Regulations and Application Instructions Alligator Hunting Season
ATTENTION: Carefully read the regulations 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
A hunting season for American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) will be open in two parts of Alabama. The first will be in portions of Baldwin and Mobile counties. The second separate hunt will include Houston, Henry, Barbour and Russell counties including the portions of Henry, Barbour and Russell counties included in the Walter F. George Reservoir. The rules will govern according to the following restrictions and regulations:
Locations:
MOBILE/BALDWIN COUNTIES
The private and public waters of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta south of the Washington, Clarke and Monroe counties lines, west of Alabama Highway 59 to intersection of 225 south to U.S. 31, north of U.S. 31, north and east of U.S. Truck Route 90 to intersection of U.S. Highway 43, and east of U.S. Highway 43 to the Mobile and Washington counties line.
HOUSTON, HENRY, BARBOUR and RUSSELL COUNTIES
All of Houston, Henry, Barbour and Russell counties.
Dates:
MOBILE/BALDWIN COUNTIES - August 14-17, 2009 and August 21-24, 2009
HOUSTON, HENRY, BARBOUR and RUSSELL COUNTIES - August 21-31, 2009
Hunting Hours:
8:00 PM till 6:00 AM for both venues.
Permits:
MOBILE/BALDWIN COUNTIES
One hundred and twenty-five (125) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession permits are non-transferable.
HOUSTON, HENRY, BARBOUR and RUSSELL COUNTIES
Eighty (80) 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 both locations they will be allowed to choose which location they would like to hunt. The other spot 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 six (6) feet in length or longer.
Persons Eligible:
Only residents 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).
Applications:
Applications for Tags will be accepted only at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website at www.outdooralabama.com beginning June 2, 2009 at 8:00 AM. Registration will end July 13, 2009 at 8:00 AM. The drawings for each area will be held on July 13, 2009. All applicants will be able to check for their results on www.outdooralabama.com. Selected applicant's acceptance is required by 5:00 PM July 15, 2009. If a tag is not accepted, the next name on the Alternate's list will be notified and given 24 hours to respond. These notifications will continue until the 125 tags have been obligated for Mobile/Baldwin counties and the 80 tags have been obligated for Houston, Henry/Barbour/Russell counties.
Mandatory Training Course:
MOBILE/BALDWIN COUNTIES
If you are selected for the Mobile/Baldwin counties 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.
The course will be held twice on August 1, 2009 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.
HOUSTON, HENRY, BARBOUR, AND RUSSELL COUNTIES
For the Houston, Henry, Barbour, and Russell counties 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.
The course will be held once on August 8, 2009 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.
Capture and Dispatch Methods:
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, if legal, 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. 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.
Mandatory Check Station:
MOBILE/BALDWIN COUNTIES
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.
HOUSTON, HENRY, BARBOUR, AND RUSSELL COUNTIES
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 8, 2009. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a Federal CITES tag will be attached to the alligator by WFF personnel.
Harvest Reporting and Tagging:
MOBILE/BALDWIN COUNTIES
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.
HOUSTON, HENRY, BARBOUR, AND RUSSELL COUNTIES
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 8, 2009. 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 (if required by law). If Mobile-Tensaw / W. L. Holland Wildlife Management Area properties are to be hunted, a Wildlife Management Area 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 (if required by 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. All funds are non-refundable.
ALL ALABAMA BOATING AND HUNTING REGULATIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED. |
