Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024
(1) A hunting season for American alligator
(Alligator mississippiensis) is hereby established in five
areas of Alabama, as provided for below. These areas hereafter are referred to
as Alligator Management Areas (AMAs) and are hereby established as, and shall
constitute special "wildlife management areas," in accordance with Sections
9-11-300, 301, Code of
Ala. 1975. Five AMAs shall be in portions of Baldwin, Mobile,
Washington, Clarke, Monroe, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Choctaw, Dale, Geneva,
Henry, Houston, Marengo, Russell, Dallas, and Wilcox Counties. Hunting of
alligator for the purpose of harvest management of wildlife are subject to
these regulations.
(2)
Locations of AMAs:
(a)
SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT AREA - The private and public waters in
Baldwin and Mobile Counties that lie north of I-10 and private and public
waters in Washington, Choctaw, Clarke, and Monroe Counties that lie south of
U.S. Highway 84.
(b)
COASTAL
MANAGEMENT AREA - The private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile
Counties that lie south of I-10.
(c)
SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT AREA -
The 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).
(d)
WEST
CENTRAL MANAGEMENT AREA - The private and public waters in Monroe,
Clarke and Choctaw Counties north of U.S. Highway 84; Marengo County west of
State Highway 28 and South of U.S. Highway 80; and Wilcox and Dallas Counties
(excluding Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge).
(e)
LAKE EUFAULA MANAGEMENT AREA
- The public Alabama state waters only in the Walter F. George Reservoir
(Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries (excluding main channel of the
Chattahoochee River), south of 13th Street Bridge in Phenix City (excluding
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge).
(3) Season:
(a)
SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT AREA -
From Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday in August until Official
Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the second Thursday in August;
from Official Sunset Time on the third Thursday in August until Official
Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the third Thursday in August;
and from Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday in September until
Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the second Thursday
in September.
(b)
COASTAL
MANAGEMENT AREA - From Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday in
August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the
second Thursday in August; from Official Sunset Time on the third Thursday in
August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the
third Thursday in August; and from Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday
in September until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following
the second Thursday in September.
(c)
SOUTHEAST MANAGEMENT AREA -
From Official Sunset Time on the second Saturday in August until the Official
Sunrise Time on the first Monday of September.
(d)
WEST CENTRAL MANAGEMENT AREA
- 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; and from the Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday in September
until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately following the second
Thursday in September.
(e)
LAKE EUFAULA MANAGEMENT AREA - From Official Sunset Time on the
second Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately
following the second Thursday in August; from Official Sunset Time on the third
Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday immediately
following the third Thursday in August; and from Official Sunset Time on the
second Thursday in September until Official Sunrise Time on the Sunday
immediately following the second Thursday in September.
(4)
Hunting Hours:
(a) Southwest, Coastal, Southeast, Lake
Eufaula, and West Central Management Areas - Official Sunset until Official
Sunrise.
(5)
Persons Eligible:
(a)
Alabama Residents and Lifetime Hunting License holders of the State of
Alabama who are sixteen (16) years of age or older holding any valid all
game or small game Alabama Hunting License may apply for Resident Alligator
Harvest Permit (see License Requirements).
(b)
Non-residents who are
sixteen (16) years of age or older holding any valid all game or small game
Alabama Non-resident Hunting License may apply for an Alligator Harvest Permit
(see License Requirements).
(c)
Hunting Assistants (Residents and Non-Residents) sixteen (16)
years of age or older must hold any valid all game or small game Alabama
Hunting License.
(6)
Harvest Permits:
(a)
Permit
Holders - The following permits and tags are established and required to
hunt and harvest alligator in the State of Alabama. Each Permit Holder can
receive up to two (2) Alligator Possession Tags.
1.
Alabama Residents.
(i) Resident Alligator Harvest Permit
[$250.00]. This Permit is required for residents to hunt and take alligators in
a designated Alligator Management Area. A valid all game or small game Alabama
Hunting License is required in addition to the Alligator Harvest Permit to
harvest and possess alligators.
(ii) Resident Alligator Bonus Management
Harvest Permit [$125.00]. This permit is required for residents to hunt and
take a bonus alligator in a designated Alligator Management Area. Holders of a
Resident Alligator Harvest Permit are eligible to purchase one (1) Resident
Alligator Bonus Management Harvest Permit. A valid all game or small game
Alabama Hunting License is required in addition to the Alligator Harvest Permit
to harvest and possess alligators.
2. Non-residents.
(i) Non-resident Alligator Harvest Permit
[$1000.00]. This Permit is required for non-residents to hunt and take
alligators in a designated Alligator Management Area. A valid all game or small
game Non-resident Alabama Hunting License is required in addition to the
Non-resident Alligator Harvest Permit to harvest and possess
alligators.
(ii) Non-resident
Alligator Bonus Management Harvest Permit [$500.00]. This permit is required
for non-residents to hunt and take a bonus alligator in a designated Alligator
Management Area. Holders of a Non-resident Alligator Harvest Permit are
eligible to purchase one (1) Non-resident Alligator Bonus Management Harvest
Permit. A valid all game or small game Non-resident Alabama Hunting License is
required in addition to the Non-resident Alligator Harvest Permit to harvest
and possess alligators.
(b)
Possession Tag - All
harvested alligators must have a Temporary Alligator Possession Tag attached to
the alligator immediately after being dispatched and prior to moving. Hunters
must bring alligator carcass or alligator hides, their attached Temporary
Alligator Possession Tag, and information regarding length, weight, girth, and
sex to a Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries District check station or office as
specified by the designated AMAs harvest reporting requirements to receive
their permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag. Temporary Alligator
Possession Tag will be mailed to the Alligator Harvest Permittee prior to their
selected AMA season.
(c) If a
person is selected for an Alligator Harvest Permit and Possession Tag at two or
more Management Areas, they will be allowed to select which Management Area
they would like to hunt. The other spot(s) not selected will be filled from the
Alternates list.
(d) Harvest Permit
and Possession Tag. Harvest Permits and Bonus Management Harvest Permits
(Resident and Non-resident) and Possession Tags are non-transferable.
(7)
Bag Limit and
Size:
(a) Bag Limit- Each person
receiving an Alligator Harvest Permit (Resident and Non-Resident) or an
Alligator Bonus Management Harvest Permit (Resident or Non-resident) will be
allowed to harvest one (1) alligator per permit.
(b) Size- Alligators harvested in the Lake
Eufaula Management Area must be a minimum of eight (8) feet in length. The
remaining Management Areas have no length requirement on alligators harvested
with an Alligator Harvest Permit (Resident or Non-resident). All Alligators
harvested with an Alligator Bonus Management Harvest Permit (Resident or
Nonresident) shall be no larger than six (6) feet in
length.
(8)
Applications:
Applications for Alligator Harvest Permits 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. There is no charge for each Management
Area application submitted. Registration will end at 8:00 AM on the second
Tuesday of July. The drawings for each Management Area 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 applicants must
complete the Mandatory Training Course and purchase the Alligator Harvest
Permit prior to accepting their hunter status. Selected applicant's acceptance
is required by 8:00 AM on the third Wednesday of July. If a Permit is not
accepted, the next applicant on the list will be notified and given 24 hours to
respond. These notifications will continue until all Permit vacancies have been
obligated. Only one (1) application shall be allowed per person per Management
Area. Applications shall be in accordance with the procedure set out at
www.outdooralabama.com.
(9)
Preference Points:
The random selection process will utilize a preference point
system. The system increases the likelihood of repeat applicants being selected
for an Alligator Harvest Permit 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
Alligator Harvest Permit in a given year or is selected and accepts a tag for
an AMA hunt, the preference point status is forfeited.
(10)
Mandatory Training Course:
All successful applicants will be required to complete the
online Alligator Training Course prior to accepting their hunter/ alternate
status. The video will be available for viewing at
www.outdooralabama.com. The
official course will be available on the applicant's status page upon
login.
(11)
Capture
and Dispatch Methods:
(a)
For
All Management Areas1. 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.
2. All
alligators must be captured and dispatched from the Alligator Permit holder's
boat. No capture or dispatch equipment is allowed in assisting boats.
3.
All alligators of legal length must
be dispatched immediately once boatside and restrained, as defined above.
Culling is prohibited. No alligators should be captured for photographic or any
other 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.
(12)
Mandatory Check Station:
(a)
SOUTHWEST, COASTAL, WEST CENTRAL,
AND LAKE EUFAULA MANAGEMENT AREAS - All successful permittees must bring
their harvested alligators from these Management Areas to a designated
mandatory check station on scheduled dates of the designated AMA season. Check
station locations and scheduled dates will be posted to the website
https://www.outdooralabama.com/seasons-and-bag-limits/alligator-season.
All harvested alligators must have a Temporary Alligator Possession Tag
attached to the alligator immediately after being dispatched and prior to
moving. The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to
the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the
check station.
(b)
SOUTHEAST
MANAGEMENT AREA - All successful permittees must bring their harvested
alligator hides, their Temporary Alligator Possession Tag, and information
regarding length, weight, girth, and sex to a Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
district office within 10 business days of their harvest. Alligator harvest
record sheets detailing the required information will be mailed with the
Temporary Alligator Possession Tag to the Permittee. Upon validation of the
alligator harvest data by WFF personnel, a permanent Federal CITES Alligator
Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator.
(13)
Harvest Reporting and
Tagging:
(a)
SOUTHWEST, COASTAL,
WEST CENTRAL, and LAKE EUFAULA MANAGEMENT AREAS - All successful
permittees must bring their harvested alligators from these Management Areas to
a designated mandatory check station on scheduled dates of the designated AMA
season. All harvested alligators must have a Temporary Alligator Possession Tag
attached to the alligator immediately after being dispatched and prior to
moving. The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to
the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the
check station.
(b)
SOUTHEAST
MANAGEMENT AREA- All successful permittees from these management areas
must bring their harvested alligator hides, their Temporary Alligator
Possession Tag, and Alligator harvest record sheet regarding length, weight,
girth, and sex to a Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district office within 10
business days of their harvest. Alligator harvest record sheets detailing the
required information will be mailed with the Temporary Alligator Possession Tag
to the Permittee. Upon validation of the alligator harvest data by WFF
personnel, a permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be attached
to the alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel.
(14)
License
Requirements:
(a)
Alligator
Harvest Permittee: Holders of an Alligator Harvest Permit (Resident or
Non-Resident) must be in possession of a government issued picture
identification and a valid Alabama Resident or Non-Resident all game or small
game Hunting License as required by Alabama law. The aforementioned permits and
valid hunting license must be in possession during the season while hunting and
possessing alligator.
(b)
Alligator Hunting Assistant: All assistants, either resident or
non-resident, in the hunting party sixteen (16) years of age or older are
required to purchase and be in possession of a valid Alabama all game or small
game Hunting License as required by Alabama law. All persons in the boat or
assisting boats that are not the Alligator Harvest Permittee are considered
Hunting Assistants.
(15)
General:
(a) 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.
(b)
ALL ALABAMA BOATING AND HUNTING
REGULATIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED.
(c) 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.
Author: Christopher M. Blankenship
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala.
1975, §§
9-2-7,
9-2-8,
9-2-12,
9-11-300, and
9-11-301.
Penalty: As provided by
law.
