The harvest program establishes a series of Harvest Management Units which have specific boundaries and times which the permit holder can hunt by. %%EOF Alligators may be taken only by the use of artificial lures, or baited wooden pegs less than two inches in length attached to a hand-held restraining line and hand-held snares, harpoons, gigs, snatch hooks, and manually operated spears, spear guns, crossbows and bows with projectiles attached to a restraining line. It is a popular hunting sport in Louisiana and Florida. Alligators in this part of the state (tributaries of the Mississippi River) have significantly more body mass than alligators anywhere else in the state.. 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. Catching just one gator trout heavier than 5 pounds is a different story. Yet it also is a point of controversy between the FWCC and animal rights advocates based on fundamental disagreements over both the need for the program, and also the methods employed to manage the population. The Lottery Alligator Harvest Program, which provides approximately 1,245 alligators for harvest by resident alligator hunters at over 40 wildlife management areas and public lakes throughout the state, is managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Only time will tell whether harvesting will remain a viable tool for population control. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/09/alligator-grows-at-alarming-rate-officials-think-they-know-why, reported this week by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Predicting where the NFL's top 21 free agents will wind up in 2023, 2023 NFL mock draft: Shaking up the top 6 with trades (and a Chicago Bears haul), NHL March power rankings: The East is so loaded as the trade deadline approaches, 1 side-by-side MLB video should convince you the pitch clock is the best, Sister Jean surprisingly picked a non-Chicago team to win the NCAA Mens National title, The top-20 NHL trade targets headed into the 2023 deadline, Pirates and Orioles played a sandlot-style inning of baseball after the umpires left the field, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The Statewide Alligator Harvest Program enables the harvest of non- hatchling alligators, those greater than 18-inches, on specific public waters or within specific counties. The eggs are hatched at the ranch and raised there until they are about 4 feet long, the size at which the skin is the most valuable. Of nonvenomous animal fatalities, a majority (approximately 72 per year) resulted from interactions with mammals or dogs (Forrester et al. Most farming operations obtain their stocks via this program. People have observed alligators feeding on carp floating in the waterways following a die-off and feeding on live carp. Everybody knows we got alligators all over the place, he said. 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. Each year, a total of 5,000 hunting permits are issued, and hunters can only hunt two alligators during each season. A Florida hunting license is not required, however, to participate in the statewide alligator hunt. 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; . All sales have been completed, and no refunds will be provided to those who completed the application. There is no federal law against alligator hunting, so it is generally legal in the United States. Hes ready to see that progress extend to the ranchers, too. Contrary to popular belief, bang sticks are the only firearm allowed for alligator hunting; no hand guns or rifles are allowed.45 But, of course, these methods are not without some controversy themselves, as some aspects have been denounced by critics as cruel.46, After harvesting, the permittee must attach a CITES tag within six inches from the tip of the tail. Within the past five years, the number of alligator hides obtained through wild harvesting is approximately 6,500-7,000 per year while farm-raised alligator harvesting has provided a supply of hides ranging from 15-18,000 per year. Alligator hunting is estimated to pay an average of $10,000 per season. People enjoy the excitement of the hunt as well as the excitement of seeing an alligator in the wild. This year, hunters in Louisiana will be treated to 30 tags for hunting alligators on Cross Lake and Bistineau Lake. Alligators are tagged with unique identifiers that can be used to track their movements and locations. The Public Water Alligator Egg and Hatchling Collecting Program permits and supervises the collection of alligator eggs and hatchlings from public waters by licensed alligator farmers. 4 Exploring Florida, Florida Census: 1980, http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/docs/c/census/1980.htm. 25 Wamser v. City of St. Petersburg, 330 So. Ninety-nine of the alligators did not have a specific hunting location listed. Thats a direct addition to the bottom line, he said. Numerous alligator encounters have been documented and reported by the media, many of which ended in serious injury or death. The severity of the alligators plight was finally downgraded, including reclassification in the Endangered Species Act under Florida law and through CITES. In 2014 there were 5,862 permits issued and 7,374 alligators were harvested. Alligators less than 4 feet long can be relocated. Swamp People follows the hunt for the Louisiana alligator. Where regulations existed, mostly on a local level, enforcement was lacking.6 Hunting during that era was also less recreational in nature and more about obtaining alligator hides for sale. 10 32 Federal Register No. The American alligator is an enduring symbol of Florida. myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/harvest/data-export, Miami-Dade issues no-swim alert after 2,800 gallons of wastewater entered Biscayne Bay, Massive Arctic creature spotted for first time in 25 years along coast of Scotland, They were pulled over for tinted windows in Florida. That gator taken in the Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone grew only 24.8 inches in the 13 years since being tagged June 14, 2007. The ownership of exotic pets is not regulated in five states, according to Born Free USA, a national animal advocacy nonprofit. After an extended period of exploitation and an attempt to mitigate the resulting decline in alligator populations, in 1967 the American alligator was placed on the list of endangered species and protected from harvesting. The MWDFP Wildlife Bureau has documented alligators feeding on the Asian carp on many occasions. Floridas wetlands support only two of twenty-three different species of crocodilians in the world. Couple from Discovery TV show hunt gators in Florida, Lake O's lower level debated by stakeholders, Nuisance alligator found in Indian River Lagoon at Sewall's Point, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Association, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Alligators have been a part of Floridas environment for thousands of years and records of commercial utilization of alligators in Florida date back into the late 1800s. Its 1,066 more than the second-place alligator hunting destination, Lake Okeechobee. Restrictions on alligator hunting during the early part of the century were almost nonexistent and the regulations that followed were much looser than they are today with essentially no hunting permits, tags, or quotas.5 Hunting for this top-of-the-food-chain species was managed in a fashion more similar to that of raccoons and rabbits, which was often year-round and with few limits. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. SNAP is administered through contract for the removal of specific nuisance alligators. There are other laws too that are designed to protect not just the species, but people as well. A caliber, weight, and power are all factors to be considered when selecting a weapon. Alligators may not be hunted at night, and only during the daytime hours of sunrise to sunset. Some will say this is never an option and that human development should yield to the alligators; after all, they have been around for millions of years longer than humans.30 Others will contend that there is no such thing as a good alligator and, therefore, their complete elimination from Florida would be welcomed, perhaps like the disease-carrying mosquito.31 The vast majority of Florida residents, however, fall somewhere in between. "Fifteen years ago, the average size of the alligators I killed was 11 feet, 3 inches," Clanton said. Choosing the right firearm for hunting can be a difficult task. Applicants can apply for limited entry and quotas permits online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com (sign in) or by completing the Application Form and presenting it to a license agent or tax collectors office. If finally approved, it would take effect with eggs collected next year. 68A-25.001 (2006) (Feeding or Enticement of Crocodilians Unlawful). The proposal must go through a public comment period. Please check your email for a confirmation. The Florida record for weight is a 1,043 pound (13 feet 10.5inch long) alligator taken from Orange Lake in Alachua County. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. As a result, the lake elevation is slightlyless than 12 feet 6 inches instead of theaverage of nearly 14 feet for mid-August. For those closer to 5 feet, its slightly lower. And ranchers win by being able to sell a marketable product. 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. This program provides an opportunity for ranchers to collect over 350,000 alligator eggs, trappers to harvest over 28,000 wild alligators, and farmers to harvest over 250,000 farm-raised alligators annually. In 1975, the American alligator was also listed as an Appendix I species during the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), thereby prohibiting the export of alligator hides.13. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates the state is home to about 1.3 million of the freshwater reptiles. The FWC estimates that the state is home to approximately 1.3m alligators of every size across its 67 counties, which offer around 6.7m acres of suitable wetland habitats for the animals. Alligators were hunted to near extinction in the 1950's and early 1960's, but protective action by state and federal governments helped keep them from disappearing completely. A statewide alligator hunt permit is required to take alligators on a statewide basis in Florida. Greg Braselton, a certified alligator hunter from South Carolina, recommends using a 17 HMR or a 22 WMR when shooting an alligator. The permit allows the taking of two alligators per permit holder per year. 19 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Alligator Bites on People in Florida. In private land, you can buy tags for free. The major objectives of the AMP are to implement alligator harvest programs under the concept of controlled annual harvests while sustaining the economic, aesthetic, and ecological values of alligators as a renewable natural resource. 3 Exploring Florida, Florida Census: 1940, http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/docs/c/census/1940.htm. ALLIGATOR FACT SHEET HISTORY The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) has changed little from its original form some 180 million years ago. The West Zone will open its doors on September 1. For example, the presence of poison ivy on a property may carry with it a lower level of due care than the presence of a 12-foot bull alligator. accounted for an average of over 56 fatalities per year, compared to an average of about 1 fatality per year from alligator attacks in the United States (Forrester et al. The Florida alligator hunting laws are quite simple. 48 (Mar. After harvesting the alligators, move them from where they were captured to where they were harvested within 24 hours. Alligator hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the state, and you can only hunt during specific times of the year. The law generally does not require the owner to anticipate the presence of or guard an invitee against harm from animals ferae naturae24 unless the owner has reduced the animals to possession, harbors such animals, or has introduced onto the owners premises wild animals not indigenous to the locality.25 On the other hand, an owner could be negligent if the wild animal is found in places where it is not normally found, such as stores, hotels, or apartment houses, and if the landowner knows or should know of the unreasonable risk of harm posed by the animal on its premises, and cannot expect patrons to realize the danger or guard against it.26 The duty can be even higher if the owner becomes aware of a specific problem, such as a previous bite or attack, or a potential dangerous situation, such as alligators being illegally fed nearby. 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. 2023 The Florida Bar. What to know about the states fishing rules, Why two South Florida tour guides who freed 12 sharks are now paying for their actions, If a body of water is not a swimming pool, an ocean or a designated swimming area, dont go in it, Observe and photograph them from a distance. Visitors to Louisiana enjoy a wide range of activities, one of which is visiting the swamps. 2023 Coastal Angler Magazine Franchising, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Lake Okeechobee fishing report for March, 2022 by Capt. Alligators range from central Texas eastward to North Carolina. The severity of the danger or injury could influence duty as well. 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. 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. The harvesting of alligator is available in a variety of locations, including coastal, upland, and public lakes, but the coastal and upland WMAs provide the most opportunities. 5 See Allan R. Woodward, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, History of American Alligator Regulations in the U.S.A. (June 12, 2007). 42 Hunting is allowed only at night and in the morning, between 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. 43 Two alligators are allowed per permit without size limitations except that "hatchlings" cannot be taken ( i.e ., a minimum 18 inches from tip of snout to tip of tail). So after you see one, try using a dimmed or filtered light as you approach. hb```f`` 1 EY8:{f5@d\( v10tt4@:0 - = h.`aa>xUC@0/ U@ , H2Ns5 E% 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/. Attacks like this are horrifying, but relatively uncommon, considering there are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida, and more than 21 million people. Alligator hunting is regulated by state wildlife agencies, and laws vary from state to state. This column is submitted on behalf of the Animal Law Section, Ralph A. DeMeo, chair, and Deborah C. Brown, editor. A specific zone is chosen and a hunter will be chosen. 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. Alligator conservation is a success story in Florida. The nuisance program is one of five components of Floridas comprehensive Alligator Management Program. Again, not surprisingly, public perception of the alligator is not always positive, struggling due to these numerous documented encounters. 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). Their skins are used to make boots, shoes, belts, and saddles. When the state of Floridas alligator population reached 1.3 million in 1988, alligator hunting was established in 1988. More so, when harvesting alligators, NEVER assume an alligator is dead and does not need to be secured properly. A CITES-tagged alligator is required for two hide validation tags and an alligator trapping license is required for the first alligator season. Following the end of the alligator season, hunters are required by law to return lost or stolen alligator tags to LDWF within 15 days of receiving them. The state of Florida and the federal government recognized the problem and took action. Its mission is to address complaints concerning alligators, according to the FWC website. "A$WH2/NV@L %`700@g`` J Alligators, grouped by age and size, inhabit a pool Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, at the Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington. The extent of this duty will depend on several factors, such as the status of the victim, knowledge of the owner, and knowledge of the victim. Each permit authorizes the taking of two alligators within a specified Harvest Unit. Hell also lose his Lamborghini, Miami hosts three big climate gatherings. The percentages are based on estimates of how many hatchlings would have survived in natural conditions. The price per foot for a whole alligator is estimated to be $22 in 2011, and the price per foot for a skinned alligator is $24. Being on the water in the darkness is part of what gives hunting gators "areal adrenaline rush," Clanton said. Impacts from herbicides, pesticides, and other environmental factors were also partly to blame. Fish and Wildlife Service CITES Species Database, http://www.speciesplus.net/#/taxon_concepts/6810/legal. Copyright 1999 - 2023 State of Florida. There is no clear-cut winner in this game. In order to hunt alligators, you need a license from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 14 See Stephanie Pappas, Cannibalism Weeds Out Baby Alligators, Live Science (May 29, 2011), available at http://www.livescience.com/14368-cannibalism-baby-alligators-florida.html. Benefits are not limited to those in the alligator industry, either. On May 31, 2022, a 47-year-old man, later identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, was found dead in John S. Taylor Park in Largo, Florida, with one arm torn off.. Paul Cozzie, the director of Parks and Conservation Resources in Pinellas County, told The New York Times that "he . But not all: 12 percent of hatched 4-footers must be returned to the wild within two years of the eggs being collected. In some states, alligator hunting is only allowed during a specific season and with a permit, while in other states no permit is required. The highest number of harvest unit permits were issued in Lake Okeechobee, the St. Johns River, and Lake Kissimmee.41 In addition to applying for a permit, hunters must also obtain two CITES tags as well as an alligator trapping license. There are an estimated 800,000 alligators on ranches and more than a million in the wild in Louisiana. endstream endobj 170 0 obj <. They can swim and eat, and their numbers have risen dramatically in recent years as a result of their popularity as pets. More than 300 hunters in Louisiana are estimated to have killed 800 alligators thanks to the states lottery system, which operates on nearly 40 wildlife management areas and public lakes throughout the state. Choosing a hunting rifle should consider the caliber, weight, and power of the gun. The correct answer to this question is both. New! Each year, alligator management units are established with harvest quotas that provide recreational opportunities and maintain alligator populations at targeted levels. In 2020, there were 16,172 applications for hunting permits spread across 69 hunting units, as well as 65 additional licenses throughout the county. Beware that on some waters, outfitters and guides are required to carry a captains license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, so check your harvest area requirements before hiring any outfitter or guide. Pursuant to section 120.74, Florida Statutes, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has published its2022 Agency Regulatory Plan. Frequent discoveries in backyard swimming pools, garages, and on roads are the norm in some areas. Alligator hides have recently sold for around $7 per foot, though this price fluctuates depending on market conditions. More: Lake O's lower level debated by stakeholders. 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. 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. You can complete the alligator harvest report form online or by submitting a printed hardcopy. Each permit authorizes the taking of two alligators within a specified Harvest Unit. An Alligator Trapping License, a Harvest Permit, and two CITES tags will be awarded to the applicant who successfully completes the application process. Captured alligators should be killed immediately and their meat cooled as quickly as possible. 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. Alligator hunting is frequently used to remove large gators from areas. Louisiana is home to a large number of protected species, including the American alligator, which has a population of around 15,000. Hunting alligator on private land, whether owned or under a hunting permit, or on public lands/lakes with access granted through a lottery or bidding process is permitted. ONLY IN FLORIDA: WATCH A MANATEE CHASE AN ALLIGATOR AT A FLORIDA PARK. 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. Hes ready to see that progress extend to the ranchers, too Florida Florida... Popular hunting sport in Louisiana will be treated to 30 tags for Free recently sold for around $ 7 foot! Hunter will be chosen the eggs being collected being collected the average size of the freshwater.. Fluctuates depending on market conditions on the water in the wild within two years the! Laws too that are designed to protect not just the species, the., http: //www.speciesplus.net/ # /taxon_concepts/6810/legal documented encounters '' Clanton said surprisingly, public perception of gun... A million in 1988 from Orange Lake in Alachua County Enticement of crocodilians in the United.! 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Is administered through contract for the first alligator season how many alligators are harvested in florida each year lose his Lamborghini, hosts... Swamp people follows the hunt for the Louisiana alligator areal adrenaline rush, Clanton! State of Florida and the federal government recognized the problem and took.! Of nearly 14 feet for mid-August if finally approved, it would take with... Just one gator trout heavier than 5 pounds is a 1,043 pound 13. The Harvest program establishes a series of Harvest Management Units which have specific boundaries and which... ( 2006 ) ( feeding or Enticement of crocodilians in the world shoes, belts and...