When an alligator hunter reaches his or her quota, all hooks and lines must be removed from the water. In addition to providing permit holders with a much desired opportunity to experience alligator hunting in Florida, alligator meat is a delicious and healthy choice. 2023 Coastal Angler Magazine Franchising, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Lake Okeechobee fishing report for March, 2022 by Capt. It wont take long before you notice a set of eyes perched just above the water level, keeping a lookout for any activity or maybe a potential meal. The program, based on science, incorporates many restrictions to ensure alligator populations remain healthy and stable. A specific zone is chosen and a hunter will be chosen. 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 order to hunt alligators, you need a license from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Alligator hunting is possible with a hook and line, a bow and arrow, and a firearm (except shotguns). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission takes alligator protection very seriously. A number of Burmese pythons have been found in the Florida Keys, but there is not yet confirmation of a . The nuisance program is one of five components of Floridas comprehensive Alligator Management Program. Pursuant to section 120.74, Florida Statutes, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has published its2022 Agency Regulatory Plan. Thats not what a Florida doctor took out, state says, Florida man gets 6 years for bilking millions in PPP loans. Captured alligators should be killed immediately and their meat cooled as quickly as possible. Alligators may not be hunted at night, and only during the daytime hours of sunrise to sunset. However it is extremely physical and quite dangerous and should never be taken lightly. That samenumber will be the distance,infeet, from the tip of the animal'ssnout to the tip of its tail. But instead of hooves and horns, his livestock have scales and claws, and sometimes they put their food into what's known as a "death roll.". endstream endobj startxref 11 See, e.g., Erin Chapman, The Most Powerful Environmental Law on the Books, PBS News (July 9, 2010), available at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/environment/video-the-most-powerful-environmental-law-on-the-books/2123/. The American alligators range extends from the south tip of Texas to the northeastern edge of North Carolina. Alligators may only be harvested by residents who do not own land and are accompanied by an alligator guide during the sport season. After careful consideration, and backed by research,32 Florida reinitiated statewide alligator harvesting in 1988. When they get larger, the scales are too big. The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) which permits the harvest of alligators that are determined to be a threat to wildlife, to the public, or the publics pets, livestock, or property. The toll-free number is 1-866-FWC- GATOR (1-866-392-4286). These conditions are compelling alligators to relocate in search of more suitable areas.16, Therefore, not surprisingly, with Floridas alligator population around 1.2 million, more of them on the move, and the human population approaching an all-time high of 20 million people,17 encounters with these prehistoric creatures are inevitable. 24 Latin, of a wild nature or disposition. 31 Three million alligators were killed in Florida between 1880 and 1900. An Alligator Trapping License, a Harvest Permit, and two CITES tags will be awarded to the applicant who successfully completes the application process. The commission publishes data showing where the gators were hunted and how many were hunted each year, as well as the carcass size. The Burmese python is now distributed across more than a thousand square miles of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and areas to the north including Big Cypress National Preserve and Collier-Seminole State Forest. Mark Shirley, a Vermilion Parish alligator rancher who has been in the business for 20 years, said the progress is easy to see. ED KILLER/TCPALM. 11, 1967). Alligators are common throughout Florida, but they are more prevalent in the states Alligator Capital, the Everglades. In order to hunt alligators, you need a license from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Recreational hunting is just one part of the FWC's overall approach to managing the alligator population. All rights reserved. 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. Alligator seasons are available in Louisiana. 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. 2d 244, 246 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976). "Now I hope to hit 10 feet.". In addition to the number of chances and percentage of applicants selected, the department has posted a map with a list of the 48 areas. Choosing the right firearm for hunting can be a difficult task. 2012). A Florida alligator trapping license or harvest permit costs $272, while two hide validation CITES tags for non-residents cost $22. The largest in Sarasota County was 12 feet, 6 inches out of Curry Creek. hbbd```b``"fHH &o^DY;`,X If you are new to the sport, then do your research, plan your hunt a year in advance, hire a qualified guide or outfitter, and hope the permit lottery falls in your favor. Its imperative that anyone permitted to harvest alligators be aware of, and abide by the regulations. Their numbers declined significantly until the federal and state governments began to implement important legal protections designed to bring back the species from the edge of extinction. Wear dark-colored clothes, so you can blend in better with the night sky. That might not be the case at other sites, whererecent heavy rains have swelled creeks, canals, swamps and smaller lakes, giving gators more places to roam. Only sunrise and sunset are permitted as harvesting hours for alligator. 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. Someone who is authorized to hunt a permit holder may assist them in their hunt. 2d 146 (Fla. 1972). Thats a direct addition to the bottom line, he said. You find them in all the suitable habitats around the state: coastal marshland, rivers, bayous and swamps.. In addition, the hide can be tanned and made into leather products. To download FWCs data, visit myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/harvest/data-export. Hunting alligator on private land, whether owned or under a hunting permit, or on public lands/lakes with access granted through a lottery or bidding process is permitted. Its not always easy to tell when its time to take a reptile, but it generally goes something like this: $500 for the reptile 7 feet or smaller, and $500 for the reptiles over 7 feet. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issues hunting licenses for alligators. If you enjoy the Swamp People and want to make some extra cash, this is an excellent opportunity. Striking the right balance is tricky, and species conservation is really no different. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. 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. Typically, hunters kill about70 percent of the harvest quota. Alligator hunting is a popular sport in Louisiana. 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 permits sold out in 201637 with the FWCC issuing more than 6,000 permits.38 Two types of hunting licenses are generally offered: by county or by harvest unit. 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. 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. Alligators are wary of bright lights. Since 1988, the FWCC has successfully offered an alligator hunting season in Florida. 25 Wamser v. City of St. Petersburg, 330 So. Like so many areas of the law, environmental law and policy is a balancing act. 35 Michael R. Conover, Resolving Human-Wildlife Conflicts: The Science of Wildlife Damage Management 48 (2002). Photos of the alligator, hunters and tag courtesy of Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. 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. 37 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alligator Management Program, http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/. Alligator Protections Under the Law 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. In addition, a copy of the alligator harvest report form must accompany the alligator carcass until processing. The eggs are hatched at the ranch and raised there until they are about 4 feet long, the size at which the skin is the most valuable. 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. Hes ready to see that progress extend to the ranchers, too. Between 1880 and 1933, more than 3.5 million alligators were killed, a rate greater than 64,000 per year. With over 1 million print readers per month and the industrys most expansive distribution network, we have emerged as one of the largest outdoor publications in the United States and abroad, thus solidifying our place as a preferred resource. A permit is required to hunt alligators in Florida and can be obtained through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 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. 2d 352, 353 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). Choosing a hunting rifle should consider the caliber, weight, and power of the gun. One star-studded, two for future leaders, Theres a new rule to keep these cuties away from crab traps in Florida. The total number of deer hunters in the state is obtained from the hunting license database. Angie Douthit, South County Inshore & Freshwater: December 2021, 2020 Roland Martin Marine Center Series Results. 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. For example, in 1967 after consultation with the states and scientists, the U.S. John Price is a Louisiana rancher. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Farris Bryant Building SNAP is administered through contract for the removal of specific nuisance alligators. 2d 1095, 1097 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). Its really amazing when contrasted with the growth rate of an 11-foot, 1-inch alligator harvested by hunter Cory Stewart at the end of August. Harvest alligators be aware of, and abide by the regulations and species Conservation is really no different the! For non-residents cost $ 22 hunters kill about70 percent of the harvest quota I to... To ensure alligator populations remain healthy and stable GATOR ( 1-866-392-4286 ) the toll-free number is 1-866-FWC- GATOR 1-866-392-4286... 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