Photo by James LawlerOfficial Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources© 2020 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources64 N. Union Street, Suite 468 - Montgomery, Alabama 36130By DAVID RAINER, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural ResourcesTwo significant changes are in store for those fortunate enough to be selected for a tag in the random drawing for the 2019 Alabama alligator season.The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division has created a new Coastal Zone and shifted the mandatory alligator hunting training workshop to online only.“We went from mandatory in-person training to mandatory online training,” said Chris Nix, WFF’s Alligator Program Coordinator. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ACDNR) will open online registration on June 2, at 8 a.m. for alligator hunting. Only 50 permits were issued in 2006.
Implementing a regulated alligator hunt on a small scale is an important step toward controlling populations and better managing this unique reptile.The drawings for each area will be held on the second Wednesday of July. Alabama residents and Alabama lifetime license holders 16 years and older can apply for the tags, which are being distributed among five hunting zones. The season dates will be the same as the Southwest and Coastal zones of sunset on August 8 until sunrise on August 11 and sunset on August 15 until sunrise on August 18. “That’s where everybody lives, but there are also a lot of alligators down there. The Southwest Zone still has the densest population. Registration can be done Hunters will be randomly selected by computer that uses a preference point system. It was always a problem with several people each year, whether it was weddings or vacations or other obligations. Upon validation at the check station, a Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator.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. Alligator hunting season starts in early August and lasts up until early October, depending on the zone.The administrative fee to apply for a tag is $22, and registrants can only apply once per hunting zone. The Lake Eufaula Zone allows but daytime and nighttime hunting hours. We would much rather hunters take those alligators out instead of us. If you can, find a hunting partner that is familiar with the waterways where you’re hunting. Online registration for alligator hunting season in Alabama gets underway Tuesday, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced.Registration for alligator possession tags -- 260 will be up for grabs under a weighted lottery system -- starts June 2 at 8 a.m. and runs through 8 a.m. July 8, the agency said.Alabama residents and Alabama lifetime license holders 16 years and older can apply for the tags, which are being distributed among five hunting zones. The no-cull rule means hunters cannot catch and then release an alligator to try to find a larger one.“No more culling is allowed,” Nix said. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator by WFF personnel.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. Hunters can check their selection status Hunters receiving tags are limited to hunting one alligator during the season. Upon validation of alligator harvest data, a permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be attached to the alligator by WFF personnel.All permitted hunters must have on their person a valid Alabama Hunting License. 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. It is unlawful to shoot at or kill an unrestrained alligator. All alligators hunted must be tagged with a temporary alligator possession tag and reported for each zone. “That is especially important if you’re unfamiliar with the body of water. Below are the five hunting zones, how many tags will be distributed in each zone, and hunting season schedules:Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. The training is in five segments with questions to answer at the end of each segment. Photo by David RainerTraining for those lucky enough to draw a 2019 tag will be conducted online only for the first time. The Alabama alligator season is broken into five zones throughout south Alabama, the traditional range of alligators in the state.