MDWFP Alligator Program
Alligators may be found all across Mississippi. They are most prevalent in the southern two-thirds of the state (south of Hwy 82). While alligators typically avoid humans and human activity, occasionally they do cause conflicts with humans. Juvenile alligators often disperse into new territories in the late spring and early summer months. During this dispersal, they occasionally find themselves in unusual locations near human development, such as; farm ponds, road ditches, highways, parking lots, yards, swimming pools, neighborhood water landscape pools, and even buildings. It is illegal and very dangerous for the public to capture and remove or kill an alligator without a special permit from the MDWFP. As human developments (residential and commercial) continue to encroach into more rural areas of the state, increased interaction and conflicts with wildlife are subject to occur. To report a nuisance alligator please see Nuisance Alligator Information below.
Mississippi offered its first public alligator sport hunting season in 2005. From 2005 until 2011, opportunities expanded gradually to include 480 permits on portions of two major waterways, one coastal and one inland. In 2012, Mississippi expanded sport hunting opportunities on public waters to over two-thirds of the state and in 2013 alligator hunting on public waters was opened statewide. The State was divided into 7 geographical zones with a 10-day season total of 920 available in a web-based application/drawing and permit sales process. An alligator hunting training course is provided by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks. Permit holders may harvest 2 alligators over 4 feet long, only one of which may exceed 7 feet long. The bag limit restrictions are intended to distribute harvest among adults and juvenile alligators.
Private lands alligator hunting opportunities are offered in 36 counties. Properties in the open counties must contain a minimum of 20 acres of privately owned permanent surface water to qualify for an alligator harvest voucher. Additional vouchers are issued for each additional 100 acres of privately owned permanent surface water. Each voucher allows the harvest of 2 alligators over 4 feet long, only one of which may exceed 7 feet long.
Andrew Arnett
Alligator Program Coordinator
Alligator Hunting Information
- PUBLIC WATERS Alligator Hunting Information
- Public Water Season: 12:00 Noon August 30 until 12:00 Noon September 9, 2024
- How to apply for Public Water hunting permits?
- PRIVATE LANDS Alligator Hunting Information
- Private Lands Season: 12:00 Noon August 30 until 6:00 AM September 23, 2024
The 2024 alligator Private Waters season application will open May 1 and close on July 1. We will be offering an online application process this year in addition to the mail in option.
The 2024 alligator Public Waters season draw application will open at 10am on June 3 and close on June 10 at 10am.
Alligator Hunting Training Course
The MS Alligator Hunting Training Course is now available online through a series of 11 video segments. They may be viewed at anytime at your leisure. The training course provides information on alligator history, biology, MDWFP Alligator Program, all alligator hunting regulations, capture methods, capture gear, harvest methods, processing meat and hides, harvest reporting and documentation, how/where to purchase licenses and possession permits, and much more.
Please click on the link below for the NEW Online Alligator Hunting Training Course on YouTube. There are 11 video segments including a FAQ segment that is very helpful.
Alligator Articles & Video Clips
- Alligator Hunting Season Report 2021
- Alligator Awareness (Pamphlet)
- Range Map - Alligators in MS
- Alligator Nest Hatch Videos
- Alligator Tagging and Tales - (The tagging and release program)
- Alligators in Mississippi Then & Now
- The Recovery of the American Alligator in Mississippi
- Mississippi's First Alligator Hunting Season - 2005
- Alligator Hunting & Harvest History in Mississippi 2005-2021
- Public Water Harvest Summaries - 2012-2016
- MS Alligator Hunting Records
- Alligators - Neighbors or Nuisance Pest?
- Feeding Alligators: "It Could Cost You an Arm and A Leg"
- What's the Problem With Alligators? PEOPLE!
Nuisance Alligator Information
