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Alligator hunting permits go on sale
June 12; new buying process
May 24, 2007
Contact: Steve Stiegler (850) 488-3831
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) will start selling more than 4,500 alligator
harvest permits on a first-come, first-served basis on June 12.
The sale of alligator permits begins at 10 a.m.
(EDT) June 12 and will continue through 11:59 p.m. (EDT) June
18. During this period, each person will be limited to one
permit, which allows the take of two alligators. If there are
any remaining permits available after this period, permit sales
will reopen at 10 a.m. (EDT) June 19, and continue until all are
sold.
Applicants have the option of applying at any
county tax collector’s office, license agent (retail outlet that
sells hunting and fishing licenses), at
MyFWC.com/license or
by calling toll-free 1-888-HUNT FLORIDA (486-8356) from anywhere
in the United States or Canada.
Application instructions are online at
MyFWC.com/gators/public/2007_SW_APPL.pdf.
To obtain a permit, applicants must submit
payment for an alligator trapping license and two alligator-hide
validation tags, or provide proof of a valid alligator trapping
license (must be valid through Nov. 1) plus pay the fee for the
two hide-validation tags. No other hunting licenses are
required.
The cost for a resident alligator trapping
license and hide-validation tags is $271.50, and non-residents
pay $1,021.50. The cost for each additional alligator hunting
permit (allowing the take of two alligators) is $61.50
regardless of residency. All fees are nonrefundable. Any hunter
who takes an alligator must complete and send in an Alligator
Harvest Report Form. The information gathered from these forms
enables FWC biologists to monitor alligator population trends
and impacts of the annual harvest.
An alligator trapping agent license is also
available for $51.50, which allows the license holder to assist
a trapper in taking alligators, but only in the presence of the
permitted trapper. All persons seeking a harvest permit must be
at least 18 years of age by Aug. 15.
The alligator hunting season will run 11
consecutive weeks from Aug. 15 through Nov. 1.
To educate participants on the rules and
regulations of the hunts, the FWC offers a no-cost, three-hour
training and orientation program, which is held at locations
throughout the state. Permit recipients are not required to
attend, but first-time participants are strongly encouraged to
do so. Courses will be offered in July and August, and permit
holders will receive, by mail, permit packages listing exact
dates and locations.
For more information on how to get involved in
these exciting alligator hunts, visit MyFWC.com/gators and click
on "Statewide Hunts.” |
