How to apply for an alligator harvest permit
Now is the time to plan for Florida’s upcoming hunting seasons if you’re interested in applying for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) alligator harvest permits. Florida has a stable and healthy alligator population that allows for sustainable hunt opportunities through the FWC’s Statewide Alligator Harvest Program.
To take part in Florida’s Aug. 15 to Nov. 1 alligator season, you’ll need an alligator trapping license, a Statewide Alligator Harvest Permit and two hide validation CITES tags. The cost for this is $272 for Florida residents, $22 for those with a Florida Resident Persons with Disabilities Hunting and Fishing License, or $1,022 for nonresidents. The alligator harvest permit allows for the harvest of two alligators in a designated harvest unit or county.
Every year about 7,000 alligator harvest permits are issued through three random drawings and a final leftover phase. The demand for Florida alligator harvest permits is high and random drawings are used to provide a fair, unbiased way to issue them.
The dates to apply for alligator harvest permits are listed below. Remember, all application periods start at 10:00 a.m. ET on the first day of the application period and run through 11:59 p.m. ET on the final day:
Phase I Applications 5/7/2021 – 5/17/2021.
Phase II Applications 5/21/2021 – 5/31/2021.
Phase III Applications 6/4/2021 – 6/14/2021.
Phase IV Leftovers 6/17/2021 – until filled or final hunt date.
Anyone who will be 18 years of age or older by Aug. 15 and has a valid credit card may apply for alligator harvest permits at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or in person at a license agent or tax collector’s office. Learn more about the alligator harvest permit application process by visiting myfwc.com/license/limited-entry/statewide-alligator-hunt-permit.
To give yourself the best chance of being issued an alligator harvest permit, make sure you:
•Submit all 12 choices in the application. However, listing the same area/period multiple times will not give you a better chance of being selected for that area.
•Choose areas that offer more permits to increase your odds of being drawn.
•Are willing to hunt every location you select. If you’re successful in the drawing, you’ll be charged the amount for the permit awarded to you.
Please be aware the South Florida Water Management District is undertaking major construction projects this year at STA-1W and STA 2 on behalf of their mission to safeguard and restore south Florida’s water resources. The heavy equipment traffic associated with levee/ditch work and vegetation removal means a portion of STA-1W South and all of STA-1W North and STA 2 are closed to alligator hunting during 2021.
The FWC offers several tools to help you with the application process. Find application worksheets, a harvest unit map and listing, application tips and more by visiting myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/harvest.