MDWFP - Alligator Program

Alligator Program

The first public water alligator hunting season in Mississippi was initiated in September 2005. In 2005 there were 50 permits available to a 13 mile stretch of the Pearl River north of Ross Barnett Reservoir and 30 alligators were harvested. The first private land alligator hunting season was initiated in 2007 and was available to 3 open counties with a set number of permits available in each county. Alligator hunting opportunities have expanded each year as represented in table 1.

Table 1.
AlligatorHarvestSince2005

Ricky Flynt
Alligator Program Coordinator
(601) 432-2217
rickyf@mdwfp.state.ms.us

2012 Alligator Hunting Seasons Proposed
The proposed 2012 Alligator Hunting Seasons for both Public Waters and Private Lands in Mississippi have been presented to and were approved by the Commission on Wildlife and Fisheries on March 20, 2012. This proposal is available for public comment for 30 days, and is expected to become final in late April.

Expanded Opportunities for 2012
There are expanded opportunities related to areas open to hunting and the number of available permits compared to previous years. There are also some procedural changes to the application process.

Please click on the links below for complete for complete information on regulations and procedues about alligator hunting in Mississippi.

Click here: 2012 Public Water Alligator Hunting Regulations

Click here: 2012 Public Water Zones Map

Click here: 2012 Private Lands Alligator Hunting Regulations

Click here: 2012 Private Lands Open Counties Map

Proposed Changes for 2012

PUBLIC WATERS

6 geographical public water alligator hunting zones
- The previous Pearl River/Ross Barnett and Pascagoula River Zones will be included as a separate zone.
- The previous Pascagoula River Zone is now inclusive within the Southeast Zone.

Public waterways within each zone, as defined by MDEQ, will be open to hunting.
- Including:
  - Lake Ferguson (Washington County) in the Northwest Zone
  - Beulah Lake (Bolivar County) in the Northwest Zone
  - Lake Whittington (Bolivar County) in the Northwest Zone
  - Eagle Lake (Warren County) in the West Central Zone
  - Chotard Lake (Warren and Issaquena Counties) in the West Central Zone
  - Albemarle Lake (Issaquena County) in the West Central Zone
  - Tennessee Lake (Issaquena County) in the West Central Zone
  - Lake Washington (Washington County) in the West Central Zone
  - Bee Lake (Holmes County) in the West Central Zone
  - Little Eagle Lake (Humphreys County) in the West Central Zone
  - Dump Lake (Yazoo County) in the West Central Zone
  - Lake George (Yazoo County) in the West Central Zone
  - Lake Mary (Wilkinson County) in the Southwest Zone

PUBLIC WATERWAYS MAP LINK per MS Department of Environmental Quality:
Click Here ...

MS DEQ Website - Public Waterways and River Basin Info:
Click Here ...

Each zone will have 150 permits available to applicants, except the Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone will have 60 permits available. A total of 810 alligator harvest permits will be available in 2012 (40% increase over 2011).
Applications purchased through MDWFP website only (not license sales locations as in past).
Application fee $10/application (email address required).
Applications will be available for purchase only from JUNE 1 - 15, 2012
Selected hunters will be drawn from a computer-based lottery within 5 working days after June 15.
Selected hunters will receive an automatic email notification.
All zones open from Sept 7 - 17, 2012 (hunters only had 1 day in 2011).
Two alligator bag limit (1 under 7 feet) (1 over 7 feet)
Each hunter issued physical tags for each alligator (i.e. under 7' and over 7').
Mandatory training course maintained.
- On-line training course registration
- Training course dates, times, and locations will be announced ASAP.
- Expected course dates are:
- August 4 - Jones Junior College (Ellisville, MS)
- August 11 - Delta State University (Cleveland, MS)
- August 18 - Roosevelt State Park, Livingston Center (Morton, MS)
Mandatory on-line harvest report and survey.

HOW TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC WATER ALLIGATOR PERMITS:

Applications must be purchased via the MDWFP Website, ONLY.
Applications cost $10 each.
Applications will only be available for purchase from June 1-15, 2012
Applicants must be MS residents and at least 16 years of age.
Applications will no longer be available at Point of Sale locations where MS hunting and fishing licenses are sold (as in the past).
An email address is required. Drawn applicants will be notified via email.

PRIVATE LANDS

See open counties map and regulations above.
Completed applications and all required information should be submitted from June 1-July 1, deadline is July 1.

HOW TO APPLY FOR PRIVATE LANDS ALLIGATOR PERMITS:

Complete instructions are included in the application form.
Applications will be accepted from June 1-July 1. Deadline is July 1.
All applications, with required documents, and the application fee must be recieved in the MDWFP Jackson Office by July 1, 2012.
Anyone may submit an application for a property in the open counties, provided that the landowner signs the application.
Only 1 application may be submitted for each property.
DOWNLOAD and print Private Lands Application Here

To report a nuisance alligator problem or persons who are feeding wild alligators, please contact your appropriate MDWFP Regional Office.

MDWFP Regional Offices 2012

Alligator Harvest Report - New for 2011:
View up to date alligator harvest summary data and statistics. Viewable data is posted here automatically when alligator hunters submit their Alligator Harvest Report.

Additional Resources