When it comes to alligators in Louisiana, you must have a hunting license. It is rare to document alligators of this size class with annual growth rates of this magnitude, the MWDFP stated on Facebook. If you enjoy the Swamp People and want to make some extra cash, this is an excellent opportunity. 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. Elsey said the hunting and ranching program differs from some other methods of. The largest in Sarasota County was 12 feet, 6 inches out of Curry Creek. 0 Whereas, the American crocodile is brown/tan in color with dark splotches on the sides and tail; it has a narrow snout; and the fourth tooth of its lower jaw projects outside the upper jaw. Alligator hunting is regulated by state wildlife agencies, and laws vary from state to state. This year, officials counted 58,100 nests, a record number. After careful consideration, and backed by research,32 Florida reinitiated statewide alligator harvesting in 1988. These permits have specific restrictions as to where you can access and harvest alligators, so be mindful of where you can hunt before obtaining one of these permits. After all, these creatures ranging in sizefrom foot-long hatchlings to an 8-footer that stared unblinkingly from 6 feet away are his business, and business is about to get a little better on his 15-acre ranch near Abita Springs. 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. The Public Water Alligator Egg and Hatchling Collecting Program permits and supervises the collection of alligator eggs and hatchlings from public waters by licensed alligator farmers. It wont happen immediately, however. 25 Wamser v. City of St. Petersburg, 330 So. If you want to catch gator trout consistently, youve got to target them. Frequent discoveries in backyard swimming pools, garages, and on roads are the norm in some areas. If you are one of the fortunate few that received a harvest permit and are not familiar with the hunt, you can hire a guide or outfitter as long as they are a licensed alligator trapper or agent. 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. A specific zone is chosen and a hunter will be chosen. If you submit false information or multiple applications, you will be disqualified. When an alligator hunter reaches his or her quota, all hooks and lines must be removed from the water. 2d 1095, 1097 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). If an owner voluntarily decides to warn his or her guests, the owner could become liable if the warning or precautions are not sufficient and someone is nevertheless injured.27. People have observed alligators feeding on carp floating in the waterways following a die-off and feeding on live carp. 1939-60: Commercial harvest averages 18,005 per year; 1962-72: Louisiana's alligator season is closed statewide; officials turn attention to research and management of the resource; . In Florida, crocodiles are protected as a federally endangered species. It is similar in appearance to the threatened American crocodile which is classified in the Family Crocodylidae. A permit is required to hunt alligators in Florida and can be obtained through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida, the sunshine state teeming with alligators. Between Thursday and Nov. 1, Florida's population of 1.3 million alligators may drop by about 15,000. Cast members have been seen making between $10,000 and $25,000 per episode, depending on their roles. The nuisance program is one of five components of Floridas comprehensive Alligator Management Program. Though you may skin and consume your own alligator, if the skin, carcass, or meat is to be sold; only permitted alligator processing facilities must be used to process the animal. %%EOF Hunting season generally runs from August 15 through November 1 of each year.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).44 There are several legal methods of taking alligators including, but not limited to, bows, crossbows, gigs, spears, harpoons, spear guns, hand lines, fishing poles, and bang sticks. Harvest can only take place during the day, not at night. Clanton's theory why: Water levels in many of the state's waterways have been low for many years, allowing more large alligators to be harvested. FWC will issue over 7,300 alligator harvest permits this year. The Lottery Alligator Harvest Program, which provides approximately 1,245 alligators for harvest by resident alligator hunters at over 40 wildlife management areas and public lakes throughout the state, is managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. %PDF-1.5 % There are many alligators in Florida, but in Louisiana, the most common are in coastal marshes, and they live in freshwater rivers, lakes, and swamps. Hunting season typically runs from late August to early November. hb```f`` 1 EY8:{f5@d\( v10tt4@:0 - = h.`aa>xUC@0/ U@ , H2Ns5 E% Landowners win because they are able to make money by providing a good habitat. Benefits are not limited to those in the alligator industry, either. Alligators that are nuisance animals can be removed from their natural habitat or relocated to another location if they are deemed a threat. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. "Now I hope to hit 10 feet.". Someone who is authorized to hunt a permit holder may assist them in their hunt. Most were sold for boots, shoes, saddles and other leather goods. Ordinary care, however, does not mean the owner must prevent all injuries, but rather that the owner should use reasonable care to discover dangerous conditions on the property and to protect visitors from or inform visitors about those discovered conditions. Recreational hunting is just one part of the FWC's overall approach to managing the alligator population. Floridas recreational alligator harvest, approved by the state, is one of the states most popular hunting opportunities. You can pick up your areas local edition at over 11,000 marine specific businesses, retail outlets or big box stores. These scenes, while perhaps clich, are nevertheless an accurate reflection of our diverse landscape, helping to capture part of Floridas unique essence, particularly to those living elsewhere. People can call a toll-free number to submit complaints regarding nuisance alligators and the Commission evaluates these complaints to determine if an alligator should be removed. 27 Seelbinder v. County of Volusia, 827 So. Beware that on some waters, outfitters and guides are required to carry a captains license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, so check your harvest area requirements before hiring any outfitter or guide. 2012). The permits will be issued in random drawings over four periods. Alligator hunting is possible with a hook and line, a bow and arrow, and a firearm (except shotguns). Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington, photographed Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016. The state has always been very conservative on the harvest quotas and release numbers, he said. 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. 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 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. Alligator hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the state, and you can only hunt during specific times of the year. The advisory also means the public should avoid fishing and boating. Alligator hunters must have a valid Florida hunting license, and must take an alligator hunting safety course. However, the act was amended in 1969 to cover amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, and crustaceans, including an increase in penalties and even prison time. Any alligator longer than 18 inches is fair game. Alligator conservation is a success story in Florida. Alligator skin is used to make boots, shoes, belts, and saddles, while alligator oil is used to grease cotton mills and steam engines. In order to ensure that population trends didnt reverse course, many other statutory and regulatory protections were implemented and remain in place today. Each permit authorizes the taking of two alligators within a specified Harvest Unit. Also on FTW: Watch as a bear gets touchy-feely with a shocked jogger. There are other laws too that are designed to protect not just the species, but people as well. 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. 18 U.S. 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. After harvesting the alligators, move them from where they were captured to where they were harvested within 24 hours. Since 1988, the FWCC has successfully offered an alligator hunting season in Florida. Catching just one gator trout heavier than 5 pounds is a different story. A scared alligator is usually also a distant one, getting far away as quickly and silently as possible. Hes ready to see that progress extend to the ranchers, too. Of nonvenomous animal fatalities, a majority (approximately 72 per year) resulted from interactions with mammals or dogs (Forrester et al. After all, to live in Florida is to coexist among these ancient reptilian predators. There are an estimated 800,000 alligators on ranches and more than a million in the wild in Louisiana. The Alligator Harvest Report Form must be completed by permit holders in order to harvest alligator. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. 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. However it is extremely physical and quite dangerous and should never be taken lightly. 2015). Search for alligator harvest information using the CITES tag number or permit holder name. 2d 352, 353 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). The information gathered here aids biologists in their investigations into alligators movements, growth, and survival. 21 F.A.C.R. in a smaller area. 3d 915, 918-19 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012). The FWC Office of Licensing and Permitting can only reprint permits after the permit holder has requested that it be done so. Typically, alligators have about 80 teeth in their mouth at one time, but they lose teeth frequently. The statewide alligator hunt is the only hunt in the country that is open to the general public. Again, not surprisingly, public perception of the alligator is not always positive, struggling due to these numerous documented encounters. October 5, 2022 by Arnold. Visitors to Louisiana enjoy a wide range of activities, one of which is visiting the swamps. Always positive, struggling due to these numerous documented encounters are an estimated 800,000 alligators on and... 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