Alligator Parts | Alligator Hunting

Heading out into a marsh or swamp alligator hunting is great, but hunters must be careful with how they handle the animal after a successful harvest. Meat from alligators harvested by public hunters cannot be sold or bartered by hunters. In fact, even the meat given to others must be clearly labeled with a tag and the corresponding harvest tag number. This is to protect the person receiving the product, in the event they are found in posession of alligator.

However, alligator hides and parts can be sold or transferred if they are tagged with either a CITES tag before being sold, transferred, bartered or given to another person. Some states even have additional validation tags they can issue to successful hunters for tracking these parts. All alligator tanneries or hide buyers will require a CITES tag in order to process or purchase an alligator hide. Continue reading Sale or Transfer of Alligator Products

There are two methods may be used to temporarily preserve and/or cure an alligator skin until it can be sold or sent to a tannery. The first method is through repeated salting of the hide and storing it in a cool, dry location. Method two (which utilizes some similar techniques to method one) is through the use of a brine solution.

Alligator Hide Curing – Method 1

After an alligator has been skinned, the hide should be scraped thoroughly using a knife, a piece of metal pipe or another appropriate object until all bits of meat, fat, etc. are removed. After scraping, salt the hide with approximately one inch of white, fine grade table or mixing salt (available at most feed and seed stores). Thoroughly rub the salt into the hide, then roll the hide tightly, secure it and store it in a cool place. After 3-5 days, unroll the hide, discard the salt and repeat the salting procedure as described above. Re-roll the hide tightly and band with a one-inch rubber band or other rubber tubing. Store the rolled hide in a cool, dry place until transported for validation. Continue reading How to Cure an Alligator Hide