Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.143
A hunting season for American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) will be open in four areas of Alabama. The first hunt will be in Baldwin and Mobile Counties and portions of Washington, Clarke, and Monroe Counties. The second hunt will include: Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Russell Counties, excluding public Alabama state waters of Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries. The third hunt area will be in Dallas, Wilcox and the portion of Monroe north of U.S. Highway 84. The fourth will be the public Alabama state waters in the Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries. The rules will govern according to the following restrictions and regulations:
Locations:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
The private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile Counties and private and public waters in Washington, Clarke, and Monroe Counties that lie east of U.S. Highway 43 and south of U.S. Highway 84.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
The private and public waters in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Russell Counties (excluding public Alabama state waters in Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries).
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
The private and public waters in Monroe (north of U.S. Highway 84), Wilcox, and Dallas Counties.
LAKE EUFAULA
The public Alabama state waters only in the Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and its navigable tributaries, south of Hwy 208, Omaha Bridge, (excluding Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge).
Dates:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA - From 8:00 p.m. August 13, 2015 until 6:00 a.m. August 16, 2015 and from 8:00 p.m. August 20, 2015 until 6:00 a.m. August 23, 2015.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA - From 8:00 p.m. August 15, 2015 until 6:00 a.m. September 7, 2015.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA - From 8:00 p.m. August 13, 2015 until 6:00 a.m. August 16, 2015 and from 8:00 p.m. August 20, 2015 until 6:00 a.m. August 23, 2015.
LAKE EUFAULA - From sunrise August 14 until sunrise October 5.
Hunting Hours:
Southwest, Southeast and West Central Zones - 8:00 PM till 6:00 AM.
Lake Eufaula Zone - Daytime and Nighttime Hours.
Permits:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
One hundred and fifty (150) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferable.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
Forty (40) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferable.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
Fifty (50) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferable.
LAKE EUFAULA
Twenty (20) people will be randomly drawn by computer to be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag. Possession tags are non-transferable.
If a person is selected for an Alligator Possession Tag at two or more locations they will be allowed to choose which location they would like to hunt. The other spot(s) not chosen will be filled from the Alternates list.
Bag Limit:
Each person receiving an Alligator Possession Tag will be allowed to harvest one (1) alligator. Alligators harvested in the Lake Eufaula Zone must be a minimum of eight (8) feet in length.
Persons Eligible:
Only Residents and Lifetime Hunting License holders of the State of Alabama who are sixteen (16) years of age or older may apply for an Alligator Possession Tag (see License Requirements). Nonresidents may only participate as alligator hunting assistants (see License Requirements). The permittee and all individuals assisting during the hunt must possess a valid Alabama hunting license.
Applications:
Applications for Alligator Possession Tags will be accepted only at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Website at www.outdooralabama.com beginning June 2, 2015 at 8:00 AM. A minimal administrative fee will be charged for each hunt area application submitted. There is no charge for the Alligator Possession Tag. Registration will end July 14th at 8:00 AM. The drawings for each area will be held on July 14th. All applicants will be able to check for their results on the same website that they registered on. Selected applicant's acceptance is required by 8:00 AM July 21st. If a tag is not accepted the next name on the list will be notified and given 24 hours to respond. These notifications will continue until all vacancies have been obligated. Only one (1) application shall be allowed per person per zone. Applications shall be in accordance with the procedure set out atwww.outdooralabama.com.
Preference Points:
The random selection process will utilize a preference point system. The system increases the likelihood of repeat registrants being selected for a hunt as long as the applicant continues to apply. The more years an applicant participates in the registration, the higher the likelihood of being selected. If an applicant ceases to register for the hunt in a given year or is selected for a hunt, the preference point status is forfeited.
Mandatory Training Course:
For the Southeast Alabama and Lake Eufaula hunt venues, all successful applicants will be required to attend and complete the Alligator Training Course provided by the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries staff offered in Eufaula. If you are selected for the Southwest Alabama hunt and have attended the course at Five Rivers, as a permittee or alternate, in prior years, you may be exempted from this requirement. All others will be required to attend this year's class at Five Rivers in Spanish Fort. If you are selected for the West Central Alabama hunt and have attended the course at the Alabama Farmer's Coop in Selma, as a permittee or alternate, in prior years, you may be exempted from this requirement. All others will be required to attend and complete this year's class at Alabama Farmers Coop in Selma.
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
The course will be held twice on July 25th at the Five Rivers complex in Spanish Fort, AL. The first class will be from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon. The second class will be from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM. Upon completion of the course, drawn applicants will be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA and LAKE EUFAULA
The course will be held on August 8th at the Chamber of Commerce Office in Eufaula, AL. The class will be from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon. Upon completion of the course, drawn applicants will be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
The course will be held on August 1st at the Alabama Farmers COOP in Selma, Alabama. The class will be from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon. Upon completion of the course, drawn applicants will be eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag.
Capture and Dispatch Methods:
For All Hunt Zones
Alligators must be captured and brought adjacent to the boat, bank or dock prior to shooting or otherwise dispatching the animal. It is unlawful to shoot at or kill an unrestrained alligator. Restrained is defined as an alligator that has a noose or snare secured around the neck or leg in a manner that the alligator is controlled. Capture methods are restricted to hand-held snares, snatch hooks (hand-held or rod/reel), harpoons (with attached line), and bowfishing equipment (with line attached from arrow to bow or crossbow). No use of bait is allowed.
All alligators must be dispatched immediately after capture or released. Firearms used for dispatching an alligator are restricted to shotguns with shot size no larger than #4 and bangsticks chambered in .38 caliber or larger or shotgun (using #4 shot or smaller). All shotguns and bangsticks must be cased and unloaded at all times until a restraining line has been attached to the alligator. Except as otherwise provided herein, no other firearm or ammunition may be in possession of the permittee or hunting party. No firearm or bangstick may be discharged within 100 yards of any residence, building, boat ramp, or occupied campsite in Mobile/Baldwin Counties and on the Alabama River, Claiborne Lake, William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir and Lake Walter F. George (Lake Eufaula). The Temporary Alligator Possession Tag, supplied by Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, must be attached to the alligator's tail, as demonstrated in training course, immediately after being dispatched and prior to moving or transporting.
Mandatory Check Station:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA
All permitted hunters must have on their person a valid Alabama Hunting License. Each permittee selected to receive an Alligator Possession Tag will be pre-registered and issued a Temporary Alligator Possession Tag at the conclusion of the training session prior to the hunt. The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the check station. All successful permittees must bring their harvested alligators from this zone to the check station, located at the District V Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Office between the hours of 8:00 PM till 7:00 AM on the days of the hunts.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA and LAKE EUFAULA
All permitted hunters must have on their person a valid Alabama Hunting License. Each permittee selected to receive an Alligator Possession Tag will be pre-registered and issued a Temporary Alligator Possession Tag at the conclusion of the training session prior to the hunt. The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag must be obtained from a Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district office within 10 business days of the conclusion of the hunt. Hunters must bring alligator hides, their Temporary Alligator Possession Tag, and information regarding length, weight, girth, and sex in order to receive their permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag. Alligator harvest record sheets detailing the required information will be issued at the training session on August 8th. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator by WFF personnel.
WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
All permitted hunters must have on their person a valid Alabama Hunting License. Each permittee selected to receive an Alligator Possession Tag will be pre-registered and issued a Temporary Alligator Possession Tag at the conclusion of the training session prior to the hunt. The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the check station at Roland Cooper State Park. All successful permittees must bring their harvested alligator from this zone to the check station between the hours of 8:00 PM till 7:00 AM on the days of the hunts.
Harvest Reporting and Tagging:
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA and WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA
All harvested alligators must be validated at the designated check station by posted closing time. The Temporary Alligator Possession Tag must be attached to the alligator immediately after being dispatched and prior to moving. Upon validation at the check station, a Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator.
SOUTHEAST ALABAMA and LAKE EUFAULA
The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag must be obtained from a Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district office within 10 business days of the conclusion of the hunt. Hunters must bring alligator hides, their Temporary Alligator Possession Tag, and information regarding length, weight, girth, and sex in order to receive their permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag. Alligator harvest record sheets detailing the required information will be issued at the training session on August 8th. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator by WFF personnel.
License Requirements:
Alligator Hunting Permittee: All Alligator Hunting Permittees must have a government issued picture identification and a resident hunting license as required by Alabama law. A Temporary Alligator Possession Tag will be issued following the conclusion of the workshop.
Alligator Hunting Assistant: All assistants in the hunting party sixteen (16) years of age or older are required to purchase and have on their person a valid Alabama hunting license as required by Alabama law. Any non-residents in the hunting party sixteen (16) years of age or older are required to have a valid Alabama hunting license. All persons in the boat or assisting boats are considered Hunt Permittees or Hunting Assistants. All funds are non-refundable.
General:
Nothing in this regulation prohibits the possession of handguns by lawfully authorized persons for personal protection, provided the handguns are not used to hunt or take or to attempt to take wildlife in violation of law.
ALL ALABAMA BOATING AND HUNTING REGULATIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED.
For the purposes of this regulation, the term "animal protected by the laws of this state" as used in Section 9-11-235 of the Code of Ala. 1975, shall mean game animals as designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.143
Author: N. Gunter Guy, Jr.
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-2-7, 9-2-8, 9-2-12.
PENALTY: As provided by law.