Mississippi’s Alligator Hunters Prepare for 2013 Season

Over 1,200 permitted hunters and their guests recently attended mandatory alligator training courses presented by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) to prepare for the 2013 permitted alligator hunts on public waterways and private lands.  These mandatory courses, held at Jones County Community College, Delta State University, and Roosevelt State Park were led by MDWFP biologists and conservation officers.  Course topics included alligator biology, research projects, legal capture and harvest methods, skinning and processing, proper documentation, license purchasing procedures, and boating safety.

There are seven public water hunting zones for 2013: Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone, Northeast Zone – east of Interstate 55 and north of Interstate 20 (excluding the Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone), Northwest Zone – North of US Hwy. 82 and west of Interstate 55, West Central Zone – South of US Hwy. 82, west of Interstate 55, and north of Interstate 20, Southwest Zone – South of Interstate 20 and west of Interstate 55, South Central Zone – South of Interstate 20, west of MS Hwy 49, and east of Interstate 55, and Southeast Zone – South of Interstate 20 and east of MS Hwy 49.

The public water alligator hunting season will open at 12 p.m. on August 30 and conclude at 12 p.m. on September 9.  The private land alligator hunting season will open at noon on August 30 and conclude at 6 a.m. on September 23. There are 112 private properties among 28 open counties that qualified for private lands alligator hunting permits.  Hunters are required to tag all harvested alligators and conduct a mandatory harvest report.

For more information regarding alligator hunting rules and regulations, visit our website at www.mdwfp.com/alligator or call us at 601-432-2199.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Parks

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), formerly known as the Mississippi Game & Fish Commission, is an agency of the government of the U.S. state ofMississippi responsible for programs protecting Mississippi fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, as well as administering all state parks; it has its headquarters in Jackson. The agency issues hunting and fishing licenses, advises on habitat protection, and sponsors public education programs. It is also responsible for enforcement of Mississippi's fish and game laws. It is separate from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which is the governing body for the state's natural salt-water resources and law enforcement thereof (i.e. Gulf of Mexico, ocean-going vessels, etc.).