NEWS

Plenty of gators to go around

Jimmy Watson

Anyone seeking to become an alligator hunter for a nominal fee can now submit an application through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for lottery hunts on a number of state venues later this summer.

Although the LDWF doesn’t regularly assess the number of gators on public lakes and waterways, there are plenty of animals available for the number of permits awarded through the lottery selection system, according to Steve Smith, program manager for the LDWF’s WMAs and public lakes.

“The population of alligators is sufficient to provide hunters with what they need to fill a permit,” Smith said. “People should be aware there are specific regulations for the WMAs.”

A Haughton woman recently had a gator harvested out of her backyard when the animal threatened her children and family pet in the Olde Oaks Subdivision. That gator was efficiently removed without incident, but it is emblematic of the problems an over population of gators can cause.

Prospective hunters must submit an application and a non-refundable $5 application fee by July 5 with just three applications per person permitted for CNR Division WMA, Wildlife Division WMA or Wildlife Division Public Lakes. Additional applications will result in voiding all applications submitted by the applicant. Harvests will be conducted between Aug. 26 and Oct. 1.

“Once someone has their permit, there will be a mandatory rules meeting where all rules and regulations will be covered,” Smith said.

Hunters will be directed to a specific area to hunt on certain WMAs or public lakes. The LDWF is including five Coastal and Nongame Resources Division Wildlife Management Areas, 15 Wildlife Division WMAs, one U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property and 25 public lakes for the 2015 alligator harvest season.

To make an application, visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/lottery-hunts or call (337) 373-0032 for CNR Division or (225) 765-2346 for Wildlife Division WMAs and public lakes.

Applicants must be a legal Louisiana resident and at least 16 years old. All successful applicants will be required to purchase an alligator hunting license ($25), while WMA hunters will be required to submit payments ($40) for each alligator tag allocated. The drawing will take place in August and the winners will be notified by mail.

Originally conducted on public lakes only, the lottery alligator harvest program began to incorporate WMAs in 2008 allowing 90 hunters to harvest 270 alligators on 9 WMAs located in south Louisiana. The program has continued to expand and currently provides the opportunity for over 325 resident alligator hunters to harvest approximately 850 alligators on over 40 WMAs/public lakes located throughout the state.

Twitter: @JimmyWatson6