Is it legal to hunt alligators?

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.

Is killing alligators illegal?

Today no state allows indiscriminate killing of wild alligators. In regions where the species is considered to have recovered to normal population levels, most states have regulated hunting seasons. A permit is required to legally harvest alligators. Each state has specific guidelines related to alligator hunting.

Why do people hunt alligators?

Alligators taken during the public hunt go from the swamp marshes to various markets — leather goods, preserved heads and feet to be sold at gift shops, and as different meat products. All the work that goes into the process, and the number of people involved, make the meat and leather expensive.

Is it legal to hunt gators in Florida?

Alligator hunting is legal, but its not a free-for-all. There is a specific alligator hunting season, which falls between August 15 and Nov 1 each year. Alligator hunting was established in 1988, due to the growing need for population control over the 1.3 million alligators in Florida.

How much is a alligator worth hunting?

Reportedly, Louisiana alligator hunters used to make between $20 – $40 per foot of unprocessed alligator.

Legal methods of take for alligator hunting in Florida

How much do dead alligators sell for?

The current prices for alligators are $20 per foot for a 9-foot or longer gator, $17 for 8 feet, $13-$15 for 7 feet and $13-$14 for 6 feet, according to local hunters and processors.

How many tags do alligator hunters get?

3 They Need At Least 50 Tags To Be On The Show

Swamp People devotes most of its screen time to hauling in big alligators, so it makes sense that they would want to focus on well-established hunters. Filming a rookie reeling in half a dozen baby alligators probably does not make for thrilling TV.

How much do alligator tags cost in Florida?

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.

Is there a bounty on alligators in Florida?

When trappers catch a gator, if it's 4 feet or longer and is considered a threat to people, pets or property, they do not take it out in the woods and turn it loose again. They kill it. The state spends $210,000 a year paying the trappers a $30-per-gator bounty, but that's just to help them get by in hard times.

What does alligator taste like?

Alligator meat has been described as having a mild flavor and a firm texture. It tastes like quail, with a mildly fishy flavor, and is often chewy, depending on preparation.

What do alligators sell for?

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.

Is alligator hunting cruel?

Because of the difficulty of humanely killing an alligator, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) advises hunters, “Never assume an alligator is dead.” In 2008, the owner of a marina in southwest Florida described a cruel reality of the alligator hunt: “wounded gators bloated and floating in the ...

How much does gator meat cost?

Alligator meat is expensive, selling for almost $20 per pound, but I felt the restaurant's small amount of gumbo and gator tail was excessively pricey.

Is alligator meat good for you?

Alligator meat is high in dietary fibers and is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains phosphorus, potassium, vitamin B12, niacin, and monounsaturated fatty acids.

Whats the fine for killing a gator in Florida?

Unauthorized alligator hunting is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines. Salvaging alligator carcasses and those of other protected species in the state also requires a permit.

Why are American 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.

Why do they shoot alligators in the head?

If you're a big fan of The History Channel's blockbuster reality series Swamp People then you've probably heard the alligator hunters referencing a "quarter-sized kill spot" on the top of a gator's head, which is where you have to shoot it to guarantee a quick kill.

What does Disney do with alligators?

Most of the nuisance gators taken from Disney properties are euthanized and sold for their hide and meat, according to Tammy Sapp, spokeswoman for the wildlife agency. Some are also transferred to alligator farms, animal exhibits, and zoos, she said. Those less than 4 feet are relocated, she said.

Can you shoot an alligator in Florida in self defense?

Alligators are protected under Florida law and FWC is taking those rules seriously. “You do need a permit in order to take alligators,” Tyson Matthews with FWC said. That means you're not allowed to shoot and kill alligators unless you're defending yourself.

What are the rules for hunting alligators in Florida?

Applicants who are awarded a permit must pay for two CITES tags and an Alligator Trapping License, or provide proof of possession of an Alligator Trapping License valid through the end of the alligator harvest season. A Florida hunting license is not required to participate in the statewide alligator hunt.

Does Florida have a gator hunting season?

Florida is the alligator hunting capital of the world!

The alligator hunting season runs Aug. 15 – Nov. 1 each year. Over 7,300 alligator harvest permits are available this season.

How much is a gator hunt in Florida?

One hunter, one sport size gator $1,850. One hunter, two-sport size gators $2,750. Two hunters a sport size gator each $3,500.

How much money do alligator hunters make in Louisiana?

It's reported that some get paid up to $40 per foot of the reptile unprocessed. People hunting alligators for sport in Louisiana need to have a license issued from the government. According to Louisiana's state website, a license costs $25 for state residents and $150 for non-residents.

How much money does an alligator tag cost in Louisiana?

Lottery applicants must be Louisiana residents, at least 16 years of age, and comply with hunter education requirements. Successful applicants must: Purchase a resident Alligator Hunter License ($25) Pay a set fee per alligator harvest tag issued ($40 per tag)

Why do alligator hunters wear white boots?

The white boots also have a wider mouth than their darker cousins. The shaft that the foot goes into at the top of the boot is also a little shorter. That makes slipping them on and off and tucking pants legs into them a lot easier. By the way, that's a safety feature of the boots.