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 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. You find them in all the suitable habitats around the state: coastal marshland, rivers, bayous and swamps.. Of nonvenomous animal fatalities, a majority (approximately 72 per year) resulted from interactions with mammals or dogs (Forrester et al. Alligator Harvest Permits can be purchased if you choose a quota hunt and must be held by a member of the alligator hunting party. Hunting American alligators for sport is permitted by law in certain circumstances and with a state license. However, challenges still remain. People have observed alligators feeding on carp floating in the waterways following a die-off and feeding on live carp. That extra foot-and-a-half of water spread out over the marshes along Lake O's western and northern shores would "give alligators a lot more places to hide," Clanton said. Permits are assigned in each unit or county based on a calendar year. If you are interested to hunt alligators, the Louisiana alligator program is a great way to get involved in hunting and trapping alligators. 23 See Post v. Lunney, 261 So. Today, it is thought that there are fewer alligators being hunted, so the cast of Swamp People may make some money as well. It is rare to document alligators of this size class with annual growth rates of this magnitude, the MWDFP stated on Facebook. The American alligators range extends from the south tip of Texas to the northeastern edge of North Carolina. But instead of hooves and horns, his livestock have scales and claws, and sometimes they put their food into what's known as a "death roll.". Thats an annual growth rate of 1.9 inches per year. When it comes to alligators in Louisiana, you must have a hunting license. The business of nuisance alligator removal is certainly not in jeopardy. If finally approved, it would take effect with eggs collected next year. It wont happen immediately, however. The current prices for alligators are $20 per foot for a 9-foot or longer gator, $17 for 8 feet, $13-$15 for 7 feet and $13-$14 for 6 feet, according to local hunters and processors. The 10-foot, 300-pound alligator that attacked Aarts was eventually killed. The American alligator is black/gray in color as an adult with light stripes on the sides and tail and a white belly; it has a broad snout; and the fourth tooth of its lower jaw does not project outside the upper jaw. People can call a toll-free number to submit complaints regarding nuisance alligators and the Commission evaluates these complaints to determine if an alligator should be removed. The alligator harvest season typically runs from September 1st to October 31st in Florida, and alligators can only be hunted during this time period. After a quick rebound in population and a rapid increase in nuisance alligators, in 1977 the Florida alligator was reclassified from endangered to threaten by the U.S. The establishment of alligator hunting in Florida in 1988 was made necessary by the states need to control alligator populations. Numerous alligator encounters have been documented and reported by the media, many of which ended in serious injury or death. 22 See Palumbo v. State Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 487 So. You can pick up your areas local edition at over 11,000 marine specific businesses, retail outlets or big box stores. The change only the third in the three-decade history of the state's alligator ranching program also means that Louisianas gator population is rebounding from historic lows reached in the middle of the last century and may be approaching a healthy level. 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. Estimate the number of inches between the bump on the gator's snout and its eyes. 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. Greg Braselton, a certified alligator hunter from South Carolina, recommends using a 17 HMR or a 22 WMR when shooting an alligator. Alligators may only be harvested by residents who do not own land and are accompanied by an alligator guide during the sport season. Alligator hunting is estimated to pay an average of $10,000 per season. 5 See Allan R. Woodward, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, History of American Alligator Regulations in the U.S.A. (June 12, 2007). This change in status allowed the FWC to initiate management of the nuisance alligator problem through harvesting which continues today. These conditions are compelling alligators to relocate in search of more suitable areas.16, Therefore, not surprisingly, with Floridas alligator population around 1.2 million, more of them on the move, and the human population approaching an all-time high of 20 million people,17 encounters with these prehistoric creatures are inevitable. The MWDFP Wildlife Bureau has documented alligators feeding on the Asian carp on many occasions. When you think of Florida, images of sandy beaches, orange groves dotted with fragrant white blossoms, or the many cypress swamps and wetlands might come to mind. FWC will issue over 7,300 alligator harvest permits this year. Each winner will receive a $25 alligator hunting license and a $40 alligator tag. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Farris Bryant Building This prehistoric species, surviving for millions of years finally met its match in the 20th century, falling victim to development pressures as well as suffering in the court of public opinion. Typically, hunters kill about70 percent of the harvest quota. Owner John Price checks on his alligators Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington. 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. Possession of alligator hide that has not been tagged is prohibited. SNAP is administered through contract for the removal of specific nuisance alligators. This year the Army Corps of Engineers allowed Lake O to drop lower than normal in an effort to help grass grow on the lake's bottom and help reduce the need for massive discharges that can cause harmful algae blooms in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. If you submit false information or multiple applications, you will be disqualified. An alligator harvested by hunters in Mississippi was discovered to have grown at an alarming rate, nearly doubling in size since it was first tagged in 2011. Alligators are tagged with unique identifiers that can be used to track their movements and locations. Hunters most often encountered and successfully killed 8-foot alligators. Elsey said the hunting and ranching program differs from some other methods of. This column is submitted on behalf of the Animal Law Section, Ralph A. DeMeo, chair, and Deborah C. Brown, editor. In 2014 there were 5,862 permits issued and 7,374 alligators were harvested. Most were sold for boots, shoes, saddles and other leather goods. In order to hunt alligators, you need a license from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The second-most common was 7 feet, followed by 7 feet, 6 inches. Swamp People follows the hunt for the Louisiana alligator. Over the years, many different law and policy approaches to reaching this proper balance have been attempted, ranging from the more traditional command-and-control regulatory approach to the more modern market-based approach,28 for example. It debuted in 2010 and quickly became a smash hit. They're carnivorous predators, and it's not unusual for them to lose teeth on a difficult kill. Hunting with alligator tags enables you to keep track of your catches and learn more about them. 16 See Jackson Landers, Alligators in Your Backyard, Slate (Feb. 19, 2013), available at http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/animal_forecast/2013/02/alligators_in_virginia_climate_change_could_be_pushing_cold_blooded_species.html. Pursuant to section 120.74, Florida Statutes, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has published its2022 Agency Regulatory Plan. If you happen to harvest a tagged or marked alligator, report your tag to 352-357-0190 to ensure the viability of the population. Alligator hunting season runs Aug. 15 to Nov. 1 in Florida. Between Thursday and Nov. 1,Florida's population of1.3 million alligators may drop by about 15,000. "You get up close and personal with alligatorswhen you hunt them," Clanton said, "because you have to catch them before you can kill them.". "There's just a fraction of the really large alligators around now compared to what there used to be when I first started hunting," Clanton said. 37 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alligator Management Program, http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/. It reminds us that even in a highly developed and populated state such as Florida, there are areas and animals that will always remain wild and untamed. Their skins are used to make boots, shoes, belts, and saddles. In private land, you can buy tags for free. The FWC Office of Licensing and Permitting can only reprint permits after the permit holder has requested that it be done so. Cites tags must be worn on the body to avoid entering the skin of the animal and may only be used once. 191 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<8CBFE19D2ED2B647BBAA00E4105AE958>]/Index[169 33]/Info 168 0 R/Length 108/Prev 365416/Root 170 0 R/Size 202/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream In Louisiana and Florida, alligators are responsible for a significant portion of the ecosystem. In the wild, alligator meat is considered an delicacy and can be prohibitively expensive to purchase. 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. When selecting a hunting rifle, it is critical to consider its weight, caliber, and power. 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. 32 See Keith Wood, Gator Hunting in the Sunshine State, NRA American Hunter (June 11, 2012), available at https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2012/6/11/gator-hunting-in-the-sunshine-state/. Currently, the Commissions AMP administers five programs: Under AMP the harvesting of alligators is strictly regulated and the penalty is stiff for even first time offenders. People enjoy the excitement of the hunt as well as the excitement of seeing an alligator in the wild. 11 See, e.g., Erin Chapman, The Most Powerful Environmental Law on the Books, PBS News (July 9, 2010), available at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/environment/video-the-most-powerful-environmental-law-on-the-books/2123/. 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. 2d 352, 353 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). The harvesting of alligators in Florida is an important component of alligator management in Florida and is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservations Commission (FWC). When an alligator hunter reaches his or her quota, all hooks and lines must be removed from the water. After all, these creatures ranging in sizefrom foot-long hatchlings to an 8-footer that stared unblinkingly from 6 feet away are his business, and business is about to get a little better on his 15-acre ranch near Abita Springs. A scared alligator is usually also a distant one, getting far away as quickly and silently as possible. Louisiana residents are eligible for a $40 lottery-generated alligator hunting tag. 1939-60: Commercial harvest averages 18,005 per year; 1962-72: Louisiana's alligator season is closed statewide; officials turn attention to research and management of the resource; . However it is extremely physical and quite dangerous and should never be taken lightly. 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. Alligators can be hunted using a variety of methods, including firearms, bows, and spears. Alligators range from central Texas eastward to North Carolina. 201 0 obj <>stream Until the alligators hide is tanned, taxidermied, or otherwise processed, the CITES tag must remain on the tail for identification.47 An alligator harvest report form is also required within 24 hours of harvesting and prior to taking the alligator to a processing facility.48 Information on the report includes such things as the date harvested, county and location, total length, tail girth, sex, and pounds of meat yielded.49 Any unused CITES tags must be mailed back to the FWCC Alligator Management Program by November 15.50. The nuisance program is one of five components of Floridas comprehensive Alligator Management Program. In Florida, crocodiles are protected as a federally endangered species. 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. 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