FWC to hold seminar on adding alligator hunt hours

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold a seminar on Tuesday for feedback on proposed extensions of allowed alligator hunting in the state.

 

The Microsoft Teams webinar will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature a short presentation about proposed rules that would increase hunting hours during the statewide alligator harvest from the current 17 hours a day to 24 hours a day in most areas. 

 

New rules will also allow the use of precharged pneumatic air guns propelling only arrows attached to a restraining line as a legal method of take.

 

To join the webinar and to provide feedback visit the FWC event page here.

 

In addition, the FWC is also seeking feedback on using a preference point system for awarding permits in the Phase 1 random drawing and on replacing county-wide alligator hunting permits with region-wide permits (a grouping of counties).

 

If approved, 24-hour hunting and use of airbows would be effective for the 2022 statewide alligator harvest season. Those attending the webinar will also have an opportunity to ask questions. See below for details.

 

If you’re unable to attend the online webinars or want to learn more and provide input, you can do that via the online commenting tool. 

 

Since 1988, Florida’s statewide alligator harvest has been nationally and internationally recognized as a model program for the sustainable use of a natural resource. The alligator population in this state is estimated at 1.3 million alligators of every size and has been stable for many years, according to the FWC.

 

The statewide recreational alligator hunting season runs from Aug. 15 through Nov. 1 each year and takes place throughout the state. 

 

Each year, alligator management units are established with appropriate harvest quotas to provide recreational opportunities for Floridians and non-residents who are at least 18 years old to take up to two alligators per permit. 

 

Applicants who are awarded a permit must pay for two CITES tags and an Alligator Trapping License, or provide proof of possession of an Alligator Trapping License valid through the end of the alligator harvest season. A Florida hunting license is not required to participate in the statewide alligator hunt.