Florida Alligator Hunting Information

Alligators are a hot topic in states like Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas. Residents in parts of these states are used to living amongst alligators swimming in lakes and local bodies of water, but there are a handful of people who are all too familiar with coming uncomfortably close to some of these ferocious reptiles.

Believe it or not, alligators sometimes invite themselves into residential areas. With countless stories of alligators wandering into residential pools and even onto some front door steps, the growing alligator population leaves many to wonder: Where do alligators go when they’re removed from our property? Is alligator hunting legal? What do residents of these states do when they encounter these animals? Can you hunt alligators at Everglades Holiday Park?

There are various ways to handle nuisance alligators that are roaming somewhere they shouldn’t be. Everglades Holiday Park’s Gator Boys Alligator Rescue Team is who the state calls when they’ve got an alligator on private property or anywhere near animals and small children. The Gator Boys Alligator Rescue team steps in to safely remove the reptile before panic sets in and someone is harmed. Once the gator is removed from an unsafe situation, it is brought back to our animal sanctuary, where it can live peacefully.

Although it’s against Everglades Holiday Park’s personal beliefs, some people do resort to alligator hunting to clear out areas of large gators. Our South Florida alligator park and animal sanctuary can break down alligator hunting for you with these fast facts:

• Alligator hunting is legal, but it is not a free-for-all. There is a specific alligator hunting season, which falls between August 15 and Nov 1 each year.
• Alligator hunting was established in 1988 due to the growing need for population control over the 1.3 million alligators in Florida. Previously, alligators were on an endangered species list but made a huge rebound, becoming somewhat of a dangerous presence.
• The state of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission allow only 5,000 permits each year. Each permit allows its holder to hunt two alligators per season.
• Out-of-state applicants pay significantly more than Florida residents for the alligator trapping license. Florida residents pay $272, and out-of-state applicants pay $1,022.
• There are usually over 10,000 applicants per year, with the exception of Miami Dade and Monroe counties, which do not participate in alligator hunting. Random drawings are held to distribute all available alligator harvest permits.
• Some alligator hunting permits are specific to a county and only allow the permit holder to hunt alligators within that county, in public bodies of water. Landowners must give permission to those with alligator hunting permits to hunt on private land.
• Hunting is only allowed between 5 p.m. and 10 a.m., but hunters can scout areas during the day without weapons. The time restriction is to ensure the safety of other Everglades visitors throughout the day.

Can You Hunt Alligators in the Everglades?

Because the Everglades spans 1.5 million acres of Florida, there are specific areas that allow alligator hunting; however, hunting is not allowed at Everglades Holiday Park. Our park aims to be a safe haven for thousands of different animals, including alligators, birds, fish, raccoons, and more. Visitors can see alligators living safely in their natural habitat on our Everglades safari adventures.

Alligator Trapping Licenses in Florida

If you would like to obtain an alligator trapping license, you can not have any fish and wildlife violations or a criminal history. You cannot use a hunting or fishing license also to trap and hunt alligators. You must pay a fee for your initial license, a smaller annual fee to renew each time and provide the necessary equipment for yourself for trapping and transporting. Out-of-state alligator hunters will pay significantly more for a Florida license.

If you work for a trapper, you can avoid a larger fee upfront and pay less for an alligator trapping agent license. This allows you to be present and participate in a hunt as long as you are accompanying a licensed alligator hunter. This excludes those 15 and younger who can join

alligator hunts with a permitted trapper.

An alligator harvest permit allows the hunt of two alligators, and you are also able to assist other licensed hunters. No type of alligator license is transferable, and you need to check to make sure all your information is printed correctly. They can be bought online, over the phone, at a tax collector’s office, or at retail stores where you can purchase a hunting and fishing license.

Key Points about the Statewide Alligator Hunt

The statewide alligator hunt has been commended for responsibly allowing recreational hunting and also helping to control the alligator population in the state of Florida. There are a limited number of alligator harvest permits given out each year, and each hunter is limited to two alligators.

When it comes to where you do your alligator hunt, you should research and plan your harvest area before applying for your permit. You will need to be informed about which areas are legal. Not all areas are open for the statewide alligator harvest, although you will not have trouble finding a spot. You will be assigned a harvest period based on your application preferences. There is also an open time period at the end of the season if you haven’t used your two cites tags previously.

Florida’s Alligator Hunting Season

Alligator hunting season is between August 15 and November 1 in the state of Florida. Along with your valid alligator trapping license, successful applicants will be given hunt dates from the following four quota weeks:

August 15-21, August 22-28, August 29-September 4, September 5-11

Your permit specifies that you can also hunt between September 12-November if they have not yet used both of your cites tags. Hunting outside of your gator hunting period, without a license, or in an unauthorized area can result in fines and exclusion from hunting for a period of time.