Commission sets 2026-27 hunting seasons, adds bear season details
Louisiana sportsmen will get a month-long recreational season for alligators this fall, as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries seeks to try and do something to halt the expansion of the big water lizards across the Sportsman’s Paradise.
“It’s been a 2 ½-year process… and people are excited,” said Jeb Linscombe, the alligator program manager for LDWF. “I think it’s long overdue and a great way to maybe be proactive and get ahead of our growing alligator population.”
Through a lottery that will cost Louisiana residents $50 to enter, LDWF will draw for 5,000 recreational permits, each allowing the holder to harvest two alligators, for an Oct. 1-31 season. Sportsmen who are drawn can spend $25 for a recreational alligator license, with non-residents paying $150 for the opportunity to tag along and help fill the tags, which will be distributed by zone to put more hunters in areas not currently under heavy hunting pressure from Louisiana’s commercial alligator hunters.
The hunting zones
The hunting zones will match current wildlife enforcement zones. Zone A (Northwest Louisiana) will be apportioned 500 permits; Zone B (Northeast Louisiana) gets 1,250 permits; Zone C (Central Louisiana) gets 1,250 permits, Zone D (South Louisiana) gets 400, Zone E (Southwest Louisiana) 400, Zone F (South Louisiana) 400, Zone G (Eastern Louisiana) 400 and Zone H (Southeast Louisiana) gets 400.
Sportsmen will not be allowed to target alligators in areas that are assigned to commercial hunting, but Linscombe said with a statewide alligator population of 2 million, there should be plenty all around.
“We are trying to get tags in the hands of a lot of people, but we don’t want to negatively affect our existing alligator program that’s 50 years old and has been very successful,” Linscombe said. “There are some places that have alligators but don’t qualify for commercial tags. We set out to put more hunting opportunities in the northern part of the state because commercial alligator hunting is primarily in south Louisiana.”
The LWFC voted to advance a Notice of Intent laying out all alligator regulations based on legislation sponsored by Sen. Robert Allain and Rep. Neil Riser.
The rules
All alligators taken recreationally must be caught from the bank by hook and line or snagging; animals can be dispatched by bang stick or firearm. Upon their taking, they must be immediately tagged with a plastic tag, and mandatory reporting within 72 hours is required by LDWF’s normal reporting systems, including the agency’s website, toll-free telephone number, portal and LA Wallet.
Reporting will include the length of all alligators taken, along with location and date – information LDWF can use in future alligator management plans. Alligators taken via recreational tags cannot be sold commercially or commingled with alligators taken with commercial tags. Also, taking alligators without using the animal’s meat is illegal, all unused parts of an alligator must be disposed of properly, and no for-hire guides can be used by recreational tag holders.
All recreational hunters must have landowner permission to set up on private property, and they can use only two lines for each tag they have. They can start with four lines, but after one alligator is harvested, they are restricted to two lines. All lines used must be at least 300-pound test strength.
The proposed recreational alligator season will get one more chance for public comment, on June 26, with the final rules to be published Aug. 20.
More news
The LWFC voted to pass 2026-27 hunting and fishing regulations and seasons as originally introduced, plus five “potpourri amendments” that make small changes.
The LWFC also voted to table further discussion about areas affected by Chronic Wasting Disease in the white-tailed deer herd, along with any changes in those areas regarding season dates and other regulations.
The commission gave final approval for a Notice of Intent (NOI) to conduct the next Louisiana black bear hunting season in December of 2026. A total of 42 tags will be tentatively issued for the hunt including 20 for Bear Area 4, eight for Area 1, four each for Areas 2-3 and two each for Areas 5-6-7. The lottery will begin in late July.
