For 2015 there are five hunting periods which must be declared on your permit application and they are; Period 1, 5:00pm August 15th until 10:00am August 22nd; Period 2, 5:00pm August 22nd until 10:00am August 29th; Period 3, 5:00pm August 29th until 10:00am September 5th; Period 4, 5:00pm September 5th until 10:00am September 12th; and finally Period 5, 5:00pm September 12th until 10:00am November 1st for those participants who have any unused tags after their assigned harvest period. It is rare to document alligators of this size class with annual growth rates of this magnitude, the MWDFP stated on Facebook. Their skins are used to make boots, shoes, belts, and saddles. in a smaller area. Its a well-known fact that Florida has a lot of alligators. Each year, hunters with alligator tags apply for the season to begin. Choosing a hunting rifle should consider the caliber, weight, and power of the gun. Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. In addition to providing permit holders with a much desired opportunity to experience alligator hunting in Florida, alligator meat is a delicious and healthy choice. 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). 22 See Palumbo v. State Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 487 So. You find them in all the suitable habitats around the state: coastal marshland, rivers, bayous and swamps.. Alligators were listed as an endangered species by Florida in 1967 and added to the federal list when theEndangered Species Act wassigned into law in 1973. 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. The American alligator is an enduring symbol of Florida. Instead, he collects the eggs every summer from wild gators' nests on private land. The experience of harvesting an alligator can provide a lifetime of memories and campfire stories. The state has always been very conservative on the harvest quotas and release numbers, he said. Alligators may be taken only by the use of artificial lures, or baited wooden pegs less than two inches in length attached to a hand-held restraining line and hand-held snares, harpoons, gigs, snatch hooks, and manually operated spears, spear guns, crossbows and bows with projectiles attached to a restraining line. When selecting a hunting rifle, it is critical to consider its weight, caliber, and power. Alligator hunting is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and permits can be obtained through their website. So what is the explanation given by experts? So after you see one, try using a dimmed or filtered light as you approach. The establishment of alligator hunting in Florida in 1988 was made necessary by the states need to control alligator populations. To apply, applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a credit or debit card, which can be used at any bank. In addition, the hide can be tanned and made into leather products. With over 1 million print readers per month and the industrys most expansive distribution network, we have emerged as one of the largest outdoor publications in the United States and abroad, thus solidifying our place as a preferred resource. More so, when harvesting alligators, NEVER assume an alligator is dead and does not need to be secured properly. The program has helped waterfowl, fish species and fur bearers, and that has benefited marsh-oriented businesses, like swamp tour companies and airboat operators. Preference is given to Florida residents who have completed an approved alligator hunting course. 48 (Mar. As a result, the lake elevation is slightlyless than 12 feet 6 inches instead of theaverage of nearly 14 feet for mid-August. "Fifteen years ago, the average size of the alligators I killed was 11 feet, 3 inches," Clanton said. 10 32 Federal Register No. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission takes alligator protection very seriously. Alligators are wary of bright lights. Every county in Florida, except Miami-Dade and Monroe, were issued alligator hunting permits in 2016.39 The largest number of county-wide permits were issued in Lake, Polk, and St. Johns counties situated in the central and northeast area of Florida.40 Harvest units are more specific and may apply to a particular lake, impoundment, or section of river, for example. By encouraging landowners to care for the coastal marsh zones where the majority of alligators breed, the program benefits other species as well, Elsey said. Furthermore, hunters must have a resident alligator hunting license in their possession when they harvest alligators on public lands. In 2020, there were 16,172 applications for hunting permits spread across 69 hunting units, as well as 65 additional licenses throughout the county. 1:41. The eggs are hatched at the ranch and raised there until they are about 4 feet long, the size at which the skin is the most valuable. Alligators or alligator hides cannot be sold to the general public unless they are purchased from a fur buyer or dealer. Because of its lightweight frame and lack of power, the 22 rimfire is a popular hunting rifle. How much is an alligator worth in Louisiana? Louisianas alligator harvest, which dates back centuries and has a significant economic impact on the state, continues to this day. Captured alligators should be killed immediately and their meat cooled as quickly as possible. Each period corresponds to a hunting period that starts Aug. 15. The permit is valid for one year from the date of purchase. A scared alligator is usually also a distant one, getting far away as quickly and silently as possible. This venue is open from August 5 to September 1 (the season is 60 days long). Additional pressures arose in the mid-1900s as Floridas population skyrocketed from around 2 million in 19403 to almost 10 million by 1980.4 Pressure from hunting was also a factor. The alligator population in this state is estimated at 1.3 million alligators of every size and has been stable for many years. 1939-60: Commercial harvest averages 18,005 per year; 1962-72: Louisiana's alligator season is closed statewide; officials turn attention to research and management of the resource; . For example, in 1967 after consultation with the states and scientists, the U.S. After careful consideration, and backed by research,32 Florida reinitiated statewide alligator harvesting in 1988. The total number of deer hunters in the state is obtained from the hunting license database. Elsey said the hunting and ranching program differs from some other methods of species conservation. 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. The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) which permits the harvest of alligators that are determined to be a threat to wildlife, to the public, or the publics pets, livestock, or property. Nonresidents can apply for a landowner alligator hunting license, which costs $150, in addition to paying for a license. The 2,500 hunter sample size is more than adequate, statistically, to produce precise . Clanton's theory why: Water levels in many of the state's waterways have been low for many years, allowing more large alligators to be harvested. Louisiana and Florida have approximately one million alligators, while Louisiana has approximately two million alligators. Since the time 2003-2005, this area of the Mississippi Delta has seen a tremendous increase in the Asian carp population, the MWDFP stated. Please check your email for a confirmation. Accurate estimates of species counts coupled with the issuance of the right number of hunting permits can take much-needed pressure off a species that is often competing for a portion of an insufficient supply of habitat or food.33 Hunting also provides recreational opportunities as well as a revenue source to the state through licensing, gear, guides, meat, and hide sales.34 Moreover, hunting offers the added benefit of reducing the possibility of human-animal impacts.35 Florida witnessed this most recently in the much publicized and highly controversial black bear hunt.36 However, hunting for charismatic mega-fauna like the black bear generally attracts a different type and level of attention than the hunting of the mysterious and ominous alligator. Alligator hunting is typically a nighttime activity;legal huntinghours statewide are 5 p.m. to10 a.m. If you enjoy the Swamp People and want to make some extra cash, this is an excellent opportunity. Catching a cooler full of seatrout can sometimes be downright easy. Any alligator longer than 18 inches is fair game. These conditions are compelling alligators to relocate in search of more suitable areas.16, Therefore, not surprisingly, with Floridas alligator population around 1.2 million, more of them on the move, and the human population approaching an all-time high of 20 million people,17 encounters with these prehistoric creatures are inevitable. In addition to the state program, some Florida counties issue a county- wide alligator harvest permit. The Statewide Alligator Harvest Program enables the harvest of non- hatchling alligators, those greater than 18-inches, on specific public waters or within specific counties. When an alligator hunter reaches his or her quota, all hooks and lines must be removed from the water. Alligator meat currently sells for around $20 a pound, which is quite high. In order to ensure that population trends didnt reverse course, many other statutory and regulatory protections were implemented and remain in place today. Since 1988, the FWCC has successfully offered an alligator hunting season in Florida. The toll-free number is 1-866-FWC- GATOR (1-866-392-4286). Everybody knows we got alligators all over the place, he said. Someone who is authorized to hunt a permit holder may assist them in their hunt. The West Zone will open its doors on September 1. The change only the third in the three-decade history of the state's alligator ranching program also means that Louisianas gator population is rebounding from historic lows reached in the middle of the last century and may be approaching a healthy level. When they get larger, the scales are too big. Again, not surprisingly, public perception of the alligator is not always positive, struggling due to these numerous documented encounters. 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