Louisiana Expanded Recreational Alligator Hunt October 2026

LOUISIANA - The good news is, Louisiana's alligator population is thriving. The bad news is, Louisiana's alligator population is thriving and it's resulting in more and more unwanted and dangerous situations for people, and pets.

In fact, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials estimate there are now more than 3 million alligators across Louisiana. That's a pretty big turnaround for a species that was once in serious trouble.

Louisiana is expanding to allow for a recreational alligator hunt this fall, giving thousands of Louisiana hunters an opportunity to legally harvest alligators under a new lottery system.

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Louisiana's Alligator Population Has Exploded

Decades of hunting dramatically reduced the number of wild alligators in Louisiana. At one point, the alligator population had fallen below 100,000.

Conservation efforts eventually allowed alligators to make a huge comeback. Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries estimates Louisiana is home to more than 3 million wild alligators.

READ MORE: The 7 Most Alligator Infested States

This recovery is considered a major conservation success, but it also creates a new problem for us...managing such a large population of alligators while keeping people safe.

Florida Wildlife

Louisiana's Expanded Recreational Alligator Hunt

Louisiana is allowing recreational hunters to participate through a lottery system covering eight designated harvest zones.

The first round offered opportunities for as many as 5,000 people, with each selected hunter potentially able to harvest two alligators.

The first ever recreational hunt is set to begin October 1 and run through October 31. This could result in as many as 10,000 additional alligators being harvested during the recreational season.

READ MORE: Is It Illegal to Feed Alligators in Louisiana?

It's also important to know that this expanded hunting season is separate from Louisiana's commercial alligator hunting season.

Jeb Linscombe with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries tells KALB -

The two most important rules are you have to have written land owner permission to hunt where you’re hunting on and that property cannot have commercial tags in our commercial tag program issued to that property.

If you live near a bayou, lake, canal or other body of water, remember that alligators can be present even when you don't see them.

Keep pets away from the water's edge, never feed a wild alligator and give these animals plenty of space.