Louisiana Alligator Hunting Season Approved to Address Growing Population

New recreational hunting program aims to control alligator numbers and protect people and pets

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:39pm

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A bold, stylized silkscreen illustration featuring multiple neon green alligator heads repeated in a grid pattern, conveying the concept of Louisiana's growing alligator population and the need for population control measures.A new recreational alligator hunting season aims to manage Louisiana's exploding reptile population and protect residents from dangerous encounters.Franklin Today

The Louisiana state legislature has approved a new recreational alligator hunting season to help manage the state's growing alligator population, which has increased from fewer than 100,000 five decades ago to over 3 million today. The season will allow up to 5,000 hunters annually to harvest two alligators each, with the goal of controlling the reptile population that has expanded across the state and posed risks to people and pets.

Why it matters

Louisiana's alligator population has exploded in recent decades, with the state now home to over 3 million of the reptiles - more than twice the number in Florida, the state with the second-largest alligator population. This rapid growth has led to increased encounters between alligators and humans, including a fatal attack on a 12-year-old boy in 2025. The new recreational hunting season aims to address this public safety issue while also providing new outdoor opportunities for Louisiana sportsmen and women.

The details

Senate Bill 244, sponsored by Sen. Robert Allain, would authorize the Louisiana Wildlife Commission to create a recreational alligator hunting season open to 5,000 hunters annually, with each hunter allowed to harvest two gators. The season would be separate from the state's existing commercial alligator hunting program, which is featured on the TV series 'Swamp People'. Recreational hunters would be limited to hook-and-line harvesting from land, rather than the boat-based methods used by commercial hunters.

  • The bill has already been approved by the full state Senate and is now headed to the House for debate.
  • If approved, the first recreational alligator hunting season could take place beginning October 1, 2026.

The players

Rep. Lauren Ventrella

A Republican state representative from Greenwell Springs who supports the new alligator hunting season, stating: "I like alligators; I like to eat them and I like to wear them."

Sen. Robert Allain

The Franklin state senator who sponsored the bill to create the recreational alligator hunting season, noting the state's alligator population has grown to over 3 million and poses threats to people and pets.

Tyler Bosworth

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary, who said the new hunting season would help address the state's "alligator population problem" and increase access for sportsmen and women.

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What they’re saying

“I like alligators. I like to eat them and I like to wear them.”

— Rep. Lauren Ventrella, Republican state representative

“We have an alligator population problem.”

— Sen. Robert Allain, State senator

“In addition to population control, this fits well with (Gov. Jeff Landry's) desire to increase access to the sportsmen and women of Louisiana.”

— Tyler Bosworth, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary

What’s next

If the bill is approved by the full Louisiana House, the first recreational alligator hunting season could begin on October 1, 2026.

The takeaway

This new recreational alligator hunting program represents a conservation success story for Louisiana, as the state works to manage its exploding alligator population and address the growing public safety risks posed by the reptiles. By providing more opportunities for sportsmen and women to hunt alligators, the state hopes to strike a balance between protecting people and pets while also preserving the iconic Louisiana species.