Alabama opens online alligator-season tag drawing registration

Stockton, Al.-The Alabama conservation department has opened registration for Alabama's sixth regulated alligator hunting season in August. Prospective hunters can register now for one of the 295 tags.
The hunts will be held Aug. 12-15 and Aug. 19-22 in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and the new west-central Alabama hunt area, and Aug. 12-28 for southeast Alabama.

It costs $6 to apply, and hunters can register multiple times. Only Alabama residents age 16 or older may apply. Hunters will be randomly chosen by computer to receive one tag each, which allows the harvesting of one alligator measuring 6 feet or longer. The tags are non-transferable. This 8-footer was caught and released on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta hunt last year. (Jeff Dute, Outdoors Editor)

This year, 50 tags will be issued for the new hunt area in west-central Alabama, which includes Monroe County north of U.S. Highway 84, Wilcox County and Dallas County.
A total of 120 tags will be issued for the southeast Alabama area. For the Mobile-Tensaw Delta hunts in parts of Baldwin and Mobile counties, 125 tags will be issued.
If a person is selected for an Alligator Possession Tag at two or more locations, they will be allowed to choose which location to hunt. The other spot(s) not chosen will be filled from a list of alternates.
It costs $6 to apply, and hunters can register multiple times. Only Alabama residents age 16 or older may apply. Hunters will be randomly chosen by computer to receive one tag each, which allows the harvesting of one alligator measuring 6 feet or longer. The tags are non-transferable.
The random selection of hunters is on July 11. Applicants can check their status at www.outdooralabama.com after the selection takes place.
Applicants selected must complete an online acceptance by 5 p.m. July 13. Afterward, alternates will be called by telephone to fill any vacancies. After training classes, vacancies will be filled with the next alternate on the list who attended a class.
Selected hunters and their assistants are required to possess a valid 2010-11 hunting license. Each hunter is required to complete the alligator training course provided by Alabama's Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division personnel. Previously selected and trained hunters who have participated as permittees in a hunt in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta are exempt from training if participating in this year's Mobile-Tensaw Delta hunt.
Hunting hours will be from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. each day. All Alabama hunting and boating regulations must be followed.