Hunters in Arkansas need to head to their keyboards instead of the water, as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) has officially opened the application period for the 2024 alligator hunting season. Applications, which began being accepted at 8 a.m. on June 15, can be submitted online until 11:59 p.m. on June 30.
This follows a record-breaking 2023 alligator season, prompting the AGFC to expand the hunting areas for this year. Two new zones have been added, increasing the total to 10 hunting areas across southern Arkansas. The new zones in Alligator Management Zone 3 include Yellow Lake in the Pine Bluff Arsenal, which has one permit, and the Delta Wetland Complex comprising Lake Grampus, Lake Wallace, Lake Enterprise, Lake Chicot, and Grand Lake, with six permits available.
Available Permits by Zone:
- Alligator Management Zone 1:
- Eight permits for Millwood Lake
- Four permits for Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D’Arc WMA
- Five permits for Little River
- One permit for Sulphur River WMA
- One permit for Lake Erling
- Alligator Management Zone 2:
- One permit for Bragg Lake
- One permit for Lake Columbia
- Alligator Management Zone 3:
- 19 permits for the Lower Arkansas River Wetland Complex (Arkansas River backwaters near Arkansas Post)
- One permit for Yellow Lake at the Pine Bluff Arsenal
- Six permits for the Delta Wetland Complex
Special Requirements for Yellow Lake
Eric Brinkman, AGFC’s assistant chief of fisheries, highlighted the unique requirements for the Yellow Lake permit within the Pine Bluff Arsenal. “Hunters applying for the Yellow Lake permit should be aware that special regulations apply,” Brinkman explained. “Applicants must undergo a background check administered by the Arsenal due to the use of firearms and access restrictions. Only permit holders and their designated assistants, who must also pass through an arsenal checkpoint, are allowed on-site.”
Alligator hunting is limited to Yellow Lake within the Pine Bluff Arsenal, even though there are multiple bodies of water on the property.
Orientation and Further Information
All successful applicants must complete an online orientation before they can head out for the hunt. This orientation covers essential details and frequently asked questions to ensure hunters are well-prepared. For more information and to complete the orientation, visit AGFC’s alligator hunting page.
Hunters are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to secure their spots for this highly anticipated hunting season.
Contact Information:
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Website: www.agfc.com
Phone: (800) 364-4263
Get your applications in and prepare for an exciting and regulated alligator hunt in 2024!
(Photo via AGFC)
