Louisiana Opens New October Alligator Season

Louisiana hunters can take part in a new special recreational alligator hunting program that runs the month of October. (Photo by Pamela Wertz)

Louisiana is offering hunters a new recreational alligator hunting program that will run from October 1 through October 31.

The U.S. Sun reports that those who want to participate in the new season, which was approved by Governor Jeff Landry, can enter a hide tag lottery that’s currently being drafted by the state’s Wildlife and Fisheries commission.

The state will provide up to 5,000 hunters with tags that will allow them to bag up to two alligators during the October season.

The annual alligator hunting license required to participate in the season will cost Louisiana residents $25 and nonresidents $150.

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Hunters must also purchase a standard hunting license to legally pursue gators, which will cost $20 for state residents and $200 for nonresidents.

According to Fox affiliate WVUE, the new program was established to address the alligator’s population boom in the state, which has reached approximately 3 million.

Jeb Linscombe, the alligator program manager for Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, told Louisiana Sportsman, “We are trying to get tags in the hands of a lot of people, but we don’t want to negatively affect our existing alligator program that’s 50 years old and has been very successful,” Linscombe said. “There are some places that have alligators but don’t qualify for commercial tags. We set out to put more hunting opportunities in the northern part of the state because commercial alligator hunting is primarily in south Louisiana.”