Phase 1 random drawing application deadlines are May 17 at 10 a.m. and May 27 at 5 p.m. A permit allows hunters to harvest two alligators from a designated harvest unit or county. Numerous alligator encounters have been documented and reported by the media, many of which ended in serious injury or death. Hunting or fishing are not required in Florida for the alligator hunting season. A specific zone is chosen and a hunter will be chosen. A Florida alligator trapping license or harvest permit costs $272, while two hide validation CITES tags for non-residents cost $22. 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. This program is a model for other states and countries to properly manage and conserve important animal species. Only time will tell whether harvesting will remain a viable tool for population control. 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. The Alligator Harvest Report Form must be completed by permit holders in order to harvest alligator. So after you see one, try using a dimmed or filtered light as you approach. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. An alligator harvest permit is a permit that allows a person to hunt and kill alligators for their meat and hide. Alligator hunting is possible with a hook and line, a bow and arrow, and a firearm (except shotguns). Recreational hunting is just one part of the FWC's overall approach to managing the alligator population. The proposal must go through a public comment period. 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. 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. It is similar in appearance to the threatened American crocodile which is classified in the Family Crocodylidae. Alligator hunting is regulated by state wildlife agencies, and laws vary from state to state. 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. Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populationsthere are more than one million wild alligators in each state. For alligators that are 3 feet long, the percentage is higher. In May, lottery applications are due. tags will not be replaced unless they have been reported as stolen or lost. hb```f`` 1 EY8:{f5@d\( v10tt4@:0 - = h.`aa>xUC@0/ U@ , H2Ns5 E% Alabama, Nevada, South Carolina, and Wisconsin are among the states represented. 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. A link to the Florida alligator harvest statistics by year (Provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation . In 2011, the programs combined had more than 8,000 hunted, the most of any year between 2000 and 2015. Choosing the right firearm for hunting can be a difficult task. ONLY IN FLORIDA: WATCH A MANATEE CHASE AN ALLIGATOR AT A FLORIDA PARK. That didnt seem to faze Price on a sunny Octoberafternoon as he threw open the door to one of the low-slung barns where his animals live, even as he pointed to the scars on his arms and hands he's gotten from them. There is more angler content on Social Media! The MWDFP Wildlife Bureau has documented alligators feeding on the Asian carp on many occasions. Because of its lightweight frame and lack of power, the 22 rimfire is a popular hunting rifle. Each period corresponds to a hunting period that starts Aug. 15. It is a free-for-all. Alligators in this part of the state (tributaries of the Mississippi River) have significantly more body mass than alligators anywhere else in the state.. For example, in 1967 after consultation with the states and scientists, the U.S. October 5, 2022 by Arnold. Alligator hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the state, and you can only hunt during specific times of the year. While necessary to support a growing population and economy, these chemicals were believed to be contributing to a variety of maladies, such as endocrine disruption, decrease in egg viability, and neural decline.7 Eutrophication of water bodies and fertilizer runoff also affected the alligator.8 Green algae that choked water bodies and prevented light infiltration to the water column caused an imbalance in the food chain affecting the availability of prey.9 As a result of these various factors, the population of alligators declined. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issues hunting licenses for alligators. 7 See, e.g., Endocrine Disruptors Start a Medical Revolution: From Alligators to Humans, Science Daily (Jan. 5, 2014), available at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140105102505.htm. Luckily for themand not so much for usalligators will regrow their teeth quickly. To apply, applicants must be legal Louisiana residents at least 16 years old and possess a valid hunting license. In 2011, 8,103 gators were taken, well up above the number just a . For example, it is illegal to intentionally feed, or entice with feed, any crocodilian unless held in captivity under a permit issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) or otherwise provided.21 Feeding can cause alligators to lose their fear of people, an important evolutionary trait that benefits both people and animal. If an owner voluntarily decides to warn his or her guests, the owner could become liable if the warning or precautions are not sufficient and someone is nevertheless injured.27. 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. County-wide permits allow hunting in most public water bodies within that specific Florida county. Hunting is one of those important tools in the species management toolbox. Ranchers wont actually be able to return the lower percentage until 2018 at the earliest. Alligators, grouped by age and size, inhabit a pool Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington. Catching just one gator trout heavier than 5 pounds is a different story. Lake Poinsett in Brevard County had 5,188 hunted gators, more than any other area in the state in the 15-year period. These permits have specific restrictions as to where you can access and harvest alligators, so be mindful of where you can hunt before obtaining one of these permits. When the state of Floridas alligator population reached 1.3 million in 1988, alligator hunting was established in 1988. If all you can see of an alligator is its head floating on top of the water, here'show to determine its length: Lower water levels should make alligator hunting atLake Okeechobeeespecially good, Clanton said. However it is extremely physical and quite dangerous and should never be taken lightly. 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. 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. 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. The permit is valid for one year from the date of purchase. Keep watching and you are likely to see hundreds of alligators on your 100-mile journey from the Ft. Lauderdale area, across the Big Cypress National Preserve, to Naples. 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. Larger calibers have a higher energy expended rate, but this also increases the chances of projectiles tearing up something. Follow Faimon A. Roberts III on Twitter, @faimon. That samenumber will be the distance,infeet, from the tip of the animal'ssnout to the tip of its tail. 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. John K. Powell is an environmental lawyer, registered professional engineer, and member of the Animal Law Section of The Florida Bar. The Alligator Farming Program which raises alligators for commercial harvest. 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. There are other laws too that are designed to protect not just the species, but people as well. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Farris Bryant Building An Alligator Trapping License, a Harvest Permit, and two CITES tags will be awarded to the applicant who successfully completes the application process. 46 See Care 2 Petitions, Stop the Alligator Hunt!, http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-alligator-hunt/. Interest in alligators as a source of meat and leather dates back to the early 19th century. Recreational hunting is just one part of the FWCs overall approach to managing the alligator population. Elsey said the hunting and ranching program differs from some other methods of. 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