Alligator Program Statistics
Wild Hunt Seasons Alligator Ranching Program Wild Harvests Farm Harvest
Louisiana Wild Alligator Seasons, 1972-2004
Year |
Season Dates |
No. of Days |
Parishes |
1972 |
5 Sept – 17 Sept |
13 |
Cameron |
1973 |
10 Sept – 28 Sept |
19 |
Added Vermilion |
1974 |
Season Closed – Endangered Species Act of 1973 |
||
1975 |
20 Sept – 19 Oct |
30 |
Added Calcasieu |
1976 |
9 Sept – 8 Oct |
30 |
No change |
1977 |
1 Sept – 30 Sept |
30 |
No change |
1978 |
Season Closed – CITES * |
||
1979 |
7 Sept – 7 Oct |
31 |
Coastwide ** |
1980 |
4 Sept – 4 Oct |
31 |
No change |
1981 |
31 Aug – 30 Sept |
31 |
Statewide |
1982 |
4 Sept – 3 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1983 |
10 Sept – 9 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1984 |
8 Sept – 7 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1985 |
31 Aug- 30 Sept |
31 |
Statewide |
1986 |
6 Sept – 6 Oct |
31 |
Statewide |
1987 |
5 Sept – 5 Oct |
31 |
Statewide |
1988 |
10 Sept – 10 Oct |
31 |
Statewide |
1989 |
9 Sept – 8 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1990 |
1 Sept – 30 Sept |
30 |
Statewide |
1991 |
31 Aug – 29 Sept |
30 |
Statewide |
1992 |
10 Sept – 4 Oct |
25 |
Statewide |
1993 |
11 Sept – 10 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1994 |
3 Sept – 2 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1995 |
2 Sept – 1 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1996 |
7 Sept – 6 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1997 |
6 Sept – 5 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1998 |
2 Sept – 1 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
1999 |
1 Sept – 30 Sept |
30 |
Statewide |
2000 |
30 Aug – 30 Sept |
32 |
Statewide |
2001 |
29 Aug – 30 Sept |
33 |
Statewide |
2002 |
28 Aug – 30 Sept |
34 |
Statewide |
2003 |
3 Sept – 2 Oct |
30 |
Statewide |
2004 |
1 Sept – 30 Sept |
30 |
Statewide |
* CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
** Added Iberia , St. Mary, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Charles , Jefferson , Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany
Louisiana Ranching Program
| Number | Number | Alligators | |
| Year | Collected | Hatched | Returned to Wild |
| 1986 | 2,903 | 1,985 | none |
| 1987 | 18,041 | 13,782 | none |
| 1988 | 64,887 | 50,394 | 1,680 |
| 1989 | 181,819 | 137,323 | 7,078 |
| 1990 | 293,412 | 231,434 | 6,088 |
| 1991 | 198,089 | 165,054 | 44,405 |
| 1992 | 164,892 | 133,463 | 35,531 |
| 1993 | 155,891 | 123,666 | 28,512 |
| 1994 | 266,408 | 223,011 | 21,633 |
| 1995 | 314,371 | 261,428 | 20,749 |
| 1996 | 279,237 | 233,076 | 40,919 |
| 1997 | 377,636 | 321,641 | 48,171 |
| 1998 | 280,870 | 240,118 | 36,733 |
| 1999 | 382,611 | 332,428 | 44,169 |
| 2000 | 279,217 | 236,313 | 39,559 |
| 2001 | 354,636 | 294,405 | 48,288 |
| 2002 | 354,523 | 304,448 | 32,716 |
| 2003 | 357,757 | 307,805 | 50,417 |
| 2004 | 396,069 | 349,311 | 47,431 |
| Total | 4,723,269 | 3,961,085 | 554,079 |
| Updated February 10, 2005 | |||
September Wild Alligator Harvest in Louisiana, 1972-2004
| Commercial | Tags | Number | Percent | Avg T. L. | Skin Value | Meat **** | |||||
| Year ** | Hunters | Issued | Taken | Success | in Feet | Avg/foot | Total | Amount (lbs) | Value | ||
| 1972 | 59 | 1,961 | 1,350 | 68.8 | 6.92 | $8.10 | $75,670 | *** | *** | ||
| 1973 | 107 | 3,243 | 2,921 | 90.1 | 7.58 | $13.13 | $290,714 | *** | *** | ||
| 1975 | 191 | 4,645 | 4,420 | 95.2 | 7.51 | $7.88 | $261,570 | *** | *** | ||
| 1976 | 198 | 4,767 | 4,389 | 92.1 | 7.09 | $16.55 | $515,003 | *** | *** | ||
| 1977 | 236 | 5,760 | 5,474 | 95 | 7.35 | $12.23 | $492,061 | *** | *** | ||
| 1979 | 708 | 17,516 | 16,300 | 93 | 6.92 | $15.00 | $1,691,940 | 100,089 | $125,000 | ||
| 1980 | 796 | 19,134 | 17,692 | 92.5 | 6.59 | $13.00 | $1,515,674 | 100,089 | $125,000 | ||
| 1981 | 913 | 15,534 | 14,870 | 95.7 | 6.92 | $17.50 | $1,800,757 | 100,089 | $125,000 | ||
| 1982 | 1,184 | 18,188 | 17,142 | 94.2 | 6.82 | $13.50 | $1,578,264 | 100,089 | $125,000 | ||
| 1983 | 945 | 17,130 | 16,154 | 94.3 | 6.92 | $13.00 | $1,453,214 | 100,089 | $125,000 | ||
| 1984 | 1,104 | 18,386 | 17,389 | 94.6 | 6.99 | $21.00 | $2,552,531 | 100,089 | $125,000 | ||
| 1985 | 1,076 | 17,466 | 16,691 | 95.6 | 7.09 | $21.00 | $2,485,123 | 150,133 | $675,000 | ||
| 1986 | 1,207 | 23,267 | 22,429 | 96 | 6.92 | $23.00 | $3,569,800 | 310,275 | $1,395,000 | ||
| 1987 | 1,370 | 24,635 | 23,892 | 97 | 7.09 | $40.00 | $6,775,771 | 500,444 | $2,250,000 | ||
| 1988 | 1,545 | 24,111 | 23,526 | 98 | 7.25 | $48.00 | $8,187,048 | 600,533 | $3,000,000 | ||
| 1989 | 1,769 | 25,492 | 24,846 | 97.4 | 7.25 | $50.00 | $9,006,675 | 747,448 | $3,000,000 | ||
| 1990 | 1,921 | 26,051 | 25,575 | 98.2 | 7.25 | $57.00 | $10,568,869 | 701,063 | $3,000,000 | ||
| 1991 | 1,995 | 24,532 | 23,870 | 97.3 | 7.45 | $32.00 | $5,690,608 | 684,109 | $2,935,000 | ||
| 1992 | 1,686 | 25,378 | 24,000 | 94 | 7.25 | $23.00 | $4,002,000 | 687,835 | $2,951,520 | ||
| 1993 | 1,702 | 24,805 | 23,991 | 96.7 | 7.25 | $23.00 | $4,000,499 | 687,615 | $2,889,000 | ||
| 1994 | 1,774 | 27,694 | 27,120 | 97.9 | 7.35 | $37.00 | $7,375,284 | 771,610 | $3,243,000 | ||
| 1995 | 1,877 | 28,931 | 28,442 | 98.3 | 7.35 | $41.00 | $8,570,997 | 809,088 | $3,400,000 | ||
| 1996 | 1,948 | 26,578 | 25,789 | 97 | 7.41 | $25.00 | $4,777,412 | 734,793 | $3,967,800 | ||
| 1997 | 1,973 | 29,900 | 29,085 | 97.3 | 7.08 | $18.00 | $3,706,592 | 828,423 | $4,473,000 | ||
| 1998 | 1,888 | 30,198 | 28,639 | 94.8 | 7.08 | $15.00 | $3,041,462 | 804,679 | $4,350,000 | ||
| 1999 regular | 1,902 | 33,279 | 32,097 | 96.4 | 7.17 | $22.00 | $5,062,981 | 909,398 | $4,881,000 | ||
| 1999 bonus | 3,308 | 3,173 | 95.9 | 5.75 | $15.50 | $282,794 | 44,335 | $237,250 | |||
| 2000 regular | 1,941 | 31,999 | 30,532 | 95.4 | 7.17 | $27.00 | $5,910,690 | 1,061,903 | $5,702,419 | ||
| 2000 bonus | 3,299 | 3,146 | 95.4 | 5.75 | $23.00 | $416,059 | 56,785 | $303,801 | |||
| 2001 regular | 1,916 | 32,738 | 31,935 | 97.5 | 7.33 | $22.00 | $5,149,838 | 734,505 | $3,305,273 | ||
| 2001 bonus | 3,333 | 3,213 | 96.4 | 5.83 | $20.00 | $374,636 | 73,899 | $332,546 | |||
| 2002 regular | 1,955 | 31,847 | 30,487 | 95.7 | 7.25 | $16.00 | $3,536,492 | 701,201 | $3,155,405 | ||
| 2002 bonus | 3,280 | 2,896 | 88.3 | 5.83 | $16.00 | $270,139 | 66,608 | $299,736 | |||
| 2003 regular | 1,873 | 30,533 | 28,560 | 93.5 | 7.17 | $13.00 | $2,662,078 | 656,880 | $2,955,960 | ||
| 2003 bonus | 3,270 | 3,011 | 92.1 | 5.83 | $13.00 | $228,204 | 69,253 | $311,639 | |||
| 2004 regular | 1,859 | 31,584 | 30,269 | 95.8 | 7.17 | $22.50 | $4,883,146 | 696,187 | $3,132,842 | ||
| 2004 bonus | 3,664 | 3,456 | 94.3 | 5.83 | $22.50 | $453,341 | 79,488 | $357,696 | |||
| * | Does not include Salvador WMA harvests from 1972-2003 and Marsh Island experimental, nuisance, and farm harvests from 1972-present. | ||||||||||
| ** | The bonus tag program was initiated in 1999 to increase the overall number of wild alligators harvested without putting any additional pressure on the 6' and over portion of the wild population. | ||||||||||
| *** | Sale of meat not permitted; La. Health Department regulations first allowed meat sales in 1979. | ||||||||||
| **** | Bone in from 1979-1984, deboned from 1985-present. | ||||||||||
| Subject to change, numbers updated April 26, 2005. | |||||||||||
Farm Alligator Harvest in Louisiana, 1972-2003
| No. Farms | No. Skins | Avg T. L. | Skin Value | Meat *** | ||||||
| Year * | Licensed | Sold Skins | Sold | in Feet | Avg/foot | Total | Amount (lbs) | Value | ||
| 1972 | 8 | 3 | 35 | 5 | $8.10 | $1,418 | ** | ** | ||
| 1973 | 8 | 5 | 103 | 6.33 | $13.13 | $8,561 | ** | ** | ||
| 1975 | 8 | 3 | 83 | 5.5 | $7.88 | $3,597 | ** | ** | ||
| 1976 | 8 | 3 | 360 | 5.75 | $16.55 | $34,259 | ** | ** | ||
| 1977 | 8 | 4 | 376 | 5.25 | $12.23 | $24,142 | ** | ** | ||
| 1980 | 8 | 1 | 191 | 4.67 | $13.00 | $11,596 | 957 | $3,342 | ||
| 1981 | 8 | 3 | 360 | 4.67 | $17.50 | $29,421 | 1,801 | $6,300 | ||
| 1982 | 8 | 1 | 113 | 4 | $13.50 | $6,102 | 452 | $1,582 | ||
| 1983 | 14 | 6 | 1,449 | 4.58 | $13.00 | $86,273 | 7,253 | $25,357 | ||
| 1984 | 12 | 7 | 2,836 | 4.25 | $21.00 | $253,113 | 11,354 | $39,704 | ||
| 1985 | 15 | 12 | 4,430 | 4.25 | $21.00 | $395,378 | 17,736 | $79,740 | ||
| 1986 | 22 | 15 | 5,925 | 4.5 | $23.00 | $613,238 | 26,687 | $119,983 | ||
| 1987 | 30 | 23 | 10,670 | 4.42 | $24.00 | $1,131,874 | 48,060 | $216,067 | ||
| 1988 | 47 | 38 | 27,749 | 4.25 | $36.00 | $4,245,597 | 111,094 | $554,980 | ||
| 1989 | 83 | 68 | 66,737 | 3.98 | $32.00 | $8,499,624 | 300,877 | $1,202,362 | ||
| 1990 | 123 | 80 | 88,424 | 4.03 | $24.00 | $8,552,369 | 397,732 | $1,786,059 | ||
| 1991 | 134 | 91 | 118,976 | 4.13 | $15.00 | $7,370,563 | 536,379 | $2,380,000 | ||
| 1992 | 125 | 85 | 128,026 | 4.04 | $12.00 | $6,206,700 | 578,289 | $2,566,000 | ||
| 1993 | 101 | 70 | 121,700 | 3.87 | $17.00 | $8,006,643 | 388,010 | $1,720,000 | ||
| 1994 | 89 | 62 | 136,126 | 3.67 | $20.00 | $9,991,648 | 277,780 | $1,197,000 | ||
| 1995 | 83 | 50 | 125,460 | 3.88 | $20.00 | $9,735,696 | 331,395 | $1,323,000 | ||
| 1996 | 81 | 51 | 161,845 | 3.91 | $15.50 | $9,808,616 | 511,668 | $2,297,900 | ||
| 1997 | 75 | 36 | 169,988 | 3.74 | $16.75 | $10,648,898 | 542,332 | $2,435,700 | ||
| 1998 | 73 | 38 | 154,399 | 3.79 | $17.00 | $9,947,928 | 490,990 | $2,209,455 | ||
| 1999 | 64 | 35 | 187,570 | 3.64 | $17.00 | $11,606,832 | 552,693 | $2,487,119 | ||
| 2000 | 66 | 35 | 219,827 | 3.81 | $20.50 | $17,169,588 | 659,481 | $2,967,665 | ||
| 2001 | 63 | 32 | 180,391 | 3.79 | $20.50 | $14,015,479 | 541,173 | $2,435,279 | ||
| 2002 | 62 | 32 | 237,808 | 3.73 | $23.50 | $20,845,060 | 713,424 | $3,210,408 | ||
| 2003 | 61 | 30 | 274,485 | 3.81 | $24.00 | $25,098,908 | 823,455 | $3,705,548 | ||
| * | Tag year extends from September of the year designated to the next September (example: 1997 = 9/97 to 8/98). | |||||||||
| ** | Sale of meat not permitted; La. Health Department regulations first allowed meat sales in 1979. | |||||||||
| *** | Deboned from 1980-present. | |||||||||
| Subject to change, numbers updated April 26, 2005. | ||||||||||
