Can You Legally Kill An Alligator In Florida?

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The alligator trapping license/harvest permit and two hide validation CITES tags cost $272 for Florida residents, $22 for those with a Florida Resident Persons with Disabilities Hunting and Fishing License, and $1,022 for nonresidents. The cost for applicants who already have an alligator trapping license is $62.

What are the rules for hunting alligators in Florida?

In Florida, there is no gator hunting season. American alligators can be taken year round with any weapon. Alligator hunts on public waters are conducted on public lakes, rivers and wetlands by harvest units throughout the state as designated by the Florida’s conservation commission.

Where can I hunt alligators in Florida?

Everglades Adventures offers year-round alligator hunting on over 75,000 acres of private ranches in South Florida as well as seasonal hunts on public waters.

What happens if you don’t tag out in gator season?

7 They Can Only Hunt A Limited Number Of Gators

Alligators have to be tagged on the spot when they are caught. If a hunter loses any tags, they must report it to wildlife regulators by the end of the season. Lost tags will, however, not be restored.

How much is a gator tag?

Tags are property specific and must be used on the property indicated on the hunter’s license. Alligator hunters must also have their license in possession to possess or sell wild alligators, their skins, or parts. Resident Alligator Hunter Licenses cost $25.

How many alligators can you hunt a year in Florida?

The state of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission allow only 5,000 permits each year. Each permit allows its holder to hunt two alligators per season.

How many alligator tags are issued in Florida?

Every year about 7,000 alligator harvest permits are issued through three random drawings and a final leftover phase. The demand for Florida alligator harvest permits is high and random drawings are used to provide a fair unbiased way to issue them.

Can you hunt alligator at night in Florida?

“Here in Florida, you can only hunt gators at night, so you’re contending with the darkness, driving the airboat over submerged stumps that could throw you into the water, and freak storms you can’t predict,” says Bill Booth, co-host of Swamp People: Serpent Invasion.

What is the fine for killing an alligator in Florida?

It’s illegal to poach, take or mutilate an alligator, and illegal to hunt them outside of hunting season and without a permit. Hunting season begins Aug. 15. Unauthorized alligator hunting is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

What caliber gun is used for alligator hunting?

Rifles in calibers 243, 270, 30-06 are a great choice and handguns in calibers 357, . 44 and . 45 are best. We provide all licenses and permits for these hunts as well as handle all of the paperwork associated with the alligator harvest.

How much is an alligator worth 2019?

The current prices are about $10 per foot for a 9-foot or longer gator, $5 for gators 6 to 7 feet and only $3 for alligators 6 feet and under, Gouaux said. Gator prices reached as high as $20 per foot last year, state officials said.

Can I kill an alligator?

With the appropriate licenses and tags, the American alligator can legally be hunted in the Southeastern United States. The states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas all distribute alligator hunting licenses.

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Is pepper spray effective on alligators?

No, it only works on mammals. Birds and reptiles are not bothered by capsaicin. (In fact, plants evolved capsaicin to deter mammals from eating things while allowing birds to eat them, since birds disperse the seeds and mammals don’t.)

What to do if you see an alligator in Florida?

Do – call your TPWD regional office if you encounter a nuisance gator that has lost its fear of people.

  1. Don’t – allow small children to play by themselves in or around water. …
  2. Don’t – swim at night or during dusk or dawn when alligators most actively feed. …
  3. Don’t – feed or entice alligators.

Is there a alligator season in Florida?

The statewide alligator hunting season begins on August 15 and ends on the morning of November 1. The first four weeks of the season are divided into four quota weeks, and each permit is assigned one of those weeks. … A Florida hunting or fishing license is not required to participate in the statewide alligator hunt.

How much is an alligator tag in Texas?

Within 72 hours of harvest, the person shall complete an alligator hide tag report (PWD 304A) and mail it, along with the $21 tag fee (NO CASH—check or money order only), to the department at 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744.

Is there an overpopulation of alligators in Florida?

The increase likely has more to do with the rapid rise in the state’s human population than it does with the overall number of alligators, which has remained relatively steady at about 1.3 million, according to the FWC. With more people it’s easier for an alligator to become a nuisance.

Why are alligators hunted?

From the 1800s through the mid-1900s, gators were often hunted for their skins, which were used in making leather. They were also poached for meat. This large-scale hunting and poaching, along with loss of habitat, reduced the alligator population so dramatically that it was on the brink of extinction.

How much do alligator hunters make?

Usually, alligator hunters work freelance and don’t make any money until they have an alligator to show. How much a hunter makes can vary greatly. However, some hunters report that they can earn up to $40 per foot of the alligator.

Where in Florida are crocodiles?

American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) are a shy and reclusive species. They live in coastal areas throughout the Caribbean, and occur at the northern end of their range in south Florida. They live in brackish or saltwater areas, and can be found in ponds, coves, and creeks in mangrove swamps.

How much can you make killing alligators?

Reportedly, Louisiana alligator hunters used to make between $20 – $40 per foot of unprocessed alligator. However, in 2017 and 2018 there was increased competition coming from overseas and this caused gator sales to drop to an all-time low.

What is the largest alligator ever caught?

The current world record alligator was taken by Mandy Stokes, of Thomaston, in August 2014. It measured 15 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 1,011.5 pounds. Stokes and her crew took the gator in Mill Creek, a tributary of the Alabama River.

How old is pickles on Swamp People?

The 31-year-old has been on the show since Season 3, and he’s been known to get a lot of viewer attention.

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