The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is extending the application period for permitted American alligator hunts for the September 1 to October 1 season.
Municipalities within the North Carolina Alligator Management Plan's designated Alligator Management Unit 1, which includes Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Hyde, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico and Pender counties, now have until June 1 to submit an application.
In February, the Commission adopted a rule to allow a limited take of alligators. Hunting would be limited to population reduction hunts at the request of municipalities within Alligator Management Unit 1. According to a press release, after applying for a population hunt, the municipality would then work with Commission staff to assess alligator numbers, define areas of public safety concern and identify areas where alligator take could be safely conducted. Then, a limited number of permits would be issued by lottery with a bag limit of one per permit and a season limit of one alligator. Permittees would be required to complete a Commission harvest survey and allow staff to collect biological data from the harvested alligator.
PRE erroneously reported that the application period was for hunters. To clarify, hunting would only be allowed if the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission approves the request from a municipality. We apologize for the error.
