Registration begins at 8:00 AM CDT on June 7, 2022 (8:00 a.m. CDT) and ends July 13, 2022 (8:00 a.m. CDT).
Alligator Season 2022
By Special Permit Only
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Restoration of the American alligator is a national conservation success story in which Alabama played a lead role. Unregulated alligator harvest throughout the South in the 1920s, 30s and 40s threatened the species with extinction. In 1938, Alabama took action and became the first state to protect them. Other states followed our lead and, in 1967, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service placed the American alligator on the Endangered Species List. Two decades of protection enabled the species to rebound. By 1987, it was removed from the Endangered Species List but retained as a federally protected species.
Alabama's alligator population has grown to the extent that they pose a nuisance in many areas. Implementing a regulated alligator hunt on a small scale is an important step toward controlling populations and better managing this unique reptile.
ALLIGATOR HUNTING SEASON AND REGULATIONS
A hunting season for American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) will be open in five zones of Alabama. The first hunt zone will be in Baldwin and Mobile Counties north of I-10 and portions of Washington, Clarke, and Monroe Counties. The second hunt zone will be in Baldwin and Mobile Counties south of I-10. The third hunt zone will include: Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Russell Counties, excluding public Alabama state waters of Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries. The fourth hunt zone will be in Dallas, Wilcox and the portion of Monroe north of U.S. Highway 84. The fifth hunt zone will be the public Alabama state waters in the Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries. The rules will govern according to the following restrictions and regulations.
LOCATIONS:
Southwest Zone
Private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile Counties that lie north of I-10 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.
Coastal Zone
Private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile Counties that lie south of I-10.
Southeast Zone
Private and public waters in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Russell Counties (excluding public Alabama state waters in Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries).
West Central Zone
Private and public waters in Monroe (north of U.S. Highway 84), Wilcox, and Dallas Counties.
Lake Eufaula Zone
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).
Dates:
SOUTHWEST ZONE - Sunset August 11 - Sunrise August 14, and Sunset August 18 - Sunrise August 21 (From Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the second Thursday in August, and from Official Sunset Time on the third Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the third Thursday in August).
COASTAL ZONE - Sunset August 11 - Sunrise August 14, and Sunset August 18 - Sunrise August 21 (From Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the second Thursday in August, and from Official Sunset Time on the third Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the third Thursday in August).
SOUTHEAST ZONE - Sunset August 13 - Sunrise September 5 (From Official Sunset Time on the second Saturday in August until the Official Sunrise Time on the first Monday of September).
WEST CENTRAL ZONE - Sunset August 11 - Sunrise August 14, and Sunset August 18 - Sunrise August 21 (From Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the second Thursday in August, and from Official Sunset Time on the third Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the third Thursday in August).
LAKE EUFAULA ZONE - Sunset August 19 - Sunrise October 3 (From Official Sunset Time on the Friday preceding the third Saturday in August and run until Official Sunrise on the Monday immediately following the first Sunday in October).
HUNTING HOURS:
Southwest, Coastal, Southeast, and West Central Zones – Official Sunset until Official Sunrise.
Lake Eufaula Zone - Daytime and Nighttime Hours.
PERMITS:
Southwest Zone – One hundred (100) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferable.
Coastal Zone – Fifty (50) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferable.
Southeast Zone – Forty (40) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferable.
West Central Zone – Fifty (50) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferab
Lake Eufaula Zone – Twenty (20) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferable.
If a person is selected for an Alligator Possession Tag at two or more locations they will be allowed to select 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. Alligators harvested in the Lake Eufaula Zone must be a minimum of eight (8) feet in length.
PERSONS ELIGIBLE:
Only Alabama Residents and Lifetime Hunting 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). The permittee and all individuals assisting during the hunt must possess a valid Alabama hunting license.
APPLICATIONS
Applications for Alligator Possession Tags will be accepted only at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Website at www.outdooralabama.com beginning at 8:00 AM on the first Tuesday in June. A minimal administrative fee will be charged for each hunt zone application submitted. There is no charge for the Alligator Possession Tag. Registration will end at 8:00 AM on the second Wednesday of July. The drawings for each zone will be held on the second Wednesday of July. All applicants will be able to check for their results on the same website that they registered. Selected applicant’s acceptance is required by 8:00 AM on the third Wednesday of July. 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. Only one (1) application shall be allowed per person per zone. Applications shall be in accordance with the procedure set out at www.outdooralabama.com.
PREFERENCE POINTS
The random selection process will utilize a preference point system. The system increases the likelihood of repeat registrants being selected for a hunt as long as the applicant continues to apply. The more years an applicant participates in the registration, the higher the likelihood of being selected. If an applicant ceases to register for the hunt in a given year or is selected for a hunt, the preference point status is forfeited.
MANDATORY TRAINING COURSE
All successful applicants will be required to complete the online Alligator Training Course prior to accepting their hunter/alternate status. The videos will be available for viewing HERE. The official course will be available on the applicant's status page upon login.
CAPTURE AND DISPATCH METHODS – FOR ALL HUNT ZONES
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 or crossbow). No use of bait is allowed.
All alligators must be dispatched immediately after capture, culling is prohibited. No alligators should be captured for photographic purposes and 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 or shotgun (using #4 shot or smaller). All shotguns and bangsticks must be cased and unloaded at all times until a restraining line has been attached to the alligator. Except as otherwise provided herein, 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, William “Bill” Dannelly Reservoir and Lake Walter F. George (Lake Eufaula). The Temporary Alligator Possession Tag, supplied by Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, must be attached to the alligator’s tail, as demonstrated in the training video, immediately after being dispatched and prior to moving or transporting.
MANDATORY CHECK STATIONS:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA and COASTAL
All permitted hunters and hunting assistants 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 Tag via mail prior to the hunt. The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the check station. All successful permittees must bring their harvested alligators from this zone to the check station, located at the District V Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Office between the hours of 8:00 PM till 7:00 AM on the days of the hunts.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA and LAKE EUFAULA
All permitted hunters and hunting assistants 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 Tag via mail prior to the hunt. The permanent Federal CITES 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 Tag, and information regarding length, weight, girth, and sex in order to receive their permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag. Alligator harvest record sheets detailing the required information will be issued at the training session. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator by WFF personnel.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
All permitted hunters and hunting assistants 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 Tag via mail prior to the hunt. The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the check station at Roland Cooper State Park. All successful permittees must bring their harvested alligator from this zone to the check station between the hours of 8:00 PM till 7:00 AM on the days of the hunts.
HARVEST REPORTING AND TAGGING:
SOUTHWEST, COASTAL, and WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA ZONES
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 Alligator Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator.
SOUTHEAST and LAKE EUFAULA ZONES
The permanent Federal CITES 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 attached Temporary Alligator Possession Tag, and information regarding length, weight, girth, and sex in order to receive their permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag. Alligator harvest record sheets detailing the required information will be issued with your Temporary Alligator Possession Tag. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession 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. A Temporary Alligator Possession Tag will be issued by mail to successful applicants.
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 or assisting boats are considered Hunt Permittees or Hunting Assistants. All funds are non-refundable.
GENERAL:
Nothing in this regulation prohibits the possession of handguns by lawfully authorized persons for personal protection, provided the handguns are not used to hunt or take or to attempt to take wildlife in violation of law.
All boating and hunting laws and regulations must be followed.
For the purposes of this regulation the term “animal protected by the laws of this state” as used in Section 9-11-235 of the Code of Alabama, 1975, shall mean game animals as designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Statutory Authority: Code of Alabama 1975, §§ 9-2-7, 9-2-8, and 9-2-12
Penalty: As provided by law.
HISTORY
New Rule: Filed August 10, 2006; effective September 14, 2006. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 9, 2009; effective October 14, 2009. Amended: Filed August 26, 2011; effective September 30, 2011. Amended: Filed August 20, 2012; effective September 24, 2012. Amended: Filed September 9, 2013; effective October 14, 2013. Amended: Filed July 16, 2014; effective August 20, 2014. Amended: Filed July 10, 2015; effective August 14, 2015. Amended: Filed May 20, 2016; effective May 20, 2016. Amended (PE): Filed May 22, 2017; effective May 22, 2017. Amended (PE): Filed June 19, 2018; effective June 19, 2018. Amended (PE): Filed May 28, 2019; effective May 28, 2019.
