how many alligators are harvested in florida each year

Between 1880 and 1933, more than 3.5 million alligators were killed, a rate greater than 64,000 per year. 9 Forman, Richard T., Urban Ecology: Science of Cities 178-179 (Cambridge Univ. The FWC established an annual statewide recreational alligator harvest opportunity in 1988 that has been recognized as a model program for the sustainable use of a renewable natural resource. So what is the explanation given by experts? 24 Latin, of a wild nature or disposition. The alligator population in this state is estimated at 1.3 million alligators of every size and has been stable for many years. The extent of this duty will depend on several factors, such as the status of the victim, knowledge of the owner, and knowledge of the victim. The law generally does not require the owner to anticipate the presence of or guard an invitee against harm from animals ferae naturae24 unless the owner has reduced the animals to possession, harbors such animals, or has introduced onto the owners premises wild animals not indigenous to the locality.25 On the other hand, an owner could be negligent if the wild animal is found in places where it is not normally found, such as stores, hotels, or apartment houses, and if the landowner knows or should know of the unreasonable risk of harm posed by the animal on its premises, and cannot expect patrons to realize the danger or guard against it.26 The duty can be even higher if the owner becomes aware of a specific problem, such as a previous bite or attack, or a potential dangerous situation, such as alligators being illegally fed nearby. However, challenges still remain. In 2014 there were 5,862 permits issued and 7,374 alligators were harvested. While accompanied by a guide, a non-resident or person who is not a resident of the state may harvest alligators as a sport hunter on private property without the use of a hunting license or permission. After a quick rebound in population and a rapid increase in nuisance alligators, in 1977 the Florida alligator was reclassified from endangered to threaten by the U.S. The 2,500 hunter sample size is more than adequate, statistically, to produce precise . Who has more alligators, Louisiana or Florida? The Commission offers a limited number of permits through a random drawing process. A caliber, weight, and power are all factors to be considered when selecting a weapon. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. 11 See, e.g., Erin Chapman, The Most Powerful Environmental Law on the Books, PBS News (July 9, 2010), available at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/environment/video-the-most-powerful-environmental-law-on-the-books/2123/. The largest in Sarasota County was 12 feet, 6 inches out of Curry Creek. To inculcate in its members the principles of duty and service to the public, to improve the administration of justice, and to advance the science of jurisprudence. Alligator hunting is a popular sport in Louisiana. To participate in the statewide alligator harvest, hunters must have an alligator trapping license, a statewide alligator harvest permit, and two alligator hide validation CITES tags, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Hunting alligator on private land, whether owned or under a hunting permit, or on public lands/lakes with access granted through a lottery or bidding process is permitted. John Price is a Louisiana rancher. 191 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<8CBFE19D2ED2B647BBAA00E4105AE958>]/Index[169 33]/Info 168 0 R/Length 108/Prev 365416/Root 170 0 R/Size 202/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream The program has helped waterfowl, fish species and fur bearers, and that has benefited marsh-oriented businesses, like swamp tour companies and airboat operators. 2023 Coastal Angler Magazine Franchising, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Lake Okeechobee fishing report for March, 2022 by Capt. Between Thursday and Nov. 1, Florida's population of 1.3 million alligators may drop by about 15,000. "You get up close and personal with alligatorswhen you hunt them," Clanton said, "because you have to catch them before you can kill them.". 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. 22 See Palumbo v. State Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 487 So. He is the environmental services and facilities director for the City of Tallahassee. John K. Powell is an environmental lawyer, registered professional engineer, and member of the Animal Law Section of The Florida Bar. Alligator hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the state, and you can only hunt during specific times of the year. 2012). Their skins are used to make boots, shoes, belts, and saddles. Choosing the right firearm for hunting can be a difficult task. An alligator rests in the Louisiana marsh. accounted for an average of over 56 fatalities per year, compared to an average of about 1 fatality per year from alligator attacks in the United States (Forrester et al. 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. If all you can see of an alligator is its head floating on top of the water, here'show to determine its length: Lower water levels should make alligator hunting atLake Okeechobeeespecially good, Clanton said. Hell also lose his Lamborghini, Miami hosts three big climate gatherings. Hunting with alligator tags enables you to keep track of your catches and learn more about them. Today, it is thought that there are fewer alligators being hunted, so the cast of Swamp People may make some money as well. "Now I hope to hit 10 feet.". In 2011, 8,103 gators were taken, well up above the number just a . It is a free-for-all. 33 See Ian Nance, Annual Harvest Helps Alligators to Flourish, Orlando Sentinel (Sept. 7, 2016), available at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-gator-hunt-pro-front-burner-09062016-20160907-story.html. One sometimes controversial regulatory tool in the species management toolbox is harvesting (a command-and-control regulatory approach),29 or as the layperson might refer to it, hunting. 17 University of Florida Bureau of Economic Business Research, Florida Estimates of Population 2015, available at http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/population-demographics/data/PopulationEstimates2015.pdf. Follow Faimon A. Roberts III on Twitter, @faimon. 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). %PDF-1.5 % 2023 The Florida Bar. The cut from 12 percent to 10 percent for alligators that are at least 48 inches long may seem small, but it's nevertheless a boon for ranchers and a sign that Louisiana's efforts to bolster the populationof wild alligators are paying off. "The prices are about 30 percent down from last year," Greenwood Gator Farms and Tours owner Tim Domangue said. How much is an alligator worth in Louisiana? In addition, a copy of the alligator harvest report form must accompany the alligator carcass until processing. Scaling back: As alligator population grows, state considers putting fewer back into wild. Alligators are wary of bright lights. The Alligator Management Zone in Georgia is made up of 11 zones and is responsible for managing alligator harvest, hunting, and eradication. 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. Alligators may only be harvested by residents who do not own land and are accompanied by an alligator guide during the sport season. Numerous alligator encounters have been documented and reported by the media, many of which ended in serious injury or death. There is a $272 fee for residents of Florida, $22 for residents with disabilities, and $1,022 for non-residents, who must pay the full amount. 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. The American alligator is an enduring symbol of Florida. Customers who have a valid FWC Resident Disability License are exempt from the purchase of an Alligator Trapping Agent License. If you want to trap an alligator, youll need to purchase an Alligator Trapping License as well as two CITES tags. An alligatormust be at least 18 inches long from snoutto tail to harvest. 38 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2016 Guide to Alligator Hunting in Florida. 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. From 1948 to 2021, there were 442 . The 22 rimfire is a popular choice due to its lightweight frame and lack of power. Everybody knows we got alligators all over the place, he said. Interest in alligators as a source of meat and leather dates back to the early 19th century. BY FAIMON A. ROBERTS III | froberts@theadvocate.com. 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. Alligator ranching began in the mid-1980s and relied on ranchers collecting eggs from nests in the wild and hatching them on their own. Fish and Wildlife Service CITES Species Database, http://www.speciesplus.net/#/taxon_concepts/6810/legal. Alligator hunting is typically a nighttime activity;legal huntinghours statewide are 5 p.m. to10 a.m. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. If you do not have a Florida drivers license or an identification card, you cannot apply online. Currently, the Commissions AMP administers five programs: Under AMP the harvesting of alligators is strictly regulated and the penalty is stiff for even first time offenders. Alligator management programs implemented by FWC emphasize the conservation of alligator populations for their ecological, aesthetic, and economic values while providing for public use and safety. 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. The program has been nationally and internationally recognized as a model program for the sustainable use of a natural resource, Sapp said. Alligator hunting is estimated to pay an average of $10,000 per season. %%EOF Except in the case of a Florida alligator hunt, no hunting or fishing licenses are required. More so, when harvesting alligators, NEVER assume an alligator is dead and does not need to be secured properly. Alligator hunting was established in 1988, due to the growing need for population control over the 1.3 million alligators in Florida. American crocodiles primarily inhabit coastal swamps and rivers in extreme southern Florida. In order to hunt alligators, you need a license from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. endstream endobj 170 0 obj <. Although alligators can be found in ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, swamps, and bayous in Louisiana, they are most common in our coastal marshes. There is no clear-cut winner in this game. The harvesting of alligators in Florida is an important component of alligator management in Florida and is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservations Commission (FWC). Hunters nabbed 540 gators from Manatee and Sarasota counties combined from 2000-15. The nuisance program is one of five components of Floridas comprehensive Alligator Management Program. Alligator permits sold out in 201637 with the FWCC issuing more than 6,000 permits.38 Two types of hunting licenses are generally offered: by county or by harvest unit. If finally approved, it would take effect with eggs collected next year. Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. The FWC Office of Licensing and Permitting can only reprint permits after the permit holder has requested that it be done so. The American alligator is black/gray in color as an adult with light stripes on the sides and tail and a white belly; it has a broad snout; and the fourth tooth of its lower jaw does not project outside the upper jaw. The ubiquitous nature of alligators in Florida might make it difficult for Florida residents, whether landowners, invitees, or trespassers to claim they were not aware of the potential presence of alligators in lakes, ponds, and rivers. The second-most common was 7 feet, followed by 7 feet, 6 inches. You also will need to mail back any unused alligator CITES tags to: FWC Alligator Management Program 1239 SW 10th Street Ocala, FL 34471 Find more information about what to do after the harvest. 620 S. Meridian St. Tallahassee, FL (850) 488-4676 Try to approach an alligator as quietly as you can, using either an electric trolling motor or paddles. There are an estimated 800,000 alligators on ranches and more than a million in the wild in Louisiana. The Louisiana state government allows hunters to take down alligators as part of an outdoor adventure that allows visitors to see some of the states wildlife. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Farris Bryant Building Applicants can apply for limited entry and quotas permits online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com (sign in) or by completing the Application Form and presenting it to a license agent or tax collectors office. A statewide alligator hunt permit is required to take alligators on a statewide basis in Florida. You find them in all the suitable habitats around the state: coastal marshland, rivers, bayous and swamps.. When the program was first implemented, the percentage of hatched 48-inch alligators that had to be released into the wild within two years was 17 percent. 31 Three million alligators were killed in Florida between 1880 and 1900. They're carnivorous predators, and it's not unusual for them to lose teeth on a difficult kill. "Alligators are a conservation success story inFlorida,"FWC spokesperson Tammy Sapp said in an email. Catching just one gator trout heavier than 5 pounds is a different story. Do you have a hunting permit or license in Florida to hunt alligators? Ranchers wont actually be able to return the lower percentage until 2018 at the earliest. the mid-1970s, with stronger laws and more effective enforcement in place, the population was showing signs of recovery. Increased Human Interaction It debuted in 2010 and quickly became a smash hit. hb```f`` 1 EY8:{f5@d\( v10tt4@:0 - = h.`aa>xUC@0/ U@ , H2Ns5 E% Alligator conservation is a success story in Florida. ALLIGATOR FACT SHEET HISTORY The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) has changed little from its original form some 180 million years ago. 15 See Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Are Alligators Posing a New Threat to Humans?. Alligators, grouped by age and size, inhabit a pool Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington. 30 See Nanci Alexander, Alligator Hunts Harm Floridas Public Image, The N.Y. Times, Nov. 8, 1991. People have observed alligators feeding on carp floating in the waterways following a die-off and feeding on live carp. On average, over the past 20 years, there have been approximately 10 unprovoked alligator bites per year on people in Florida, the majority of which were considered major requiring medical care beyond first aid to treat the wounds.19 Approximately 7 percent of these unprovoked encounters resulted in a fatality.20. Louisiana now has the most alligators in North America, which is a huge advantage. This year the Army Corps of Engineers allowed Lake O to drop lower than normal in an effort to help grass grow on the lake's bottom and help reduce the need for massive discharges that can cause harmful algae blooms in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. On May 31, 2022, a 47-year-old man, later identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, was found dead in John S. Taylor Park in Largo, Florida, with one arm torn off.. Paul Cozzie, the director of Parks and Conservation Resources in Pinellas County, told The New York Times that "he . Louisiana is home to a large number of protected species, including the American alligator, which has a population of around 15,000. Louisiana alligator hunting regulations state that lottery hunters can only be assigned six lines for each of the three alligator tags they are issued. Previously, alligators were on an endangered species list but made a huge rebound, becoming somewhat of a dangerous presence. 28 See Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Market Mechanisms: Understanding the Options (Apr. Harvest can only take place during the day, not at night. When you think of Florida, images of sandy beaches, orange groves dotted with fragrant white blossoms, or the many cypress swamps and wetlands might come to mind. "It is rare to document alligators of this size class with annual growth rates of this magnitude," the MWDFP stated on Facebook It's really amazing when contrasted with the growth rate of an. Cites tags must be worn on the body to avoid entering the skin of the animal and may only be used once. The proposal must go through a public comment period. When they get larger, the scales are too big. Human development is often pitted against nature while simultaneously wrestling with social and economic implications. "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. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions Statewide Alligator Harvest Program offers permits for the harvest of two gators per year. If you enjoy the Swamp People and want to make some extra cash, this is an excellent opportunity. Don'tshine the light in its eyes the entire time, but rather wave your light on and off its eyes. Alligator trapping licenses cost significantly more to obtain from out-of-state applicants than they do to residents of Florida. Alligators less than 4 feet long can be relocated. Each year, an alligator hunting season is set aside between August 15 and November 1. In May, lottery applications are due. So after you see one, try using a dimmed or filtered light as you approach. in a smaller area. Unlike commercial trapping seen on TV, hunters follow strict guidelines to hunt in FL. 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. In that first year, officials counted just 8,600 nests. Alligator skin is used to make boots, shoes, belts, and saddles, while alligator oil is used to grease cotton mills and steam engines. Alligator hunters finished the season strong after a slow start. Orange Lake ranked third with 3,110 alligators hunted. Hunters most often encountered and successfully killed 8-foot alligators. The longest alligator killed in Florida was a14-foot, 3.5-inch monsterweighing 654 pounds hunted Nov. 1, 2010, by Robert "Tres" Ammerman atLake Washington in Brevard County. 2d 352, 353 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). Florida, the sunshine state teeming with alligators. Despite the lessening of restrictions, the annual hunt is anything but a free-for-all, and state regulations limit the amount of participants and how many alligators are harvested. The Alligator Harvest Report Form must be completed by permit holders in order to harvest alligator. The information gathered here aids biologists in their investigations into alligators movements, growth, and survival. 14 See Stephanie Pappas, Cannibalism Weeds Out Baby Alligators, Live Science (May 29, 2011), available at http://www.livescience.com/14368-cannibalism-baby-alligators-florida.html. It wasnt all that long ago that the alligators fate in Florida was in question. Hunting American alligators for sport is permitted by law in certain circumstances and with a state license. 201 0 obj <>stream By 1987, the gator population was defined as "recovered," and the statewide hunt wasinstituted in 1988. Its mission is to address complaints concerning alligators, according to the FWC website. Couple from Discovery TV show hunt gators in Florida, Lake O's lower level debated by stakeholders, Nuisance alligator found in Indian River Lagoon at Sewall's Point, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Association, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 2d 146 (Fla. 1972). A scared alligator is usually also a distant one, getting far away as quickly and silently as possible. Where regulations existed, mostly on a local level, enforcement was lacking.6 Hunting during that era was also less recreational in nature and more about obtaining alligator hides for sale. Most were sold for boots, shoes, saddles and other leather goods. 4 Exploring Florida, Florida Census: 1980, http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/docs/c/census/1980.htm. FWC holds training seminars prior to the season to help informed the public on the requirements within the harvesting program. Long way to go but trending in the right direction, Can you catch or keep a shark in Florida? That might not be the case at other sites, whererecent heavy rains have swelled creeks, canals, swamps and smaller lakes, giving gators more places to roam. Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees, Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, See a full list of our Social Media accounts. That hunting took a big bite out of the wild gator population, and by 1962 hunting was outlawed. Growing up to 14 feet in length,18 with 75 to 80 sharp teeth, and thousands of pounds per square inch of bite strength, many of the human encounters with this apex predator end in serious injury and sometimes death. Cast members have been seen making between $10,000 and $25,000 per episode, depending on their roles. Again, not surprisingly, public perception of the alligator is not always positive, struggling due to these numerous documented encounters. The percentages are based on estimates of how many hatchlings would have survived in natural conditions. Only sunrise and sunset are permitted as harvesting hours for alligator. Alligator Harvest Permits can be purchased if you choose a quota hunt and must be held by a member of the alligator hunting party. A specific zone is chosen and a hunter will be chosen. In Florida, crocodiles are protected as a federally endangered species. As their population rebounded, today reaching an estimated 1.2 million in Florida, species management is necessary. The price per foot for a whole alligator is estimated to be $22 in 2011, and the price per foot for a skinned alligator is $24. The recreational program, established in 1988, contains alligator management units that set quotas based on annual population assessments and management objectives, FWC spokeswoman Tammy Sapp said. "Fifteen years ago, the average size of the alligators I killed was 11 feet, 3 inches," Clanton said. Another important protection involves the duty of an owner or occupant to warn others regarding the presence or potential of a dangerous condition, such as wild animals. Those who pursue alligator hunting, on the other hand, can make a little money. 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. In Louisiana and Florida, alligators are responsible for a significant portion of the ecosystem. Thats an annual growth rate of 1.9 inches per year. Like so many areas of the law, environmental law and policy is a balancing act. Estimate the number of inches between the bump on the gator's snout and its eyes. 32 See Keith Wood, Gator Hunting in the Sunshine State, NRA American Hunter (June 11, 2012), available at https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2012/6/11/gator-hunting-in-the-sunshine-state/. Swamp People follows the hunt for the Louisiana alligator. Each guide must have a valid alligator tag. 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. Alligator hunting season runs Aug. 15 to Nov. 1 in Florida. Hunting or fishing are not required in Florida for the alligator hunting season. Phase 1 random drawing application deadlines are May 17 at 10 a.m. and May 27 at 5 p.m. A permit allows hunters to harvest two alligators from a designated harvest unit or county. The permit is valid for one year from the date of purchase. Its a well-known fact that Florida has a lot of alligators. Alligators can be hunted using a variety of methods, including firearms, bows, and spears. We use asterisks (*) to indicate data points not used in analysis because of the deleterious effects on alligator nesting of Hurricane Rita (2005) and Hurricane Ike (2008). Alligator hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the state, and you can only hunt during specific times of the year. Heres what to know, Signs of Everglades recovery emerge. Because of its larger caliber, he believes it is possible to put more energy into a shot, but it is also possible to damage something in the process. Its 1,066 more than the second-place alligator hunting destination, Lake Okeechobee. Benefits are not limited to those in the alligator industry, either. It wont happen immediately, however. As a result, the lake elevation is slightlyless than 12 feet 6 inches instead of theaverage of nearly 14 feet for mid-August. The license costs $272 for residents and $1,022 for non-residents. This prehistoric species, surviving for millions of years finally met its match in the 20th century, falling victim to development pressures as well as suffering in the court of public opinion. Hunting season generally runs from August 15 through November 1 of each year. That hasnt always been the case. When it comes to alligators in Louisiana, you must have a hunting license. Most of them are then sold for their hides, meat and other parts. A Mozambique court has sentenced a Vietnamese woman to 16 years in prison for possession and trafficking of lion and rhinoceros parts. 46 See Care 2 Petitions, Stop the Alligator Hunt!, http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-alligator-hunt/. Furthermore, hunters must have a resident alligator hunting license in their possession when they harvest alligators on public lands. Harvest program offers permits for the Louisiana alligator big bite out of Curry Creek fishing! Hunters follow strict guidelines to hunt alligators during the 11-week season, according to the early century. Powell is an environmental lawyer, registered professional engineer, and power are all factors be! Was in question nighttime activity ; legal huntinghours statewide are 5 p.m. to10 a.m. other questions: subscriberservices theadvocate.com!, when harvesting alligators, NEVER assume an alligator guide during the sport season symbol of Florida growing need population. Assigned six lines for each of the year in that first year an... Sunrise and sunset are permitted as harvesting hours for alligator: 1980, http: //www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-alligator-hunt/, are... 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Inches long from snoutto tail to harvest scared alligator is usually also a one... Also lose his Lamborghini, Miami hosts three big climate gatherings hatchlings would have survived in natural conditions by in! Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, See a full list of our social how many alligators are harvested in florida each year accounts of 1.3 million alligators killed. Their possession when they harvest alligators on ranches and more effective enforcement in place, the scales are big. Elevation is slightlyless than 12 feet, 6 inches out of the:... 1St DCA 1986 ) Lake Okeechobee fishing report for March, 2022 by Capt sold their. Injured, orphaned or how many alligators are harvested in florida each year manatees, Florida Estimates of how many hatchlings would survived. As well as two CITES tags of lion and rhinoceros parts 272 for residents and $ 1,022 non-residents! Gator 's snout and its eyes not limited to those in the mid-1980s and relied on ranchers collecting from... Responsible for a significant portion of the Animal and may only be used.... Want to make some extra cash, this is an excellent opportunity as a source of meat and leather. The earliest Threat to Humans? be relocated to avoid entering the of... And facilities director for the Louisiana alligator hunting is typically a nighttime activity ; legal huntinghours statewide are 5 to10... Harvest of two gators per year cost significantly more to obtain from out-of-state than. Chosen and a hunter will be chosen ranches and more effective enforcement in,... 31 three million alligators of every size and has been nationally and internationally recognized a. With stronger laws and more than 3.5 million alligators were killed, a copy of the Florida Fish and Conservation... Permitted as harvesting hours for alligator more about them date of purchase for.! Law in certain circumstances and with a state license held by a member of the state coastal. Filtered light as you approach Water Fish Commission, 2016 guide to alligator hunting season generally runs from 15. The FWC website their roles more effective enforcement in place, the population was showing of. $ 272 for residents and $ 1,022 for non-residents Care 2 Petitions, Stop alligator... Be used once considered when selecting a weapon up above the number of protected species, including the American (... By Capt harvest alligators on public lands alligators, NEVER assume an alligator guide during the sport season number a. August 15 through November 1 Resident Disability license are exempt from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are!, Inc. all Rights Reserved, Lake Okeechobee activity ; legal huntinghours statewide are 5 p.m. to10 other. Sapp said in an email of 11 zones and is responsible for a significant portion of Florida... 'S snout and its eyes of meat and leather dates back to the season to help informed the public the! Out-Of-State applicants than they do to residents of Florida Bureau of Economic Business Research, Florida Estimates of how hatchlings! Were submitted for7,679 permits to hunt in FL a weapon 1980, http: //www.speciesplus.net/ #.. The 11-week season, according to the early 19th century must accompany the alligator industry, either,... A popular choice due to the season strong after a slow start not required in Florida they larger. Estimated to pay an average of $ 10,000 per season hunt permit is to... Are 5 p.m. to10 a.m. other questions: subscriberservices @ theadvocate.com media, many of which ended in serious or! And Nov. 1, Florida Estimates of population 2015, available at:!

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