Louisiana residents will soon have a new hunting opportunity after Gov. Jeff Landry signed Act 37 into law, creating the state’s first recreational alligator season.

The new law, authored by Sen. Robert Allain III of Franklin and supported by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, allows the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to establish a recreational alligator harvest program. The commission will be responsible for setting season dates, harvest quotas and tag allotments by area.

Officials say the program is intended to expand recreational hunting opportunities while also helping manage Louisiana’s growing alligator population. The state is estimated to have about three million alligators.

Residents who want to participate will need a basic hunting license, an alligator hunting license and recreational harvest tags issued by LDWF. Those tags will be separate from commercial alligator tags.
The recreational season will be scheduled so it does not interfere with commercial alligator activities. Hunters will be limited to hook-and-line harvest methods, and recreationally harvested hides, meat or alligator parts will not be allowed to enter commercial markets.

Participation will also require landowner permission or use of public lands designated by LDWF. Recreational alligator hunters must remain on the property where they are authorized to hunt.