alligators and farmers harvest over 250,000 farm raised alligators annually. The highest number of harvest unit permits were issued in Lake Okeechobee, the St. Johns River, and Lake Kissimmee.41 In addition to applying for a permit, hunters must also obtain two CITES tags as well as an alligator trapping license. Alligator hunting is typically a nighttime activity;legal huntinghours statewide are 5 p.m. to10 a.m. Alligator meat currently sells for around $20 a pound, which is quite high. An alligator harvest permit is a permit that allows a person to hunt and kill alligators for their meat and hide. Its a win-win-win, said Ruth Elsey, a biologist manager with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Alligators are tagged with unique identifiers that can be used to track their movements and locations. More than 300 hunters in Louisiana are estimated to have killed 800 alligators thanks to the states lottery system, which operates on nearly 40 wildlife management areas and public lakes throughout the state. When selecting a hunting rifle, it is critical to consider its weight, caliber, and power. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. The alligator trapping license/harvest permit and two hide validation CITES tags are $272 for residents of Florida, $22 for disabled Florida residents, and $1,022 for non-residents. Hunting season generally runs from August 15 through November 1 of each year.42 Hunting is allowed only at night and in the morning, between 5 p.m. and 10 a.m.43 Two alligators are allowed per permit without size limitations except that hatchlings cannot be taken (i.e., a minimum 18 inches from tip of snout to tip of tail).44 There are several legal methods of taking alligators including, but not limited to, bows, crossbows, gigs, spears, harpoons, spear guns, hand lines, fishing poles, and bang sticks. Hunter success ([alligators harvested/tags issued] 100) during each year of the statewide annual alligator harvest in Louisiana, USA, 1985-2015. 0 The harvesting of alligator is available in a variety of locations, including coastal, upland, and public lakes, but the coastal and upland WMAs provide the most opportunities. 5 See Allan R. Woodward, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, History of American Alligator Regulations in the U.S.A. (June 12, 2007). Each year, alligator management units are established with harvest quotas that provide recreational opportunities and maintain alligator populations at targeted levels. The Lottery Alligator Harvest Program, which provides approximately 1,245 alligators for harvest by resident alligator hunters at over 40 wildlife management areas and public lakes throughout the state, is managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Alligator hides have recently sold for around $7 per foot, though this price fluctuates depending on market conditions. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 620 S. Meridian St. Tallahassee, FL (850) 488-4676 However, the act was amended in 1969 to cover amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, and crustaceans, including an increase in penalties and even prison time. Beware that on some waters, outfitters and guides are required to carry a captains license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, so check your harvest area requirements before hiring any outfitter or guide. Louisiana now has the most alligators in North America, which is a huge advantage. An alligator harvested by hunters in Mississippi was discovered to have grown at an alarming rate, nearly doubling in size since it was first tagged in 2011. An Alligator Trapping License, a Harvest Permit, and two CITES tags will be awarded to the applicant who successfully completes the application process. Each permit allows its holder to harvesttwo alligators, so up to 15,358 alligators could be killed this season. When it comes to alligators in Louisiana, you must have a hunting license. FWC will issue over 7,300 alligator harvest permits this year. More than 15,000 applications were submitted for7,679 permits to hunt alligators during the 11-week season, according to theFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. For people under the age of 15, a license to participate is not required. More: Nuisance alligator found in Indian River Lagoon at Sewall's Point. Contrary to popular belief, bang sticks are the only firearm allowed for alligator hunting; no hand guns or rifles are allowed.45 But, of course, these methods are not without some controversy themselves, as some aspects have been denounced by critics as cruel.46, After harvesting, the permittee must attach a CITES tag within six inches from the tip of the tail. If youre catching a research alligator, make sure to keep a record of the tag number (usually six digits), length, tail notch(es), and sex of the animal. Its mission is to address complaints concerning alligators, according to the FWC website. In addition to the number of chances and percentage of applicants selected, the department has posted a map with a list of the 48 areas. 46 See Care 2 Petitions, Stop the Alligator Hunt!, http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-alligator-hunt/. The Alligator Harvest Report Form must be completed by permit holders in order to harvest alligator. Alligators for sale and shipping. At least two people died in 2022 from alligator attacks Credit: Getty How many alligator attacks took place in 2022? Each winner will receive a $25 alligator hunting license and a $40 alligator tag. Since the time 2003-2005, this area of the Mississippi Delta has seen a tremendous increase in the Asian carp population, the MWDFP stated. "There's just a fraction of the really large alligators around now compared to what there used to be when I first started hunting," Clanton said. Until the alligators hide is tanned, taxidermied, or otherwise processed, the CITES tag must remain on the tail for identification.47 An alligator harvest report form is also required within 24 hours of harvesting and prior to taking the alligator to a processing facility.48 Information on the report includes such things as the date harvested, county and location, total length, tail girth, sex, and pounds of meat yielded.49 Any unused CITES tags must be mailed back to the FWCC Alligator Management Program by November 15.50. In some states, alligator hunting is only allowed during a specific season and with a permit, while in other states no permit is required. An alligator rests in the Louisiana marsh. Then came the body cavity search, Motorcyclist launched from bike when his girlfriend hits him with truck, Florida cops say, A man went in for kidney removal. Most farming operations obtain their stocks via this program. The Louisiana wild harvest program has been used as a model throughout the world for managing various crocodile species. The FWC estimates that the state is home to approximately 1.3m alligators of every size across its 67 counties, which offer around 6.7m acres of suitable wetland habitats for the animals. The harvest program establishes a series of Harvest Management Units which have specific boundaries and times which the permit holder can hunt by. The Public Water Alligator Egg and Hatchling Collecting Program permits and supervises the collection of alligator eggs and hatchlings from public waters by licensed alligator farmers. Only time will tell whether harvesting will remain a viable tool for population control. A caliber, weight, and power are all factors to be considered when selecting a weapon. If you happen to harvest a tagged or marked alligator, report your tag to 352-357-0190 to ensure the viability of the population. The FWC receives over 15,000 applications each year and only issues around 7,000 permits. So associated with and prevalent in the state, it was designated as the official state reptile by the Florida Legislature in 1987.2 Just take a drive across State Road 84, or Alligator Alley as it is often referred to by native south Floridians, and glance over into the dark tannic acid waters of the drainage canals that parallel this mostly desolate road. 31 Three million alligators were killed in Florida between 1880 and 1900. Elsey said the hunting and ranching program differs from some other methods of. If you do not have a Florida drivers license or an identification card, you cannot apply online. Alligator hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the state, and you can only hunt during specific times of the year. Alligator hunting is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and permits can be obtained through their website. The statewide alligator hunt does not permit guests. It reminds us that even in a highly developed and populated state such as Florida, there are areas and animals that will always remain wild and untamed. When it comes to the business of hunting alligators, which has become a lucrative business across the state in recent years for their skin and meat, Florida residents and non-residents aged 18 or older can register for a permit, which allows for hunting two gators. If you are one of the fortunate few that received a harvest permit and are not familiar with the hunt, you can hire a guide or outfitter as long as they are a licensed alligator trapper or agent. 42 Hunting is allowed only at night and in the morning, between 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. 43 Two alligators are allowed per permit without size limitations except that "hatchlings" cannot be taken ( i.e ., a minimum 18 inches from tip of snout to tip of tail). Hunting season generally runs from August 15 through November 1 of each year. (to control the number of alligators that may be harvested from each area). However, millions of years of evolutionary development have made the species very adept at concealing themselves, making it difficult for those unfamiliar with Floridas natural landscape, such as non-native tourists, travelers, or visitors, to discover their presence before it is too late. Swamp People follows the hunt for the Louisiana alligator. Recreational hunting is just one part of the FWCs overall approach to managing the alligator population. myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/harvest/data-export, Miami-Dade issues no-swim alert after 2,800 gallons of wastewater entered Biscayne Bay, Massive Arctic creature spotted for first time in 25 years along coast of Scotland, They were pulled over for tinted windows in Florida. Fish and Wildlife Service. Who has more alligators, Louisiana or Florida? Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. It is legal, however, to keep an alligator in some states. "Alligators are a conservation success story inFlorida,"FWC spokesperson Tammy Sapp said in an email. Keep watching and you are likely to see hundreds of alligators on your 100-mile journey from the Ft. Lauderdale area, across the Big Cypress National Preserve, to Naples. A specific zone is chosen and a hunter will be chosen. You find them in all the suitable habitats around the state: coastal marshland, rivers, bayous and swamps.. FWC holds training seminars prior to the season to help informed the public on the requirements within the harvesting program. That samenumber will be the distance,infeet, from the tip of the animal'ssnout to the tip of its tail. %PDF-1.5 % Alligators have been a part of Floridas environment for thousands of years and records of commercial utilization of alligators in Florida date back into the late 1800s. Landowners win because they are able to make money by providing a good habitat. A larger caliber would be more powerful, but it would also increase the likelihood of causing damage. Providing recreational opportunities and revenue, hunting decreases competition for a finite supply of food and habitat, and reduces the likelihood of human-species interactions. Since at least 1962, WRD has used scientifically valid, survey methodology to get estimates of not only deer harvest, but also harvest estimates of other game species. Louisiana residents will have an excellent chance to get their hands on some alligator hunting equipment. 15 See Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Are Alligators Posing a New Threat to Humans?. He is the environmental services and facilities director for the City of Tallahassee. In 1975, the American alligator was also listed as an Appendix I species during the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), thereby prohibiting the export of alligator hides.13. Alligator harvest permits will be required for the following dates: On the FWC website, there are numerous helpful tools for making these decisions. Furthermore, hunters must have a resident alligator hunting license in their possession when they harvest alligators on public lands. The state of Florida and the federal government recognized the problem and took action. in a smaller area. Greg Braselton, a certified alligator hunter from South Carolina, recommends using a 17 HMR or a 22 WMR when shooting an alligator. All indications are that the program is working, Elsey said. A Quota Alligator Harvest Permit (or free permit if applicable) and a Harvest Record are required for hunters to hunt alligator. 2023 Coastal Angler Magazine Franchising, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Lake Okeechobee fishing report for March, 2022 by Capt. The American alligator is the largest land reptile in North America. Alligator ranching began in the mid-1980s and relied on ranchers collecting eggs from nests in the wild and hatching them on their own. After careful consideration, and backed by research,32 Florida reinitiated statewide alligator harvesting in 1988. The average male alligator size is approximately 11 feet and the average female is around 8 feet long, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Follow Faimon A. Roberts III on Twitter, @faimon. An alligatormust be at least 18 inches long from snoutto tail to harvest. Faimon A. Roberts III on Twitter, @ Faimon harvest permits this year methods of two people died 2022. Powerful, but it would also increase the likelihood of causing damage have recently sold around... On public lands if you happen to harvest a tagged or marked alligator, your... 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