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alligators considered as a rcncwablo natural rosource, a regulated
commercial harvest program was implemented in 1972. This program has
been continued every year except 1974 (when all alligators wore listed
under the Endangered Species Act) and 1978 (when unstable marketing
conditions forced cancellation of the season) (Hoody ot al., 1980).
The Louisiana harvest program has grown from one southwestern parish to
a statewide harvest in 1981.
The harvest methods outlined in the original 1972 harvest have
been retained with little alterations through the 1986 season. The
harvest parameters of the Louisiana 1972 harvest and the first
experimental alligator harvest in Florida (1981) had similar goals but
dissimilar methods were used. Louisiana hunters were restricted in
capture methods to daylight shooting or setting baited hooks overnight
and checking the line the next morning. All harvesting had to be done
from sunrise to sunet. "Pole" hunting was outlawed to bias tho harvest
toward adult male alligators and away from the breeding females
(Palmisano et ol., 1973). Also, tho season was set in tho fall, after
the summer hatching period, when the females, juveniles, and subadults
are in the marsh, and the adult males in open water (Joanen and
McNease, 1974).
A program of nuisance alligator control has always been in effect
in Louisiana due to human/alligator conflicts In many rural and
metropolitan areas. The earlier programs (before 1979) dealt with
nuisance alligators by relocating them. Yet relocating alligators was
taking up to 50Z of LDWF personnels' time during tho summer months
(Joanen and McNease, 1980). In 1979, a now alligator management
program was instituted in 12 coastal parishes incorporating nuisance
control into the regular commercial alligator harvest system. Private
hunters, chosen by the local governments, wero used to hunt alligators
that could not be harvested by the regular tag allotment system. Yet,
these hunters were required to follow tho some alligator hunting
techniques that applied to ccmoerclal hunters. Results of the
Louisiana nuisance alligator control program conducted In 6 parishes in
1979-1980 yielded a 63.08Z hunter success (Joanen and HcNoase, 1980).
Alligator Harvesting in Florida
By the 1970's alligator complaints in Florida nuobored from 5,000
to 10,000/yr and the rate of alligator attacks on humans appeared to be
increasing (Bines and Keenlyno, 1975, Hinos and Kacnlyne, 1977). In
1977, the status of the alligator population In Florida was changed
from "endangered" to "threatened" (Hinos and Woodward, 1980). Clearly,
with ever increasing human and alligator populations, a large scale
alligator nuisance control program was needed. To implomont this
program, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFC)
divided the state into 5 management regions, oach with individual
coordinators. Complaints wero verified by tho roglonal offices and the
nuisance animals were removed by contract agents assigned by FGFC,
Based on a study of nuisance alligator control in 11 counties of
north-central Florida In 1977, FGFC determined that contract hunters or
agents were more economical and effective than state wildlife officers
at resolving alligator complaints (Hlnes and Woodward, 1980). In 1981,
1SS2 alligator complaints were received and 485 nuisanco alligators
were harvested In the Everglades region alono (Hord, 1982). Capture
methods used by the Florida contract agents set aside the Florida
nuisanco program froo that of Louisiana.