Getting Ready for the Alabama Gator Hunt

Wildlife biologist Keith Gauldin with the State of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources tells News 5 that if he had to make a guess, he believes there may be more than 10,000 alligators in the Mobile Tensaw Delta. “If I were to take a wild guess for the entire delta and area that is 12 miles wide by 30 miles in length – it may be a little over 10,000, that’s a guess though", Gauldin says.

Each year his department surveys a small area of the delta and the number of gators year-to-year has stayed consistant. He describes the annual hunt as a conservative management approach to the alligator population.

The hunt is held on just six nights during the second and third weekends of August. It happens only at night and is strictly watched over by conservation officers. This Saturday, hunters who won tags in the annual lottery came to Spanish Fort for a two hour class on the dos and don'ts of gator hunting. Most of those who attended are first time gator hunters. One hundred and twenty-five tags are issued each year and they are hard to get. This year more than 9,000 lottery tickets were purchased for a chance at winning a tag. In 2010, 6,000 were purchased. Those tickets cost $6.00 apiece and that higher number equals a substantial 50% increase.

First time tag winner Michael Sawyer of Monroeville says his desire is to, "Get the biggest gator I can and go out and have a good time." Hunter Arthur Thompson from Magnolia Springs went out last year. He and his friends got a large alligator. He described it as 'real fun' and said, "Once ya get him upside the boat...that’s when the fun really begins. You try to get him secured before you dispatch him. And he can be a lot to handle once you get him upside your boat."

This weekend's gator class focused a lot on safety and following the strict rules and regulations. Although alligator hunting sounds dangerous, there have never been any serious injuries during the hunts here in Alabama. Conservation officers told hunters at the class that they only know of one man who accidently cut his finger with a knife.