It’s hard to beat the excitement of an alligator hunting trip that results in a big bull gator, but before you can tag that prehistoric reptile you have got to get your application submitted if you plan on hunting in Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks reminds gator hunters that there are hunting opportunities on both public waters and private lands in 2009.
This year there are two public waters zones open to limited alligator hunting opportunities, the Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone near Jackson and the Pascagoula River Zone in Jackson County. As in past years, applications are limited to Mississippi residents 16 years of age or older. If you have been looking forward to chasing gators get your applications in as soon as possible. The public waters season application deadline is June 15.
The alligator hunting season on private lands will be from September 18 through October 4 in Wilkinson, Adams, Jefferson, Claiborne, Warren, Issaquena, Washington, Humphreys, Holmes, Yazoo, Hinds, Rankin and Madison County. The deadline for private lands applications is July 1, later than the public hunt areas.
Gating hunting can be a lot of fun, but it can also be challenging for those that have never attempted it. That being said, after submitting your application try to learn as much as possible about alligator behavior and effective hunting techniques. There are tried-and-true strategies that can really increase your chances of harvesting a big alligator.
For more information and instructions on alligator hunting opportunities in Mississippi contact the Mississippi Department of Wildlife.
Looking to get gator tags for this year