Alligator public-water permits go on sale Tuesday

Alligator public-water permits go on sale Tuesday.

Nine hundred twenty permits will be available in seven hunting zones across the state for the 10-day season, which runs from Aug. 26 through Sept. 5.

The public-waters hunting permits will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Permits will be available only electronically through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks’ website beginning at 9 a.m. Permits will remain on sale until they’re sold out. Possession-permit prices are $150 and the alligator hunting license is $25. A private-lands possession permit is $100 for residents, $200 for non-residents. The fee isn’t refundable or transferable.

To purchase an alligator hunting permit you must be a Mississippi resident, at least 16 years old and possess a valid prerequisite resident license prior to Tuesday: Sportsman License, All-Game Hunting/Fishing License, Small Game Hunting/Fishing License, Apprentice Sportsman License, Apprentice All Game License, Apprentice Small Game License, Senior Exempt License, Disabled Exempt License or Lifetime License.

An alligator-hunting training course will be provided to permit holders, but is no longer mandatory.

Each person is limited to only one permit in one hunting zone of their choice, if its available. Hunting zone boundaries remain unchanged from last year.

Here’s the permit availabilty in each region:

Northwest Zone: 50 permits.

Northeast Zone: 150 permits.

West Central Zone: 170 permits.

Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone: 80 permits.

Southwest Zone: 170 permits.

South Central Zone: 150 permits.

Southeast Zone: 150 permits.

George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone counties are part of the Southeast zone.

The private-lands alligator hunting season goes from Aug. 26 to Sept. 19 and will be available to landowners whose properties meet specific qualifications within 31 open counties. Three new counties — Lowndes, Noxubee, and Oktibbeha — were added for the private-lands season for 2016.

This story was originally published July 16, 2016 at 11:53 AM with the headline "Alligator public-water permits go on sale Tuesday."