North Carolina › Species › American Alligator
No open season
North Carolina American Alligator status, 2026-27
The legal status of alligators in North Carolina.
Photo: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0)
The 2026-27 North Carolina rules give alligators no hunting season; the status, range and penalties are summarized here.
Alligator rules in one list
- Limit summary: One per permit (permit hunts only).
- Seasons in brief: Restraining-line methods by permit.
- Also: State and federally threatened; only municipality-requested population reduction hunts in Alligator Management Unit 1; none listed for 2026-27.
NCWRC source page (as of Oct 25, 2026), checked October 25, 2026.
American Alligator protection and status
- Rule 15A NCAC 10B .0224 sets Sept. 1-Oct. 1 by permit, one per permit. NCWRC: no permits outside municipality-requested population reduction hunts until further research; state threatened and federally threatened (similarity of appearance). No general season in 2026-27.
- State threatened and federally threatened (similarity of appearance); take only by permit in municipality-requested population reduction hunts.
NCWRC source, checked October 25, 2026.
American Alligator calendar by zone and method
1 season line for alligators, opening to closing.
| Hunt | Applies to | Weapons | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population reduction hunts only (rule season) | Alligator Management Unit 1 | Permit only: hand-held restraining line/catch pole, snatch hook, harpoon/gig with line, ba | By permit |
What the alligator rows add
- Rule 15A NCAC 10B .0224 sets Sept. 1-Oct. 1 by permit, one per permit. NCWRC: no permits outside municipality-requested population reduction hunts until further research; state threatened and federally threatened (similarity of appearance). No general season in 2026-27.
From NCWRC page and the Season Dates at a Glance, checked October 25, 2026.
American Alligator zone map in table form
The digest splits alligator seasons by these lines.
| County | Status |
|---|---|
| Brunswick | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| Carteret | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| Columbus | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| Craven | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| Hyde | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| Jones | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| New Hanover | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| Onslow | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| Pamlico | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
| Pender | Alligator Management Unit 1; permit hunts only |
NCWRC alligator page, checked October 25, 2026.
American Alligator bag limits and licenses
How many alligators one hunter may keep, and the licenses that cover the hunt.
| Applies to | Limit |
|---|---|
| American alligator (permit hunts only) | One per permit; season limit one (15A NCAC 10B .0224). |
NCWRC digest bag limits and the license and fee table, checked October 25, 2026. North Carolina hunting license guide.
What you may use on alligators
| Category | Legal gear | Banned |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator (permit hunts) | Restraining line/catch pole, snatch hook, harpoon or gig with line, baited peg under 2 in., archery with arrow line; kill without delay. | Baited hooks. |
From laws compiled from the NCWRC digest, 15A NCAC 10B and N.C.G.S. Chapter 113, checked October 25, 2026. North Carolina hunting laws.
American Alligator and other protected wildlife
| Species | Rule |
|---|---|
| Bear cubs (under 75 lb) and female bears with cubs | Unlawful to take (15A NCAC 10B .0202; G.S. 113-291.7(b)). |
| Red wolf | Federally endangered, state threatened; no season; report any red wolf shot within 24 hours to USFWS (855-496-5837) and NCWRC (800-662-7137). |
| Cougar (Felis concolor) | Unlawful taking/possession/sale is a Class 1 misdemeanor (G.S. 113-294(c2)). |
| Bald and golden eagles | Class 1 misdemeanor to take, possess, sell or buy any eagle, part, nest or egg (G.S. 113-294(l)); also federally protected. |
| American alligator | State threatened and federally threatened (similarity of appearance); take only by permit in municipality-requested population reduction hunts. |
| Elk | No season; unlawful taking, possession or transport is a Class 1 misdemeanor with a $2,500 minimum fine (G.S. 113-294(c3)). |
| Nongame migratory birds (songbirds, woodpeckers, raptors) and waterbirds | Federally protected; posted Waterbird Nesting Areas closed March 1-Sept. 15 except by permit. |
| Endangered, threatened and special concern species | Listed in 15A NCAC 10I; permits required for collection. |
| Harlequin duck | Season closed. |
| Black and mottled ducks | Closed until Nov. 21, 2026. |
From laws compiled from the NCWRC digest and N.C.G.S. 113-294, checked October 25, 2026.
American Alligator: statutory classes
| Group | Species | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Game animals (G.S. 113-129(7c)) | bear, elk, fox, rabbit, squirrel, white-tailed deer, bobcat (except when trapped), opossum (except when trapped), raccoon (except when trapped) | Elk is a game animal by statute but has no open season (NCWRC species page classifies the herd as nongame). |
| Upland game birds (G.S. 113-129) | grouse, pheasant, quail, wild turkey | |
| Migratory game birds | ducks, geese, brant and swans (Anatidae), doves, rails, gallinules, moorhens, coots, woodcock, snipe | Those for which the U.S. Department of the Interior prescribes open seasons; federal seasons are adopted as state rules (G.S. 113-291.2(a)). |
| Fur-bearing animals (G.S. 113-129(7a)) | beaver, mink, muskrat, nutria, otter, skunk, weasel, bobcat, opossum and raccoon when trapped | |
| Nongame with seasons set by rule | coyote, groundhog, nutria (hunting), striped skunk (hunting), armadillo, feral swine, crow, bullfrog, snapping turtle, American alligator (permit only) | Feral swine = any free-ranging Sus scrofa (G.S. 113-129(5c)); classified nongame since 2011. |
| Birds not protected by federal migratory bird law | house (English) sparrow, feral pigeon (rock dove), European starling, mute swan, Eurasian collared-dove | Listed as exceptions to federal protection in the digest; mute swan release is regulated (15A NCAC 10B .0125). |
From laws compiled from N.C.G.S. 113-129 and the NCWRC digest, checked October 25, 2026.
Alternatives to alligators this season
| Species | Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullfrog | Private land | Statewide | Year-round |
| Nutria | Trapping (statewide) | Statewide | Oct 1–Feb 28 |
NCWRC digest, checked October 25, 2026.
What hunters ask about alligators
What does the protected list say about alligators?
State threatened and federally threatened (similarity of appearance); take only by permit in municipality-requested population reduction hunts.
What sources cover alligators?
From NCWRC pages, the 2026-27 digest and N.C. statutes listed on this page, checked October 25, 2026.
Where are alligators found in the state?
Alligator Management Unit 1: Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Hyde, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico and Pender counties.
Does North Carolina have an open season on alligators?
There is no open season. Rule 15A NCAC 10B .0224 sets Sept. 1-Oct. 1 by permit, one per permit. NCWRC: no permits outside municipality-requested population reduction hunts until further research; state threatened and federally threatened (similarity of appearance). No general season in 2026-27. State threatened and federally threatened (similarity of appearance); take only by permit in municipality-requested population reduction hunts.
Which seasons are open instead of alligators?
Bullfrog and Nutria; each has its own page with dates and limits.
Is there a season row for alligators?
Population reduction hunts only (rule season) (Alligator Management Unit 1).
Is there a alligator lottery?
Permits are issued only for population reduction hunts a municipality requests, and none are listed for this license year.
Are alligators hunted on public land?
Game lands follow the statewide seasons, and alligators have none.
Other photos on this page: watts_photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Monkeystyle3000 (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).