FWC considers extending alligator hunting hours
News Release
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Media contact: Tony Young, 850-488-7867
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) directed staff to advertise a rule amendment to
extend alligator hunting hours. Commissioners will vote on it at
their June meeting.
The FWC gave preliminary approval for an additional
four hours of daylight-hunting to the state's recreational
alligator hunting season, which runs Aug. 15 - Nov. 1 each
year.
Currently, the rule primarily allows for only
nighttime-hunting of alligators, between one hour before sunset and
one hour after sunrise. The change would extend alligator
hunting hours, establishing the legal hours from 5 p.m. until 10
a.m. during the annual 11-week season.
In developing the recommendation, FWC staff weighed
biological considerations, people's desire for additional daylight
opportunities to hunt alligators, the concerns expressed about
potential conflicts between alligator hunters and other users of
lakes and rivers, and the unique and diverse views citizens have
about alligators and their management in Florida.
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