For the first time ever, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is holding a recreational alligator hunting season, and the lottery for tags opened this morning. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth says the state is able to open up the harvesting of alligators to recreational hunters thanks to an act of legislature in this year’s session, because the state is being overrun with alligators.
“There are too many alligators. Based on the biology from our biologists, we echo that sentiment. We understand that the population has fully recovered,” Bosworth noted.
Bosworth says there are roughly 3 million alligators in the coastal zone alone – that’s about two-thirds of the state’s human population. And he says you will have plenty of chances to score a tag.
“There’s 5,000 opportunities, so 5,000 hunters will be successful in this draw. Each successful hunter will receive two tags, so you get 10,000 opportunities statewide,” Bosworth explained.
Bosworth says if you’re successful in snagging one of those 10,000 tags, there is a series of rules you will need to abide by:
“They have to be baited from the bank; so no shooting free-swimming alligators. You either have to do it on your own property, on a numerated state property or you have to do it with landowner consent,” Bosworth said.
The lottery is open through August 30th, and the season runs throughout the entire month of October. There is a non-refundable $50 application fee, and you may only apply on the LDWF’s licensing website, wlf.louisiana.gov.