Wildlife & Hunting

Alligator Hunting & Harvest History in MS

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 the chart below.

The greatest expansion occurred in 2012.  For 2012, there were 6 geographically based public water alligator hunting zones with a total of 810 available permits, which compromises nearly two-thirds of the state and the season was extended to include 10 consecutive days in early September. For 2013, an additional zone, the Northeast Zone, was added allowing some statewide opportunity with 920 permits in 7 Hunting Zones.