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American alligator in Louisiana: 2026-27 seasons, limits and where to hunt
Seasons, limits, license prices and where to hunt alligators in 2026-27.
Photo: Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0)
Louisiana american alligator in brief
Between October 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 Louisiana hunters get 1 separate window for alligators. Limit in one line (alligator): Tags held (commercial); 2 per awarded zone (recreational). Background from LDWF: New recreational season in 2026; wild population over 3 million.
- In short (alligator): Commercial East from the last Wednesday of August, West from the first Wednesday of September, to Dec 31, 2026; recreational lottery Oct 1-31, 2026 (hook and line).
- Take (alligator): Tags held (commercial); 2 per awarded zone (recreational).
From LDWF alligator page, LDWF recreational alligator page and LDWF commercial alligator page, checked November 4, 2026.
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Recreational alligator zones A to H
| Zone | Opportunities | Parish count | Parishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A | 500 | 7 | De Soto Parish, Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish and 4 more |
| Zone B | 1,250 | 12 | Union Parish, Lincoln Parish, Jackson Parish and 9 more |
| Zone C | 1,250 | 10 | Sabine Parish, Vernon Parish, Natchitoches Parish and 7 more |
| Zone D | 400 | 7 | St. Landry Parish, Lafayette Parish, Iberia Parish and 4 more |
| Zone E | 400 | 8 | Beauregard Parish, Calcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish and 5 more |
| Zone F | 400 | 6 | St. Mary Parish, St. Martin Parish, Assumption Parish and 3 more |
| Zone G | 400 | 8 | West Feliciana Parish, East Feliciana Parish, St. Helena Parish and 5 more |
| Zone H | 400 | 7 | St. Tammany Parish, St. Bernard Parish, Plaquemines Parish and 4 more |
East and West alligator zones (LDWF zone map); East opens last Wednesday of August, West first Wednesday of September, both close Dec 31.
From LDWF recreational alligator page and LDWF recreational alligator zone map, checked November 4, 2026.
Every alligator season row
The alligator calendar holds 3 lines; zone links lead to the pages where dates change by area.
| Window | Zone or area | Begins | Through | Days | Right now | Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial (wild harvest) season | East Alligator Zone | Last Wednesday of August | Dec 31, 2026 | – | Limits below | |
| Recreational lottery | Zones A to H | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | 31 | Finished | Limits below |
| Commercial (wild harvest) season | West Alligator Zone | First Wednesday of September | Dec 31, 2026 | – | Limits below |
Fine print for alligators
- Alligator note: east zone opens the last Wednesday of August, west zone the first Wednesday of September; both close Dec 31.
- Alligator note: resident Alligator Hunter License $25, nonresident landowner license $150; sport hunters must be accompanied by a licensed hunter or helper.
- Alligator note: WMA/public lake lottery: 3 tags per winner, $40 per tag.
- Alligator note: zone parish lists are on the LDWF zone map (not transcribed).
- Alligator note: new for 2026 (Commission rule May 7, 2026).
- Alligator note: up to 5,000 resident lottery winners (16+, hunter-education certified) each get 2 nontransferable no-sale hide tags per zone (A 500, B 1,250, C 1,250, D-H 400 each). $50 application per zone; Resident Alligator Sports Hunter License $25 (nonresident $150 to assist in the winner's presence) plus Basic Hunting License.
- Alligator note: report tag, length, date and parish within 72 hours.
Commercial opening days are printed as LDWF words the rule; the calendar dates are not given here because they were computed from that rule rather than read from LDWF.
From LDWF commercial alligator page and LDWF recreational alligator page, checked November 4, 2026.
How many alligators are taken in Louisiana
LDWF publishes no recreational alligator harvest yet: the first lottery season ran October 1 to 31, 2026. The zone opportunities are the planned ceiling.
New recreational season in 2026; wild population over 3 million.
From LDWF recreational alligator page, checked November 4, 2026.
American Alligator: limit rows
The alligator limits come from the pamphlet and the LDWF season pages, with each row's own bag after them.
| Applies to | Rule |
|---|---|
| American alligator | Commercial: equal to tags held, no size limit. Recreational: two hide tags per awarded zone. |
| Recreational lottery, Zones A to H | Two alligators per zone awarded (one per recreational hide tag). |
| Commercial (wild harvest) season, East Alligator Zone | Equal to the number of alligator harvest tags held; no size limit. |
From LDWF commercial alligator page, checked November 4, 2026.
American Alligator license prices
Licenses (or license numbers) and physical ID must be carried; driver's license endorsements for lifetime license and hunter education are accepted.
| License | Holder | Fee | Lasts | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Hunting | Resident | $20 | 365 days from purchase | – |
| Basic Hunting | Nonresident | $200 | 365 days from purchase | – |
| Basic Hunting | Native nonresident, 10 days | $20 | 10 consecutive days | – |
| Basic Hunting | Nonresident, 5 days | $65 | 5 days | – |
| Resident Alligator Hunter / Sports Hunter | Resident | $25 | Season | Recreational lottery $50 per zone; commercial WMA lottery tags $40 each. |
| Nonresident Alligator Sports Hunter / Landowner | Nonresident | $150 | Season | – |
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 8, LDWF hunting licenses page and LDWF fee list, checked November 4, 2026.
American Alligator on WMAs, refuges and federal land
The largest of 4 public areas that name alligators.
| Public land | Kind | Parish | Acres | Lottery hunts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maurepas Swamp WMA | WMA | Ascension, Livingston +2 | 112,615 | – |
| Joyce WMA | WMA | Tangipahoa | 42,292 | – |
| Pearl River WMA | WMA | St. Tammany | 35,619 | Yes |
| Manchac WMA | WMA | St. John the Baptist | 8,328 | – |
From this site’s public land records (LDWF area pages, the 2026-27 WMA schedules and federal rules), checked November 4, 2026.
How alligators may be taken
| Row | May use | May not use |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator (recreational) | Alligator: Hook and line or snatch hook anchored to eligible property (300 lb test, 2 lines per unused tag); firearm or bang stick to dispatch. | Not for alligator: pole hunting; shooting free-swimming alligators; night take. |
- Vehicles and aircraft (alligator): No taking game from aircraft or moving land vehicles; no deer from a boat with motor attached in operating position (amputees excepted); no swimming deer.
- Night-vision, laser and IR sights (alligator): Prohibited for game, except private-land nighttime take of outlaw quadrupeds, nutria and beaver and permitted visually impaired hunters.
Drones are banned on WMAs for all hunting, including for alligators.
From LDWF recreational alligator page, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 25 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 30, checked November 4, 2026.
American Alligator: orange, tags and transport
- American Alligator tagging: Recreational hide tag attached to the tail immediately; report tag number, length, date and parish within 72 hours (failure bars future lotteries); Commercial: return unused tags within 15 days of season close.
- Hunter education (alligator): Anyone born on or after Sept 1, 1969 must complete an LDWF-approved hunter education course before hunting, unless under direct supervision (voice and sight) of a licensed hunter born before Sept 1, 1969 or an 18+ adult with proof of hunter education.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 26, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 24 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 12, checked November 4, 2026.
Alligator swimming through rippled blue water in Honey Island Swamp. Photo: Michael Gaylard (CC BY 2.0)
Ridged back of a swimming alligator in golden reflected light in Honey Island Swamp. Photo: Michael Gaylard (CC BY 2.0)
Alligator gliding through blue water in Honey Island Swamp. Photo: Michael Gaylard (CC BY 2.0)
Common questions on alligators
Is there a check-in for alligators?
Recreational hide tag attached to the tail immediately; report tag number, length, date and parish within 72 hours (failure bars future lotteries). Commercial: return unused tags within 15 days of season close.
Where can I hunt alligators on public land in Louisiana?
4 areas, led by Maurepas Swamp WMA, Joyce WMA and Pearl River WMA. WMAs need the Access Permit and a Self-Clearing Permit.
How does the recreational alligator lottery work?
Recreational lottery up to 5,000 resident hunters (2 tags per zone); commercial WMA/public-lake lottery >1,000 hunters, 3 tags each, ~3,100 alligators on 52 areas.
Can alligators be hunted seven days a week?
No statewide Sunday restriction appears in the 2026-27 pamphlet or Title 56, so alligator seasons run seven days a week outside some WMA schedules.
How many alligators may one hunter keep?
Commercial: equal to tags held, no size limit. Recreational: two hide tags per awarded zone.
When does the Louisiana alligator season open?
Opening October 1, 2026, closing October 31, 2026, with the rows by area or zone in the table.
Can I use a rifle on alligators in Louisiana?
Alligator (recreational) rules for alligators: Hook and line or snatch hook anchored to eligible property (300 lb test, 2 lines per unused tag); firearm or bang stick to dispatch.
How much does it cost to hunt alligators in Louisiana?
For alligators: Basic Hunting $20 resident, $200 nonresident; Resident Alligator Hunter / Sports Hunter $25 (resident); Nonresident Alligator Sports Hunter / Landowner $150 (nonresident). Everyone 18 or older who hunts alligators carries a Basic Hunting License or one that includes it.
Other photos on this page: Michael Gaylard (CC BY 2.0); Michael Gaylard (CC BY 2.0); Michael Gaylard (CC BY 2.0).