ATTENTION: Carefully read the regulation described below before submitting applications. Please consider the special requirements that must be met in order to participate in the Alligator Hunting Season. Please do not submit an application if you cannot meet these requirements.
Gunter Guy, Jr.
220-2-.143 Alligator Hunting Season and Regulations
A hunting season for American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) will be open in three areas of Alabama. The first hunt will be in Baldwin and Mobile Counties and portions of Washington, Clarke, and Monroe Counties. The second hunt will include: Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Russell Counties including the portions of Henry, Barbour and Russell counties included in the Walter F. George Reservoir. The third hunt area will be in Dallas, Wilcox and the portion of Monroe north of U.S. Highway 84. The rules will govern according to the following restrictions and regulations:
Locations:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA – The 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 ALABAMA – Includes private and public waters in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Russell Counties.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA – Includes private and public waters in Monroe (north of U.S. Highway 84), Wilcox, and Dallas Counties.
Dates:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA– From 8:00 p.m. August 15, 2013 until 6:00 a.m. August 18, 2013 and from 8:00 p.m. August 22, 2013 until 6:00 a.m. August 25, 2013
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA – From 8:00 p.m. August 9, 2013 until 6:00 a.m. August 25, 2013
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA – From 8:00 p.m. August 15, 2013 until 6:00 a.m. August 18, 2013 and from 8:00 p.m. August 22, 2013 until 6:00 a.m. August 25, 2013
Hunting Hours:
8:00 PM till 6:00 AM for all venues.
Permits:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
One hundred and fifty (150) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession permits are non-transferable.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
Seventy five (75) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession permits are non-transferable.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
Fifty (50) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession permits are non-transferable.
If a person is selected for an Alligator Possession Tag at two or more locations they will be allowed to choose which location they would like to hunt. The other spot(s) not chosen will be filled from the Alternates list.
Bag Limit:
Each person receiving an Alligator Possession Tag will be allowed to harvest one (1) alligator.
Persons Eligible:
Only residents and Lifetime License holders of the State of Alabama who are sixteen (16) years of age or older may apply for an Alligator Possession Tag (see License Requirements). Non-residents may only participate as alligator hunting assistants (see License Requirements). All persons in the boat must have a hunting license.
Applications:
Applications for Tags will be accepted only at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Web-Site at www.outdooralabama.combeginning June 4th , 2013 at 8:00AM. Registration will end July 12th at 8:00AM. The drawings for each area will be held on July 12th. All applicants will be able to check for their results on the same web-site that they registered on. Selected applicant’s acceptance is required by 8:00AM July 16th . If a tag is not accepted the next name on the list will be notified and given 24 hours to respond. These notifications will continue until all vacancies have been obligated.
Mandatory Training Course:
For the Southeast Alabama hunt venue all successful applicants will be required to attend and complete the Alligator Training Course provided by the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries staff offered in Eufaula. If you are selected for the Southwest Alabama hunt and have attended the course at Five Rivers, as the permittee, in prior years, you may be exempted from this requirement. All others will be required to attend this year’s class at Five Rivers in Spanish Fort. If you are selected for the West Central Alabama hunt and have attended the course at the Alabama Farmer’s Coop in Selma, as the permittee, in prior years, you may be exempted from this requirement. All others will be required to attend and complete this year’s class at Alabama Farmers Coop in Selma.
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
The course will be held twice on July 27th at the Five Rivers complex in Spanish Fort, AL. The first class will be from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon. The second class will be from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM. Upon completion of the course, drawn applicants will be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
The course will be held on August 3rd at the Chamber of Commerce Office in Eufaula, AL. The class will be from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon. Upon completion of the course, drawn applicants will be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
The course will be held on July 27th at the Alabama Farmers COOP in Selma, Alabama. The class will be from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon. Upon completion of the course, drawn applicants will be issued a temporary Alligator Possession Tag.
Capture and Dispatch Methods:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA HUNTS
Alligators must be captured and brought adjacent to the boat prior to shooting or otherwise dispatching the animal. It is unlawful to shoot at or kill an unrestrained alligator. Restrained is defined as an alligator that has a noose or snare secured around the neck or leg in a manner that the alligator is controlled. Capture methods are restricted to hand-held snares, snatch hooks (hand-held or rod/reel), harpoons (with attached line), and bowfishing equipment with line attached from arrow to bow. No use of bait is allowed.
All alligators must be dispatched immediately after capture or released. Firearms used for dispatching an alligator are restricted to shotguns with shot size no larger than #4 and bangsticks chambered in .38 caliber or larger. All shotguns and bangsticks must be cased and unloaded at all times until a restraining line has been attached to the alligator. No other firearm or ammunition may be in possession of the permittee or hunting party. No firearm or bangstick may be discharged within 100 yards of any residence, building, boat ramp, or occupied campsite in Mobile/Baldwin Counties and on the Alabama River, Claiborne Lake, and William “Bill” Dannelly Reservoir. A Temporary Alligator Possession Tag, supplied by Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, must be attached to the alligator’s tail, as demonstrated in training course, immediately after being dispatched and prior to moving or transporting.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA HUNTS
Alligators must be captured and brought adjacent to the boat, bank, or dock prior to shooting or otherwise dispatching the animal. It is unlawful to shoot at or kill an unrestrained alligator. Restrained is defined as an alligator that has a noose or snare secured around the neck or leg in a manner that the alligator is controlled. Capture methods are restricted to hand-held snares, snatch hooks (hand-held or rod/reel), harpoons with attached line, and bowfishing equipment with line attached from arrow to bow. No use of bait is allowed.
All alligators must be dispatched immediately after capture or released. Firearms used for dispatching an alligator are restricted to shotguns with shot size no larger than #4 and bangsticks chambered in .38 caliber or larger. All shotguns and bangsticks must be cased and unloaded at all times until a restraining line has been attached to the alligator. No other firearm or ammunition may be in possession of the permittee or hunting party.No firearm or bangstick may be discharged within 100 yards of any residence, building, boat ramp, or occupied campsite on Lake Walter F. George.
Mandatory Check Station:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
All participating permittees must register at the checking station located at the District 5 office prior to hunting. All permitted hunters must have on their person a valid Alabama Hunting License. Each permittee selected to receive an Alligator Possession Tag will be issued a Temporary Alligator Possession Tag on the first day of their hunt. The permanent Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the checking station. The check station will be open from 8:00 PM till 7:00 AM.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
All permitted hunters must have on their person a valid Alabama Hunting License. Each permittee selected to receive an Alligator Possession Tag will be pre-registered and issued a Temporary Alligator Possession Permit at the training session prior to the hunt. The permanent Alligator Possession Tag must be obtained from a Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district office within 10 business days of the conclusion of the hunt. Hunters must bring alligator hides, their Temporary Alligator Possession Permit, and information regarding length, weight, girth, and sex in order to receive their permanent Alligator Possession Tag. Alligator harvest record sheets detailing the required information will be issued at the training session on August 3rd. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a Federal CITES tag will be attached to the alligator by WFF personnel.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
All permitted hunters must have on their person a valid Alabama Hunting License. Each permittee selected to receive an Alligator Possession Tag will be pre-registered and issued a Temporary Alligator Possession Permit at the training session prior to the hunt. The permanent Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the checking station. The check station will be open from 8:00 PM till 7:00 AM.
Harvest Reporting and Tagging:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA and WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
All harvested alligators must be validated at the designated check station by posted closing time. The Temporary Alligator Possession Tag must be attached to the alligator immediately after being dispatched and prior to moving. Upon validation at the check station, a Federal CITES tag will be attached to the alligator.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
The permanent Alligator Possession Tag must be obtained from a Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district office within 10 business days of the conclusion of the hunt. Hunters must bring alligator hides, their Temporary Alligator Possession Permit, and information regarding length, weight, girth, and sex in order to receive their permanent Alligator Possession Tag. Alligator harvest record sheets detailing the required information will be issued at the training session on August 3rd. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a Federal CITES tag will be attached to the alligator by WFF personnel.
License Requirements:
Alligator Hunting Permittee: All Alligator Hunting Permittees must have a government issued picture identification and a resident hunting license as required by Alabama law. If Mobile-Tensaw / W. L. Holland Wildlife Management Area properties are to be hunted, a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) license is also required. A Temporary Alligator Possession Tag will be issued at registration.
Alligator Hunting Assistant: All assistants in the hunting party sixteen (16) years of age or older are required to purchase and have on their person a valid Alabama hunting license as required by Alabama law. Any non-residents in the hunting party sixteen (16) years of age or older are required to have a valid Alabama hunting license. All persons in the boat are considered Hunt Permittees or Hunting Assistants and are required to have a WMA license if on the WMA. All funds are non-refundable.
ALL ALABAMA BOATING AND HUNTING REGULATIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED.
