2005
Wild Alligator Season Ends Sunday
Posted:
10/26/05
The Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reminds wild alligator hunters
that their 2005 Louisiana wild alligator season will end on
Sunday, Oct. 30.
The season, originally
set to open on Sept. 7 and close on Oct. 6, was delayed due
to Hurricane Katrina and opened on Sept. 14. The season closure
was extended to Oct. 30 after Hurricane Rita delayed hunting
activity throughout coastal Louisiana.
Many hunters were
unable to conduct their normal alligator hunting activities
due to the impacts associated with the hurricanes that struck
Louisiana in August and September. Alligator program staff
continues to assess the effect of the hurricanes on alligator
populations.
The 2005 harvest
is expected to total approximately 32,500 alligators averaging
approximately 7 feet in length. Hunters received an average
price between $28-32 per foot, which represents a substantial
increase from the $22.50 per foot paid in 2004.
Hunters are reminded
that they are required to return any unused tags to the department
by Nov. 14, 2005. Tags should be returned to the LDWF office
where the tags were initially issued, with the exception of
the New Orleans and Rockefeller Refuge offices, which remain
closed at this time. Hunters from those areas should return
their unused tags to LDWF's New Iberia Office, 2415 Darnall
Rd., New Iberia, La. 70560. Any lost, stolen or destroyed
tags must be immediately reported.
Any alligator hides
that remain in the hunter's possession and have not been sold
to commercial buyers must be reported to the department by
Nov. 15, 2005. Additionally any hunter who plans to use an
alligator hide for personal use (taxidermy or tanning within
or out of the state) is required to have the hide inspected,
pay a $4.25 alligator hide tag fee and severance tax, and
obtain a yellow shipping tag prior to the alligator or alligator
hide leaving the possession of the hunter.
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