2026 Alligator Season Dates by State (8 States, Plus NC Exception)
When can you hunt alligators in 2026? Here are the application windows and season dates for the eight states with a regulated public season — plus why North Carolina is the exception.
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Eight U.S. states run a regulated public alligator season, and every one has different application windows, dates, and legal methods. (North Carolina is the exception — it does not run a public season; see the note below the table.) This page puts the 2026 dates side by side and links to a full rules guide for each state. Because seasons and rules change every year, treat this as a starting point and confirm the specifics with each state’s wildlife agency.
Application windows, season dates, fees, legal weapons, and tag rules change yearly and can be amended on short notice. Use the table below to plan, then confirm every detail with the official agency — links are in each state’s guide.
2026 alligator application & season dates by state
| State | 2026 application window | 2026 season | Method & notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | June 2 – July 14 (draw July 15) | Aug 13, 20 & Sep 10 (night) | Catch-and-restrain; 260 tags, 5 zones |
| Arkansas | July 1 – July 31 | Last two weekends of September (night) | Catch-and-restrain; Zones 1 & 2 |
| Florida | Phased May–June (Phase I ~May 18) | Aug 15 – Nov 1 | Hand-capture; bangstick only; ~7,000 permits |
| Georgia | June 1 – July 15 | Quota season, late Aug–Oct | Capture-alive; ≥48 in (≥96 in Zone 1A) |
| Louisiana | Lottery / landowner tags | East Aug 26 · West Sep 2 – Dec 31 | Baited hook-and-line; firearms OK (no shotguns) |
| Mississippi | June 1 – June 12 | Aug 28 (noon) – Sep 7 (noon) | Catch-and-restrain; public-water draw |
| South Carolina | June 1 – July 15 ($10) | Sep 12 (noon) – Oct 10 (noon) | Restrain-first; 4–8 ft “slot tag” option |
| Texas | Landowner / CITES tags | Core counties Sep 9–29 · non-core Apr 1 – Jun 30 | Firearms in non-core only; hook-first in core |
Tap a state to open its full rules guide. North Carolina is not in this table because it does not run a public season — see the note below. Sources: state wildlife agencies (FWC, LDWF, TPWD, GADNR, SCDNR, MDWFP, Outdoor Alabama, Arkansas Game & Fish, NCWRC) and 2026 season announcements.
How alligator applications work
Most states award alligator tags by lottery or quota draw with an application window in early summer (often June–July) for a season that opens in late summer or fall. A few — notably Louisiana and Texas — are largely tag- and landowner-driven, where access to land with tags matters more than a draw. Methods split sharply too: the Southeast (MS, AL, GA, SC, AR, and Florida) requires you to catch and restrain the gator before dispatching it, while Louisiana and non-core Texas allow firearms. Each state guide spells out the details.
Full alligator rules guide for each state
- Alabama alligator hunting rules, season & methods
- Arkansas alligator hunting rules, season & methods
- Florida alligator hunting rules, season & methods
- Georgia alligator hunting rules, season & methods
- Louisiana alligator hunting rules, season & methods
- Mississippi alligator hunting rules, season & methods
- North Carolina: no standing season — how population reduction hunts actually work
- South Carolina alligator hunting rules, season & methods
- Texas alligator hunting rules, season & methods
New to it all? Start with our complete guide to alligator hunting across the Southern states, then gear up with budget heavy spinning combos, heavy braided line, and treble snag hooks.
Frequently asked questions
Eight: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. North Carolina allows only limited, municipality-requested population reduction hunts — not a public season or lottery like the other eight.
Louisiana (rifles and handguns, but never shotguns) and the non-core counties of Texas. Most Southeastern states require you to catch and restrain the gator first, then dispatch it; Florida allows only a bangstick on a restrained gator.
Most states open applications in early summer — often June or July — for seasons that run late summer into fall. Florida uses a phased drawing starting in May. Always confirm the exact 2026 window with the state agency.
The bottom line
Eight states offer a regulated public alligator season in 2026, each with its own dates, draw, and legal methods. North Carolina is the exception — it has no public season, only rare, municipality-requested population reduction hunts. Use the table to compare the eight at a glance, open the state guide for the details, and always verify the current rules with the official agency before you apply or hunt.
More 2026 Alligator Hunting Guides
- Alligator Hunting Cost: DIY vs. Guided (2026) – real outfitter rates vs. DIY gear costs, state by state.
- Gator Bowfishing Gear: The Complete Buying Guide (2026) – bows, arrows, points, reels, and line for legal gator bowfishing.
- 4 Legal Ways to Hunt Alligators (2026) – snagging, harpooning, bowfishing, and snares compared.
- Alligator Hunting Boat Accessories You Actually Need (2026) – trolling motors, lights, dry boxes, and more.
