A new recreational alligator hunting season has been set in Louisiana, with a lottery draw coming for tags and special guidelines for hunters. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission issued an official notice May 7 to establish the season, which coincided with Gov. Jeff Landry signing two bills to legalize the season and lottery.

The recreational season will be October 1-31 throughout the state. This season is different from the commercial alligator season, and from current allowances for some take by residents on state wildlife management areas. Officials with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) estimate the statewide population to be more than 3 million, up from about 100,000 in the mid-1970s.

“We’ve always had recreational harvest. We have lottery tags on our [wildlife management areas], but that’s very, very different than what we’re proposing,” said Jeb Linscombe, LDWF alligator program biologist, at the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting in May. “This is not just a free-for-all. It’s not like everybody can go out in Louisiana and kill an alligator.”

The American alligator was on endangered species lists or watch lists during the early 1970s due to over hunting or other issues. Wildlife officials in the Southeast began conservation efforts including prohibiting hunting or harassment, limiting the taking of alligator eggs, and encouraging alligator farming to help increase numbers. At least seven states have alligator seasons, but tags are controlled or limited via lottery and hunts have special regulations, times and methods.

Louisiana residents interested in applying for the recreational harvest must buy a specific hunting license, a general state hunting license and pay $50 to enter the tag lottery. Each tag gives the holder permission to hunt and kill one alligator. Five thousand winners will receive two tags each (must be age 16-up and Louisiana resident). Nonresidents may participate, provided they accompany a resident lottery winner. They will need a general Louisiana hunting license and $150 nonresident alligator permit.

Tags will be issued for 10,000 alligators for resident hunters. They will be distributed statewide and based on harvest data from other alligator hunting programs. Wildlife officials will maintain harvest data for the programs, and tags may be increased or decreased in the future based on the information. The regulations include a “wanton waste” provision; successful hunters must make a concerted effort to retrieve and keep the alligator meat for consumption.

“People are excited,” state Sen. Robert Allain, R-Franklin said at the state commission meeting. “I think it’s long overdue, and I think it’s a great way to be a little proactive, maybe get ahead of our growing alligator population.”