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Alabama Alligator Hunting Areas
The five alligator management areas, the 2026 hunt dates, permits, methods and check rules.
Photo: Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Alabama alligator management areas
Alabama allows alligator hunting only in five alligator management areas, by limited-quota harvest permit, at night between official sunset and sunrise. The 2026 hunts ran in August and September; tag quotas per area were not published in the pages read, and 2027 dates were not set.
| Area | Counties | Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest | Baldwin County, Mobile County, Washington County, Choctaw County, Clarke County, Monroe County | Private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile north of I-10 and in Washington, Choctaw, Clarke and Monroe south of US 84. |
| Coastal | Baldwin County, Mobile County | Private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile south of I-10. |
| Southeast | Barbour County, Coffee County, Covington County, Dale County, Geneva County, Henry County, Houston County, Russell County | Private and public waters in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Russell, excluding public state waters of Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and navigable tributaries. |
| West Central | Monroe County, Clarke County, Choctaw County, Marengo County, Wilcox County, Dallas County | Monroe, Clarke and Choctaw north of US 84; Marengo west of AL 28 and south of US 80; Wilcox and Dallas (excluding Choctaw NWR). |
| Lake Eufaula | State waters only | Public Alabama state waters of Walter F. George Reservoir (Lake Eufaula) and navigable tributaries south of the 13th Street bridge in Phenix City, excluding the Chattahoochee main channel and Eufaula NWR. 8 ft minimum length; no bonus permits. |
From the ADCNR alligator page, checked November 1, 2026.
2026 alligator hunts by area
| Species | Season | Zone or area | Opens | Closes | Days | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 1 | Southwest AMA | Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 2nd Thursday in August to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 2 | Southwest AMA | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 3rd Thursday in August to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 3 | Southwest AMA | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 2nd Thursday in September to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 1 | Coastal AMA | Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 2nd Thursday in August to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 2 | Coastal AMA | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 3rd Thursday in August to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 3 | Coastal AMA | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 2nd Thursday in September to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator season | Southeast AMA | Aug 8, 2026 | Sep 7, 2026 | 31 | Sunset 2nd Saturday in August to sunrise 1st Monday in September |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 1 | West Central AMA | Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 2nd Thursday in August to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 2 | West Central AMA | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 3rd Thursday in August to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 3 | West Central AMA | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 2nd Thursday in September to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 1 | Lake Eufaula AMA | Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 2nd Thursday in August to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 2 | Lake Eufaula AMA | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 3rd Thursday in August to sunrise the following Sunday |
| Alligator | Alligator hunt 3 | Lake Eufaula AMA | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 4 | Sunset 2nd Thursday in September to sunrise the following Sunday |
- Limit: 1 per Alligator Harvest Permit; 1 per Bonus Management Harvest Permit (max 6 ft). Up to 2 possession tags per permit holder. Lake Eufaula AMA: 8 ft minimum, no bonus permits.
- Methods: Hand-held snares, snatch hooks (hand or rod/reel), harpoons with line, bowfishing gear with line for capture; dispatch with shotguns (shot no larger than #4) or bangsticks .38 cal or larger.
- Not legal: Shooting unrestrained alligators; bait; capture gear in assisting boats; other firearms in the hunting party (handguns for lawful personal protection allowed); discharge within 100 yards of residences, ramps or campsites in Mobile/Baldwin and on listed lakes.
- Check and tags: Temporary tag on the tail immediately; Southwest, Coastal, West Central and Lake Eufaula AMAs: present at the mandatory check station (8 p.m.-7 a.m. on hunt dates); Southeast AMA: hide, tag and data to a district office within 10 business days for the CITES tag.
From the Digest alligator table and the 2026 Alligator Study Guide, checked November 1, 2026.
Alligator permits, prices and the drawing
| Permit | Residency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alligator permit | Resident | $250.00 | One alligator; up to 2 possession tags. |
| Alligator bonus permit | Resident | $125.00 | One bonus alligator max 6 ft; not for Lake Eufaula AMA. |
| Alligator permit | Nonresident | $1,000.00 | |
| Alligator bonus permit | Nonresident | $500.00 | Max 6 ft; not Lake Eufaula. |
- Eligibility: Residents/AL lifetime holders and nonresidents 16+ with an AL all game or small game license; assistants 16+ need a hunting license.
- Quota: Quota (number of tags) per AMA not published in the pages read.
- Application: Jun 2, 2026 to Jul 14, 2026. Free applications per AMA; drawing July 15; training course and permit purchase; accept by July 23, 8 a.m.; preference points. The Digest says applications end the last Tuesday of June.
From the ADCNR license pages and the ADCNR draw page, checked November 1, 2026.
Alligator hunt questions
What is the size limit for alligators?
Bonus-permit alligators may be no longer than 6 ft; Lake Eufaula has an 8 ft minimum and no bonus permits.
How are alligator hunters chosen?
By free application per area and a drawing with preference points, followed by a training course and permit purchase.
Where do I check an alligator?
Temporary tag on the tail immediately; Southwest, Coastal, West Central and Lake Eufaula AMAs: present at the mandatory check station (8 p.m.-7 a.m. on hunt dates); Southeast AMA: hide, tag and data to a district office within 10 business days for the CITES tag.
Can I shoot an alligator before it is restrained?
No. The alligator must be restrained first, then dispatched with a shotgun (No. 4 shot or smaller) or a bangstick of .38 caliber or larger.
Where can I hunt alligators in Alabama?
Only in the five alligator management areas: Southwest, Coastal, Southeast, West Central and Lake Eufaula.
How many alligator tags are issued per area?
Quota (number of tags) per AMA not published in the pages read.
When were the 2026 alligator hunts?
Southwest, Coastal, West Central and Lake Eufaula: August 13-16, August 20-23 and September 10-13; Southeast: August 8 to September 7.
How much is an Alabama alligator permit?
Resident harvest permit $250, bonus permit $125; nonresident $1,000 and $500.