Louisiana is introducing a recreational alligator hunting season, allowing up to 10,000 alligators to be killed for sport. The hunt will run from 1 to 31 October 2026, and the state plans to select 5,000 hunters through a lottery.
Each successful hunter will receive two tags, enabling them to kill two alligators. This programme is separate from the state’s commercial alligator industry, which is worth over $250 million a year.
To participate, hunters must have a hunting licence and the special alligator tags. They will use bait on a hook attached to a strong line to catch the alligators, and then kill the captured animal, potentially using a firearm.
The state requires hunters to make an effort to keep the meat for human consumption, as the animals killed during the recreational hunt cannot be sold commercially. Louisiana’s decision to introduce the recreational hunt comes after a significant recovery in the state’s American alligator population.
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The American alligator was once heavily hunted for its skins and meat, leading to a population decline. However, after federal protection and regulated commercial hunting, the population has recovered, with around three million alligators in Louisiana’s coastal areas alone.
According to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Tyler Bosworth, the population is now large enough to support both recreational and commercial hunting. He says the new hunt is intended to help manage the growing population without damaging the existing commercial industry.
The recovery of the American alligator is considered a conservation success, and the state believes the recreational hunt can be a useful tool in managing the population. Hunters had until 30 August to enter the lottery for the chance to participate in the hunt.
