Louisiana Law to Create Recreational Alligator Hunting Season

BATON ROUGE, La. (KMDL-FM) - Louisiana lawmakers are considering a new proposal that could significantly change how alligator hunting works across the state. The proposal is already moving through the legislative process and could potentially take effect later this year if it becomes law.

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Proposed Bill Would Allow Recreational Alligator Hunting in Louisiana

A bill, SB244, introduced in the Louisiana Legislature would create a recreational alligator hunting season, opening the door for more licensed hunters to legally hunt gators outside of the current system.

Currently, Louisiana law only allows commercial alligator hunting, meaning hunters must be part of a commercial program to harvest gators.

The new proposal, Senate Bill 244, would establish a separate recreational hunting season for alligators.

According to WBRZ, the legislation was authored by Robert Allain from Franklin, Louisiana. If approved, the bill would allow licensed hunters to hunt alligators recreationally during a designated season determined by Louisiana wildlife officials.

The recreational hunting season would operate separately from the existing commercial alligator hunting season.

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Louisiana Hunters Would Need Specific Licenses and Tags

Under the proposal, anyone participating in recreational alligator hunting would be required to carry multiple permits.

Hunters would need:

A valid Louisiana hunting license
A state alligator hunting license
Recreational alligator harvest tags issued by wildlife officials

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

SB244 Advances in Louisiana Legislature

The proposal has already cleared an early legislative step. Louisiana lawmakers on the Senate Committee on Natural Resources approved the bill, sending it to the full Louisiana Senate for debate. If it passes both chambers of the Legislature and receives the governor’s signature, the new law could take effect August 1, 2026.