Arkansas hunters secured the second-highest alligator harvest in state history over the last two weekends, with 181 alligators harvested in the sloughs and swamps of The Natural State. Though this falls just short of last year’s record of 202 alligators, the overall trend remains strong as alligator hunting continues to gain popularity in Arkansas.

Amanda Bryant, Herpetologist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), was pleased with the results, particularly the impressive success rate this season.

“Typically, we see about one-third of public land tags filled, but this year we saw a 54 percent success rate on public land,” Bryant said. “Additionally, 96 percent of the private land quota was filled, which is well above average.”

The weather likely played a role in boosting the harvest. According to Bryant, Hurricane Helene may have pushed some hunters to take an alligator earlier in the season, rather than waiting for a larger one.

“Many hunters hold out for a trophy gator, but some may have opted to harvest a smaller one due to the forecasted rain,” Bryant said. “Fortunately, the weather improved for the second weekend, and we continued to see solid numbers harvested throughout the season.”

Among the successful hunters was Cody Gourley of Amity, who brought in a 12-foot, 6-inch alligator from Millwood Lake during the second weekend.

“We went out the first weekend and saw 70 to 75 gators each night, but we just couldn’t get close enough to land a big one,” Gourley said. “By the second weekend, I was ready to take any gator, but my uncle convinced me to wait until midnight. At about 9:30 that Saturday night, we saw the one we were looking for.”

Using a snare rigged from instructions on the AGFC’s website, Gourley managed to subdue the massive reptile after a tense and up-close encounter.

“The snare made for a more intimate experience. We had to get within 8 feet of the gator to loop the snare,” he said. “Once we snared it, the fight was on.”

In a small 14-foot boat, Gourley and his crew floated the enormous alligator beside them as they returned to the ramp.

“We couldn’t even fit it in the boat. It was unlike any hunt I’ve ever been on,” Gourley said.

Bryant highlighted the success at Millwood Lake, where hunters filled six of the eight public tags, a positive step toward addressing local concerns about the growing alligator population.

“We’ve had several anglers worried about too many alligators in Millwood, so this harvest was encouraging,” Bryant said. “The increased hunting opportunity is helping to reduce potential human-wildlife conflicts in the area.”

Bryant also noted that the rising harvest numbers on private land have helped decrease nuisance calls in southern Arkansas.

“We’ve seen a significant drop in nuisance alligator calls thanks to private land hunts,” Bryant said. “Landowners can now handle problem alligators themselves during hunting season, which has made a real difference.”

This season, Alligator Management Zones 1 (southwest Arkansas) and 3 (southeast Arkansas) tied for the highest number of gators harvested, with 87 alligators taken in each. Zone 2 (south-central Arkansas) accounted for seven.

Alligator hunting in Arkansas is available by permit only. The AGFC issues 50 public hunting permits through a lottery system, and hunting is allowed only in designated areas of certain wildlife management areas (WMAs), lakes, and rivers in southern Arkansas. On private land, anyone can purchase an alligator hunting permit, but the season ends early if the zone’s quota is met.

Alligator hunting is open from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise during the last two weekends in September. All harvested alligators must be snared or harpooned by hand before being dispatched.

For more information, visit AGFC Alligator Hunting.

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