Alligator hunting in Mississippi is by special permit only. For 2016, public water alligator hunting permits will be available only through an on-line first-come-first-serve purchase process. These special permits will go on sale beginning at 9 a.m. on July 19, 2016, via the MDWFP website and www.ms.gov/mdwfp/alligator and will remain on sale till all available permits are sold.
Each permit costs $150 and requires the purchase of an Alligator Hunting License ($25). In addition, payment is required immediately and permits are not refundable, nor may they be transferred to another individual. A credit card or debit card and a valid email address are required to purchase the permit. Each person is limited to only one permit in a zone of their choice, as long as they are available.
To be eligible to purchase a public waters alligator hunting permit, persons must be at least 16 years of age and possess one of the following resident licenses prior to July 19: a valid Mississippi Sportsman License, All-Game Hunting/Fishing License, Small Game Hunting/Fishing License, Apprentice Sportsman License, Apprentice All Game License, Apprentice Small Game License, Senior Exempt License, Disabled Exempt License, or Lifetime License. Public water alligator hunting is open statewide; 920 permits are divided among 7 public water hunting zones.
Each special permit allows the harvest of two alligators over four feet long, but only one may exceed seven feet long. Hunters are required to tag all harvested alligators and conduct a mandatory harvest report. The 2015 alligator hunting season set several new records including a record harvest of 982 alligators on public waterways.
An Alligator Hunting Training Course will be offered on August 13 at Roosevelt State Park for persons who purchase one of the special permits. Attendance is not mandatory, but highly recommended for persons who obtain a special permit. Course topics included alligator biology, research projects, legal capture and dispatching methods, skinning and processing, proper documentation, license purchasing procedures, and boating safety.
The public water alligator hunting season will open at noon on August 26 and close at noon on September 5, 2016. For more information regarding alligator hunting rules and regulations in Mississippi, visit their web site or call 601-432-2199.