Louisiana Alligator Season Kicks Off Soon: Here’s What You Need to Know
While many Louisiana hunters anxiously await the "unofficial" opening of hunting season when dove season begins on September 7, many are unaware that there will be other hunters in search of their prey just two weeks from today.
Just who are these hunters? They are the ones who will board jon boats and take to the many backwater areas of the Bayou State in search of our abundant supply of prehistoric monstrous alligators.
I have to admit that even though I have always wanted to, I have never actually gone alligator hunting.
While I've hunted everything from deer and squirrels to ducks, frogs, rabbits and raccoons, but as of yet, have never been there when someone hollered in their best Troy Landry impersonation, "Choot 'em."
But for those dedicated men and women here in Louisiana that enjoy taking these beasts, that time is coming very soon.
Louisiana Is Actually Separated Into Two Different Zones For Alligator Season
Much like it is for duck season, Louisiana is divided into two separate zones when it comes to alligator season.
For the East Zone, which is relegated exclusively to the very southeastern portion of Louisiana, that season will begin the last Wednesday of August, which this year in 2025 will be in two weeks on Wednesday, August 27.
When Does The 2025 Louisiana Alligator Season Start In The West Zone?
For the remainder of the state, in the West Zone, alligator season will begin on the first Wednesday of September, which this year is only three weeks away, on September 3.
In our area, along with special permits allotted for private land, alligator hunting will be permitted to lottery winning permit holders on Bodcau, Black Lake, Cypress/Black Bayou, Caddo, Cross, Ivan, Kepler, Lake Bistineau, Toledo Bend and Wallace Lake.
As mentioned above, those lottery permits are available each year in May. According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries: "Through the Lottery Alligator Harvest Program, LDWF provides more than 1,000 resident alligator hunters the opportunity to harvest over 3,000 alligators on over 51 wildlife management areas and public lakes throughout the state. Lottery applications are available in May of each year."
The LDWF also highlights a couple of other items these hunters must know before they begin to exercise those permits on their allocated body of water:
Louisiana Legal Alligator Hunting Hours
Alligators may be harvested between official sunrise and sunset only. Nighttime harvest is prohibited.
Louisiana Legal Alligator Harvest and Size Limits
The daily and season quota is equal to the number of alligator harvest tags that a licensed alligator hunter possesses. There are no size restrictions on wild alligators taken during the open season.
Louisiana Legal Alligator Harvest Methods
Alligator hunters may use hook and line, bow and arrow, and firearms (except shotguns) to harvest alligators. Possession of shotguns is prohibited while hunting or taking wild alligators. The fishing (hook and line) method is the most common and is the only method allowed on public areas.
To read more about Louisiana's alligator hunting rules and regulations just go HERE to the LDWF website.