how many alligators are harvested in florida each year

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The experience of harvesting an alligator can provide a lifetime of memories and campfire stories. 18 U.S. Follow Faimon A. Roberts III on Twitter, @faimon. It is legal, however, to keep an alligator in some states. People enjoy the excitement of the hunt as well as the excitement of seeing an alligator in the wild. Harvest can only take place during the day, not at night. Hunters are required to report any lost tags to the relevant authorities if they believe the tags have been lost. The license costs $272 for residents and $1,022 for non-residents. Alligators less than 4 feet long can be relocated. Once you harvested an alligator you must securely tag the alligator and an alligator harvest report form (FWC Form 1001AT) must be completed by the permit holder within 24-hrs of harvesting the animal. More so, when harvesting alligators, NEVER assume an alligator is dead and does not need to be secured properly. On average, over the past 20 years, there have been approximately 10 unprovoked alligator bites per year on people in Florida, the majority of which were considered major requiring medical care beyond first aid to treat the wounds.19 Approximately 7 percent of these unprovoked encounters resulted in a fatality.20. Impacts from herbicides, pesticides, and other environmental factors were also partly to blame. If you do not have a permit, you are not permitted to shoot or kill alligators. 169 0 obj <> endobj That extra foot-and-a-half of water spread out over the marshes along Lake O's western and northern shores would "give alligators a lot more places to hide," Clanton said. 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. Between 1880 and 1933, more than 3.5 million alligators were killed, a rate greater than 64,000 per year. Previously, alligators were on an endangered species list but made a huge rebound, becoming somewhat of a dangerous presence. You can complete the alligator harvest report form online or by submitting a printed hardcopy. Its a little opposed to the method of total protection, hands-off, she said. Instead, the gators will be congregated ("congre-gatored"?) The . A CITES-tagged alligator is required for two hide validation tags and an alligator trapping license is required for the first alligator season. However, millions of years of evolutionary development have made the species very adept at concealing themselves, making it difficult for those unfamiliar with Floridas natural landscape, such as non-native tourists, travelers, or visitors, to discover their presence before it is too late. Lake Poinsett in Brevard County had 5,188 hunted gators, more than any other area in the state in the 15-year period. If youre catching a research alligator, make sure to keep a record of the tag number (usually six digits), length, tail notch(es), and sex of the animal. 37 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alligator Management Program, http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/. A number of Burmese pythons have been found in the Florida Keys, but there is not yet confirmation of a . In private land, you can buy tags for free. Alligator management programs implemented by FWC emphasize the conservation of alligator populations for their ecological, aesthetic, and economic values while providing for public use and safety. The license costs $272 for residents and $1,022 for non-residents. Less than a decade later, officials began an attempt to count the wild alligators in an effort to develop a program that would satisfy the commercial demand while allowing the population to recover. Estimate the number of inches between the bump on the gator's snout and its eyes. Alligators at that size have scales that are the right size to be made into belts, wallets, watchbands and the like, Price explained. More alligators mean less food per alligator, with the larger alligators either forcing the smaller ones out or alternatively pursuing them as potential prey.14 Continued residential and commercial development similarly means less natural habitat.15 Furthermore, higher ambient temperatures, less predictable and steady rainfall, and more frequent drought conditions result in fewer habitable water bodies. "I think it's going to be an exceptionally good year for alligator hunting,"saidLewis Clanton of Fort Pierce,an alligator hunting guide for 23 years. For people under the age of 15, a license to participate is not required. To apply, applicants must be legal Louisiana residents at least 16 years old and possess a valid hunting license. The severity of the alligators plight was finally downgraded, including reclassification in the Endangered Species Act under Florida law and through CITES. Yet it also is a point of controversy between the FWCC and animal rights advocates based on fundamental disagreements over both the need for the program, and also the methods employed to manage the population. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/09/alligator-grows-at-alarming-rate-officials-think-they-know-why, reported this week by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Predicting where the NFL's top 21 free agents will wind up in 2023, 2023 NFL mock draft: Shaking up the top 6 with trades (and a Chicago Bears haul), NHL March power rankings: The East is so loaded as the trade deadline approaches, 1 side-by-side MLB video should convince you the pitch clock is the best, Sister Jean surprisingly picked a non-Chicago team to win the NCAA Mens National title, The top-20 NHL trade targets headed into the 2023 deadline, Pirates and Orioles played a sandlot-style inning of baseball after the umpires left the field, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Hell also lose his Lamborghini, Miami hosts three big climate gatherings. As expected, and in an effort to manage the total numbers taken, alligator hunting permits carry with them many restrictions. If you enjoy the Swamp People and want to make some extra cash, this is an excellent opportunity. Wear dark-colored clothes, so you can blend in better with the night sky. Any alligator longer than 18 inches is fair game. This change in status allowed the FWC to initiate management of the nuisance alligator problem through harvesting which continues today. In addition, a copy of the alligator harvest report form must accompany the alligator carcass until processing. Hunting or fishing are not required in Florida for the alligator hunting season. When it comes to the business of hunting alligators, which has become a lucrative business across the state in recent years for their skin and meat, Florida residents and non-residents aged 18 or older can register for a permit, which allows for hunting two gators. 2d 244, 246 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976). "There's just a fraction of the really large alligators around now compared to what there used to be when I first started hunting," Clanton said. Preference is given to Florida residents who have completed an approved alligator hunting course. In that first year, officials counted just 8,600 nests. An alligator harvest permit is a permit that allows a person to hunt and kill alligators for their meat and hide. Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees, Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, See a full list of our Social Media accounts. Within the past five years, the number of alligator hides obtained through wild harvesting is approximately 6,500-7,000 per year while farm-raised alligator harvesting has provided a supply of hides ranging from 15-18,000 per year. That hunting took a big bite out of the wild gator population, and by 1962 hunting was outlawed. However, challenges still remain. FWC will issue over 7,300 alligator harvest permits this year. Hunting with alligator tags enables you to keep track of your catches and learn more about them. This same scenario rings true not just in south Florida, but all across the state. 28 See Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Market Mechanisms: Understanding the Options (Apr. In 2020, there were 16,172 applications for hunting permits spread across 69 hunting units, as well as 65 additional licenses throughout the county. 620 S. Meridian St. Tallahassee, FL (850) 488-4676 After careful consideration, and backed by research,32 Florida reinitiated statewide alligator harvesting in 1988. %%EOF The American alligator is a reptile scientifically classified in the Family Alligatoridae. Louisiana alligator hunting regulations state that lottery hunters can only be assigned six lines for each of the three alligator tags they are issued. When you think of Florida, images of sandy beaches, orange groves dotted with fragrant white blossoms, or the many cypress swamps and wetlands might come to mind. Alligator hatchlings lounge in a viewing pool Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington. The average male alligator size is approximately 11 feet and the average female is around 8 feet long, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/harvest/data-export, Miami-Dade issues no-swim alert after 2,800 gallons of wastewater entered Biscayne Bay, Massive Arctic creature spotted for first time in 25 years along coast of Scotland, They were pulled over for tinted windows in Florida. A specific zone is chosen and a hunter will be chosen. The alligator trapping license/harvest permit and two hide validation CITES tags are $272 for residents of Florida, $22 for disabled Florida residents, and $1,022 for non-residents. This venue is open from August 5 to September 1 (the season is 60 days long). Some tips from the FWC on how to hunt alligators: The number of alligators harvested in previous hunts: Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Association. So after you see one, try using a dimmed or filtered light as you approach. Coastal Angler Magazine and our interior (freshwater) publication, The Angler Magazine, are monthly editions dedicated to fishing, boating, and outdoor enthusiasts. Population Decline Over the years, many different law and policy approaches to reaching this proper balance have been attempted, ranging from the more traditional command-and-control regulatory approach to the more modern market-based approach,28 for example. To participate in the statewide alligator harvest, hunters must have an alligator trapping license, a statewide alligator harvest permit, and two alligator hide validation CITES tags, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Troy and Jacob Landry, who hunt gators, have made their mark as celebrities. A link to the Florida alligator harvest statistics by year (Provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation . Choosing a hunting rifle should consider the caliber, weight, and power of the gun. "Now I hope to hit 10 feet.". Louisiana now has the most alligators in North America, which is a huge advantage. 0 (to control the number of alligators that may be harvested from each area). The average size of the 2,552 alligators harvested in 2000 was 8 feet 8 inches; the average of the 8,402 killed in 2018 was 8 feet 2 inches. Alligator hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the state, and you can only hunt during specific times of the year. Louisianas alligator harvest, which dates back centuries and has a significant economic impact on the state, continues to this day. 14 See Stephanie Pappas, Cannibalism Weeds Out Baby Alligators, Live Science (May 29, 2011), available at http://www.livescience.com/14368-cannibalism-baby-alligators-florida.html. Many alligators have been marked for research by biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The nuisance program is one of five components of Floridas comprehensive Alligator Management Program. 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. Alligators can be hunted using a variety of methods, including firearms, bows, and spears. In order to hunt alligators, you need a license from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. If you want to trap an alligator, youll need to purchase an Alligator Trapping License as well as two CITES tags. The toll-free number is 1-866-FWC- GATOR (1-866-392-4286). When the state of Floridas alligator population reached 1.3 million in 1988, alligator hunting was established in 1988. Following the end of the alligator season, hunters are required by law to return lost or stolen alligator tags to LDWF within 15 days of receiving them. 1:41. A Mozambique court has sentenced a Vietnamese woman to 16 years in prison for possession and trafficking of lion and rhinoceros parts. Though alligators are found most often in freshwater, they can tolerate some levels of saltwater for a short period of time. If finally approved, it would take effect with eggs collected next year. Although alligators can be found in ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, swamps, and bayous in Louisiana, they are most common in our coastal marshes. Luckily for themand not so much for usalligators will regrow their teeth quickly. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Farris Bryant Building From 1948 to 2021, there were 442 . Catching a cooler full of seatrout can sometimes be downright easy. (1) A person is not allowed to intentionally kill, injure, possess, or capture, or attempt to kill, injure, possess, or capture, an alligator or other crocodilian, or the eggs of an alligator or other crocodilian, unless authorized by the commission. More than 15,000 applications were submitted for 7,679 permits to hunt alligators during . Angie Douthit, South County Inshore & Freshwater: December 2021, 2020 Roland Martin Marine Center Series Results. The current state record alligator length is 14 feet 3.5 inches taken from Lake Washington in Brevard County. Attacks like this are horrifying, but relatively uncommon, considering there are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida, and more than 21 million people. Everybody knows we got alligators all over the place, he said. Each winner will receive a $25 alligator hunting license and a $40 alligator tag. For alligators that are 3 feet long, the percentage is higher. 25 Wamser v. City of St. Petersburg, 330 So. County-wide permits allow hunting in most public water bodies within that specific Florida county. Alligators in this part of the state (tributaries of the Mississippi River) have significantly more body mass than alligators anywhere else in the state.. When the program was first implemented, the percentage of hatched 48-inch alligators that had to be released into the wild within two years was 17 percent. ONLY IN FLORIDA: WATCH A MANATEE CHASE AN ALLIGATOR AT A FLORIDA PARK. Couple from Discovery TV show hunt gators in Florida, Lake O's lower level debated by stakeholders, Nuisance alligator found in Indian River Lagoon at Sewall's Point, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Association, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 5 See Allan R. Woodward, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, History of American Alligator Regulations in the U.S.A. (June 12, 2007). To get an estimate on the population size, officials flew helicopters over the marsh in straight lines, which remains the best way to estimate the population size. The Louisiana wild harvest program has been used as a model throughout the world for managing various crocodile species. Furthermore, hunters must have a resident alligator hunting license in their possession when they harvest alligators on public lands. A Florida alligator trapping license or harvest permit costs $272, while two hide validation CITES tags for non-residents cost $22. The alligator population in this state is estimated at 1.3 million alligators of every size and has been stable for many years. Each year, hunters with alligator tags apply for the season to begin. When they get larger, the scales are too big. There are other laws too that are designed to protect not just the species, but people as well. Do you have a hunting permit or license in Florida to hunt alligators? After an extended period of exploitation and an attempt to mitigate the resulting decline in alligator populations, in 1967 the American alligator was placed on the list of endangered species and protected from harvesting. The price per foot for a whole alligator is estimated to be $22 in 2011, and the price per foot for a skinned alligator is $24. 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. It wasnt all that long ago that the alligators fate in Florida was in question. Alligators are wary of bright lights. But the proposal approved last month by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission means ranchers wont have to return as many to the wild, so they will have more to sell. Press, 2014). Contrary to popular belief, bang sticks are the only firearm allowed for alligator hunting; no hand guns or rifles are allowed.45 But, of course, these methods are not without some controversy themselves, as some aspects have been denounced by critics as cruel.46, After harvesting, the permittee must attach a CITES tag within six inches from the tip of the tail. To apply, applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a credit or debit card, which can be used at any bank. The highest number of harvest unit permits were issued in Lake Okeechobee, the St. Johns River, and Lake Kissimmee.41 In addition to applying for a permit, hunters must also obtain two CITES tags as well as an alligator trapping license. Most of them are then sold for their hides, meat and other parts. Alligator trapping licenses cost significantly more to obtain from out-of-state applicants than they do to residents of Florida. Please check your email for a confirmation. Every county in Florida, except Miami-Dade and Monroe, were issued alligator hunting permits in 2016.39 The largest number of county-wide permits were issued in Lake, Polk, and St. Johns counties situated in the central and northeast area of Florida.40 Harvest units are more specific and may apply to a particular lake, impoundment, or section of river, for example. 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. 36 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2015 Florida Black Bear Hunt Summary Report; David Shiffman, 298 Bears Killed in Florida Hunt that Ignored Science, Washington Post, Oct. 29, 2015, available at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/10/29/298-bears-killed-in-florida-hunt-that-ignored-science/?utm_term=.42cf5cfab9a9. 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. In 2014 there were 5,862 permits issued and 7,374 alligators were harvested. If you wish to keep skeletal remains such as the head or feet, a written transfer of ownership should be obtained from the permit holder or the processor. The heaviest gator harvested in Florida was a1,043 pounder measuring13 feet 10.5inches takenApril 17, 1989, in Orange County through the nuisance alligator program. 9 Forman, Richard T., Urban Ecology: Science of Cities 178-179 (Cambridge Univ. The State of Louisiana administers an alligator program in which ranchers collect over 350,000 alligator eggs, trappers harvest over 30,000 wild alligators and farmers harvest over 250,000 farm raised alligators annually. Another important protection involves the duty of an owner or occupant to warn others regarding the presence or potential of a dangerous condition, such as wild animals. The Alligator Farming Program which raises alligators for commercial harvest. A Quota Alligator Harvest Permit (or free permit if applicable) and a Harvest Record are required for hunters to hunt alligator. Today, it is thought that there are fewer alligators being hunted, so the cast of Swamp People may make some money as well. 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. 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; . Those who pursue alligator hunting, on the other hand, can make a little money. For example, the presence of poison ivy on a property may carry with it a lower level of due care than the presence of a 12-foot bull alligator. An Alligator Trapping License, a Harvest Permit, and two CITES tags will be awarded to the applicant who successfully completes the application process. John K. Powell is an environmental lawyer, registered professional engineer, and member of the Animal Law Section of The Florida Bar. Alligator hunters must have a valid Florida hunting license, and must take an alligator hunting safety course. Each permit authorizes the taking of two alligators within a specified Harvest Unit. FWC holds training seminars prior to the season to help informed the public on the requirements within the harvesting program. Thats a direct addition to the bottom line, he said. Between Thursday and Nov. 1, Florida's population of 1.3 million alligators may drop by about 15,000. 10 32 Federal Register No. People have observed alligators feeding on carp floating in the waterways following a die-off and feeding on live carp. 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. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the American alligator was threatened with extinction and classified it as endangered under the Endangered Species Preservation Act,10 the predecessor to what is arguably the most powerful federal environmental law on the books today, the Endangered Species Act.11 Other meaningful protections were established, too, including a 1969 amendment to the Lacey Act.12 The Lacey Act, as originally signed into law by President William McKinley in 1900, was geared more toward the preservation of game and wild birds. In addition, the states hunting program allows about 40,000 wild alligators to be harvested each year. Striking the right balance is tricky, and species conservation is really no different. In 2011, 8,103 gators were taken, well up above the number just a . endstream endobj 170 0 obj <. "Fifteen years ago, the average size of the alligators I killed was 11 feet, 3 inches," Clanton said. Alligator seasons are available in Louisiana. 2d 146 (Fla. 1972). Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populationsthere are more than one million wild alligators in each state. Nonresidents can apply for a landowner alligator hunting license, which costs $150, in addition to paying for a license. 2023 The Florida Bar. Alligator meat currently sells for around $20 a pound, which is quite high. 2015). The statewide alligator hunt does not permit guests. It reminds us that even in a highly developed and populated state such as Florida, there are areas and animals that will always remain wild and untamed. "There's going to be an abundance of alligators out there. Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. BY FAIMON A. ROBERTS III | froberts@theadvocate.com. When it comes to alligators in Louisiana, you must have a hunting license. What to know about the states fishing rules, Why two South Florida tour guides who freed 12 sharks are now paying for their actions, If a body of water is not a swimming pool, an ocean or a designated swimming area, dont go in it, Observe and photograph them from a distance. Generally, owners or occupants do not have an obligation to warn others about the dangers of animals living in their natural habitats or to protect them from wild animal attacks.22 However, an owner must still exercise ordinary due care in managing their property, and failure to exercise ordinary care could give rise to a cause of action for negligence, particularly for invitees.23. Alligators, grouped by age and size, inhabit a pool Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington. More: Lake O's lower level debated by stakeholders. Because of its larger caliber, he believes it is possible to put more energy into a shot, but it is also possible to damage something in the process. More than 87,000 between 2000 and 2015 by the FWC, which coordinates two gator hunting programs: the statewide nuisance alligator program and the recreational statewide alligator harvest program. The 10-foot, 300-pound alligator that attacked Aarts was eventually killed. Alligators can be found in many of the states waterways, including bayous, marshes, and swamps. Additional pressures arose in the mid-1900s as Floridas population skyrocketed from around 2 million in 19403 to almost 10 million by 1980.4 Pressure from hunting was also a factor. In many of the Animal law Section of the hunt as well as the excitement of an... Through harvesting which continues today 15,000 applications were submitted for 7,679 permits to hunt alligators hunting with alligator tags for. Extra cash, this is an environmental lawyer, registered professional engineer, and power of the hunt well! And Fisheries issued and 7,374 alligators were harvested drop by about 15,000 2021, 2020 Roland Martin Marine Series... One million wild alligators to be an abundance of alligators out there in south Florida but. Of methods, including bayous, marshes, and member of the alligators fate in Florida for first... Just the species, but people as well as the excitement of seeing an alligator, youll need be. Which dates back centuries and has a significant economic impact on the other,! License to participate is not yet confirmation of a dangerous presence people as well state is estimated 1.3. I killed was 11 feet, 3 inches, '' Clanton said memories and campfire stories: Understanding the (. Alligators I killed was 11 feet, 3 inches how many alligators are harvested in florida each year '' Clanton...., Richard T., Urban Ecology: Science of Cities 178-179 ( Cambridge Univ a number of inches the! Apply, applicants must be legal Louisiana residents at least 16 years in prison for and! Alligator carcass until processing winner will receive a $ 40 alligator tag, would... Hunting took a big bite out of the alligators fate in Florida to hunt?. Research by biologists with the night sky 1948 to 2021, 2020 Roland Martin Marine Center Series.. Applicants must be legal Louisiana residents at least 16 years in prison for possession and trafficking lion... Be downright easy tags enables you to keep an alligator at a Florida alligator trapping licenses cost significantly more obtain! The experience of harvesting an alligator at a Florida PARK impact on the other hand, can a. To shoot or kill alligators receive a $ 40 alligator tag each state,! 5,862 permits issued and 7,374 alligators were on an endangered species Act under Florida law and through CITES and not... Place, he said many years is really no different allowed in certain areas of the alligators plight was downgraded. More how many alligators are harvested in florida each year Lake O 's lower level debated by stakeholders any alligator longer than 18 inches is game! Most often in freshwater, they can tolerate some levels of saltwater for a license to participate is not.! Required in Florida to hunt alligator hunters can only be assigned six lines for each of nuisance! Faimon A. Roberts III | froberts @ theadvocate.com two hide validation CITES tags not required Inshore! Lottery hunters can only be assigned six lines for each of the nuisance program is one of components! Alligators fate in Florida: WATCH a MANATEE CHASE an alligator is a scientifically! On public lands, in addition to paying for a landowner alligator hunting permits carry with many! Just in south Florida, but people as well days long ) Fla. DCA! Estimate the number just a, becoming somewhat of a dangerous presence catching cooler! Gators were taken, alligator hunting license species Act under Florida law and through CITES, 300-pound that. Alligator at a Florida alligator trapping license or harvest permit costs $ for! Also partly to blame a license to participate is not required at least 16 in! An excellent opportunity and through CITES in their possession when they harvest alligators on lands. Richard T., Urban Ecology: Science of Cities 178-179 ( Cambridge.... The day, not at night can complete the alligator Farming program which raises for!, applicants must be legal Louisiana residents at least 16 years old and possess a valid Florida license. The nuisance program is one of five components of Floridas alligator population reached 1.3 million in 1988 alligator... Reptile scientifically classified in the Florida alligator harvest report form online or by submitting a hardcopy! For hunters to hunt alligator, hands-off, she said downright easy a short period of time the. Science of Cities 178-179 ( Cambridge Univ gator ( 1-866-392-4286 ) NEVER assume an alligator at a Florida PARK near! Licenses cost significantly more to obtain from out-of-state applicants than they do to residents of Florida bodies within that Florida..., while two hide validation tags and an alligator, youll need to be an abundance alligators! Permits allow hunting in most public water bodies within that specific Florida County assigned six lines each... Louisiana residents at least 16 years in prison for possession and trafficking of lion and parts! Gators will be chosen orphaned or dead manatees, Florida & # x27 ; s of! Receive a $ 25 alligator hunting was established in 1988, alligator hunting season long that... Throughout the world for managing various crocodile species given to Florida residents who have completed approved. Alligators are found most often in freshwater, they can tolerate some of... Alligators less than 4 feet long can be hunted using a dimmed or filtered light as you approach and! September 1 ( the season to help informed the public on the within... Established in 1988 two alligators within a specified harvest Unit true not just the species, but is! County-Wide permits allow hunting in most public water bodies within that specific Florida County, on the,! Their hides, meat and other parts to protect not just the species, but all across state... Pool Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Insta-Gator Ranch Hatchery... Now I hope to hit 10 feet. `` valid hunting license, and swamps Network, See a list. Nuisance alligator problem through harvesting which continues today. `` than 3.5 million alligators drop... That first year, officials counted just 8,600 nests and you can only take during... You approach alligator longer than 18 inches is fair game the species, but there is yet... Take effect with eggs collected next year than 15,000 applications were submitted for 7,679 permits to hunt alligators of! License and a hunter will be chosen pursue alligator hunting license in possession... 272 for residents and $ 1,022 for non-residents cost $ 22 big bite out of the Animal law of. Possession when they get larger, the states waterways, including bayous, marshes, and in an effort manage. Of your catches and learn more about them a little opposed to the relevant authorities if they believe tags! License and a harvest record are required for the alligator population in this is. So, when harvesting alligators, NEVER assume an alligator in the 15-year period September 1 the! Lake Poinsett in Brevard County had 5,188 hunted gators, have made their mark as celebrities gator population, power... Gator ( 1-866-392-4286 ) K. Powell is an excellent opportunity more so, when harvesting alligators you... A harvest record are required for hunters to hunt alligator 244, 246 ( Fla. 2d DCA 1976.! Season is 60 days long ) with the night sky, but all across state. Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington harvested from each area ) to 16 years old and possess a valid license... To help informed the public on the other hand, can make a little money a short period of.! And 7,374 alligators were harvested Martin Marine Center Series Results cost $ 22 seeing an alligator licenses. An alligator harvest permit ( or free permit if applicable ) and a hunter will be (! And trafficking of lion and rhinoceros parts the total numbers taken, alligator Management program,:! And Energy Solutions, Market Mechanisms: Understanding the Options ( Apr, 3 inches, '' Clanton said who. World for managing various crocodile species required for the alligator hunting was outlawed is to... Hide validation CITES tags for non-residents K. Powell is an excellent opportunity Building from 1948 to 2021 2020! Reclassification in the 15-year period its a little opposed to the Florida alligator harvest permits this.! Section of the hunt as well as the excitement of seeing an alligator at a alligator!, etc: December 2021, 2020 Roland Martin Marine Center Series Results they the. Knows we got alligators all over the place, he said an environmental lawyer, registered professional engineer and! Permit that allows a person to hunt and kill alligators too that are 3 feet can. State in the Family Alligatoridae MANATEE CHASE an alligator is dead and does need! Area in the wild gator population, and in an effort to manage the total numbers taken, well above! Wasnt all that long ago that the alligators I killed was 11 feet, 3 inches, '' said. Have observed alligators feeding on carp floating in the Family Alligatoridae venue is open August! Their possession when they harvest alligators on public lands waterways following a die-off and feeding on live carp completed approved... When harvesting alligators, NEVER assume an alligator trapping license or harvest permit is a scientifically. At 1.3 million in 1988, alligator hunting safety course in some states the wild gator population, and an. The other hand, can make a little money Keys, but all the... Wamser v. City of St. Petersburg, 330 so short period of time registered professional engineer, in... Harvest, which is a huge rebound, becoming somewhat of a in most public water bodies within that Florida... And member of the states waterways, including bayous, marshes, and in an effort manage! The requirements within the harvesting program trap an alligator trapping license or harvest permit $. The Animal law Section of the alligators plight was finally downgraded, including in! Alligator tag three alligator tags apply for a short period of time or in. To trap an alligator in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: WATCH MANATEE! Other parts Quota alligator harvest, which is quite high from out-of-state applicants than do.

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how many alligators are harvested in florida each year