40 Miss. Code. R. 2-5.4 - [Effective 3/28/2024] ALLIGATOR HUNTING SEASON FOR PELAHATCHIE BAY (Rankin County)

A. An American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) hunting season will be opened in portions of Pelahatchie Bay on the Ross Barnett Reservoir in the State of Mississippi and is hereby referred to as the following with described restrictions.

1. SEASON DATES: As described below, an alligator hunting season will be open from 12 p.m. on the first Friday in May and ending at 12 p.m. on the following Monday and from 12 p.m. on the second Friday in May and ending at 12 p.m. on the following Monday, for persons issued special permits as described below:

2. PELAHATCHIE BAY HUNTING ZONE DESCRIPTION: Only the portions of the waterway of Pelahatchie Bay on Ross Barnett Reservoir between North Shore Parkway and Hwy 471. The following areas of Pelahatchie Bay are closed to vessels in the act of alligator hunting:

a. All areas of the south shoreline and for 100 yards away from the shoreline between North Shore Parkway and Eagle's Point Dr.

b. All areas of the north shoreline and for 100 yards away from the shoreline between North Shore Parkway and Northwind Dr.

c. All other portions of Ross Barnett Reservoir are closed to alligator hunting.

B. APPLICATIONS:

1. Applications will be accepted by an electronic web-based process via the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) website only.

2. Applicants must resident at least 16 years of age or older.

3. Applicants who possess a Lifetime License are eligible to apply.

4. Applicants must possess a valid pre-requisite license to apply.

5. Dates of application acceptance will be announced on the MDWFP website.

6. An electronic processing fee may be charged.

7. Persons are limited to one (1) application each.

a. Each applicant may apply with a qualifying partner.

b. If drawn, both applicants are eligible to purchase an Alligator Possession Permit, but both permittees must participate from within the same vessel.

8. The applicant is responsible for providing a correct email address during the application process.

9. The email address provided by the applicant will be the method of notifications from the MDWFP, to notify drawn applicants, and for important messages and documents.

C. PERMITS:

1. Only residents of the State of Mississippi who are sixteen (16) years of age or older may purchase an Alligator Possession Permit (Permit) (see License Requirements).

2. Non-residents may participate as alligator hunting assistants (see License Requirements).

3. Persons must have a valid resident Mississippi hunting license and a Mississippi Alligator Hunting License to purchase a Permit.

4. Any Lifetime License holder may apply to purchase a Permit.

5. Alligator permits and/or licenses are required of anyone 16 years of age or older. There are no exemptions for over 65 years of age or physical disability.

6. Permits will be available for purchase only by persons who have successfully made application for a Pelahatchie Bay Alligator Permit and have been drawn by the MDWFP alligator hunting permit drawing system.

7. All persons drawn for a permit will be notified by email, as provided by the applicant, and permits must be purchased electronically as directed by the Department.

8. All permit sales require immediate payment prior to the deadline, as directed by the Department and all sales are non-refundable and non-transferable.

a. Persons are limited to one (1) permit per person.

b. Permits will be valid for only specific dates in May 2023 as determined by the Department.

D. TRAINING COURSE:

The Mississippi Alligator Hunting Training Course is strongly encouraged. The Mississippi Alligator Hunting Training Course is provided online via the MDWFP Alligator Program Webpage at www.mdwfp.com/alligator.

E. HUNTING REGULATIONS:

1. Persons eligible: Only residents of the State of Mississippi who are sixteen (16) years of age or older may apply for an Alligator Possession Permit (see License Requirements). Non-residents may participate as alligator hunting assistants (see License Requirements).

2. Bag limit: Each person receiving an Alligator Possession Permit will be allowed to harvest two (2) alligators six (6) feet in length or longer (both alligators may exceed six (6) feet in length).

3. At the time of application, customers may submit a partner to be drawn as a permitted hunting partner.

a. Upon being drawn, both applicants are eligible to purchase an Alligator Possession Permit, however both drawn partners must participate from the same vessel.

b. One drawn partner may hunt without the other partner being present, but both partners cannot hunt from separate vessels.

4. All vessels and participating hunters must launch and remove vessels from the Pelahatchie Shore Park boat ramp. No other ramps may be used.

5. Capture and Dispatch Methods:

a. Use of bait is prohibited.

b. Alligators must be captured alive prior to shooting or otherwise dispatching the animal. It is unlawful to shoot or kill an unrestrained alligator.

c. Restrained is defined as an alligator that has a noose or snare secured around the head, neck, or leg in a manner that the alligator is controlled.

d. Capture methods are restricted to hand-held snares, snatch hooks (hand-held or rod/reel), harpoons (with attached line/buoy), and bowfishing equipment (longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, or crossbows w/ line attached from bow to arrow or line/buoy, bowfishing arrow tips only, no broadheads, and no tips containing cartridges, or other explosive devises).

e. The use of fishing lures or other devices (with hooks attached) for the purpose of catching alligators in the mouth is prohibited.

f. All alligators must be dispatched or released immediately after capture and prior to transporting (No firearm may be discharged within 100 yards of any residence, building, boat ramp, boat house, or any public or private pier).

g. Any alligator that is captured with a harpoon or bowfishing equipment must be reduced to the bag and may not be released.

h. Firearms used for dispatching an alligator are restricted to long- barreled, shoulder-fired shotguns with only shot size #6, #7, #7.5, #8, or #9 ammunition. No other ammunition may be in possession. No bangsticks are allowed.

i. No pistols or rifles are allowed.

j. All shotguns must be cased and unloaded at all times until a restraining line has been attached to the alligator.

k. No other firearm or ammunition may be in possession of the permittee or hunting party.

l. No firearm may be discharged within 100 yards of any residence, building, boat ramp, boat house, public or private pier, bridge, road, or occupied campsite.

m. Any person or vessel that possesses equipment used to capture or harvest an alligator must be in the immediate vicinity of a person who possesses a valid Alligator Possession Permit at any time while located in the hunting area. To do otherwise is illegal and considered hunting without a permit.

n. The possession of alcohol or alcoholic beverages is prohibited for any person in the act of alligator hunting, nor may it be contained in any vessel in the act of alligator hunting. It is prohibited to be in the act of alligator hunting while under the influence of intoxicating beverages.

o. Nothing within this Rule shall supersede any other municipal laws, including discharge of firearms within a municipality.

p. The use of drones, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), or any remotely operated vehicle or vessel to assist in the location, pursuit, and/or take of alligators is prohibited.

F. HARVEST REPORTING AND TAGGING:

1. TAGGING:

a. Two Temporary Possession Tags will be provided with the purchase of an Alligator Possession Permit.

b. The Temporary Alligator Possession Tags are not valid without a current Alligator Possession Permit.

c. A Temporary Alligator Possession Tag must be signed and attached to the alligator's leg immediately after being dispatched and prior to moving or transporting.

d. Alligators must have a federal CITES tag attached before transferring the alligator or alligator parts to the possession of another person/buyer in another state.

2. ONLINE REPORTING:

a. Each permittee must submit an on-line harvest report and survey via www.mdwfp.com.

b. Each permit holder must be complete the online report prior to leaving the hunt zone each day of hunting effort.

c. Failure to comply will result in loss of alligator hunting privileges.

d. Federal CITES tags will be mailed to permittees upon receipt of a completed Harvest Report.

G. LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS:

1. Alligator Hunting Permittee:

a. All alligator hunting permittees (permit holder) must purchase and have on their person an Alligator Hunting License and Alligator Possession Permit.

b. In addition, a combination resident hunting/fishing license is required to purchase the Alligator Possession Permit and Alligator Hunting License. For the purpose of this Rule, all Lifetime Licenses are considered a combination hunting/fishing license.

i. Residents 65 years of age or older may possess a Senior Exempt Lifetime License in lieu of a combination hunting/fishing license.

ii. Residents who meet disability license exemptions may possess a Disabled Exempt License in lieu of a combination hunting/fishing license.

iii. Lifetime License holders are exempt from the $25 Alligator Hunting License.

c. The cost of the Alligator Hunting License is twenty-five dollars ($25).

d. The cost of the Alligator Possession Permit is one hundred dollars ($100).

e. All alligator licenses and permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

2. Alligator Hunting Assistant:

a. Anyone, any age, resident, or non-resident may participate as an alligator hunting assistant of a permit holder, as provided below:

i. All residents in the hunting party who are sixteen (16) years of age or older are required to purchase and have on their person a combination hunting/fishing license and an Alligator Hunting License. For the purpose of this Rule, all Lifetime Licenses are considered a combination hunting/fishing license. There are no other exemptions.

ii. Any non-residents in the hunting party who are sixteen (16) years of age or older are required to purchase and have on their person a Non-resident-All Game Hunting License and an Alligator Hunting License. For the purpose of this Admin Rule, all Lifetime Licenses are considered a combination hunting/fishing license. There are no exemptions.

iii. Residents 65 years of age or older may possess a Senior Exempt Lifetime License in lieu of a combination hunting/fishing license.

iv. Residents who meet disability license exemptions may possess a Disabled Exempt License in lieu of a combination hunting/fishing license.

v. Lifetime License holders are exempt from the $25 Alligator Hunting License.

b. All alligator licenses and permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

H. Any person who hunts or attempts to hunt alligators without obtaining a permit and/or is not hunting within the immediate vicinity of a permit holder as per regulations set forth herein shall be guilty of a Class I violation of MISS. CODE ANN. § 49-7-47 and upon conviction shall be punished as provided in MISS. CODE. ANN. § 49-7-141.

I. Any violation of any other provision of this Rule shall be a Class III violation and punishable as provided in Miss. Code. Ann. § 49-7-101.

Notes

40 Miss. Code. R. 2-5.4

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 49-1-29, 49-4-4, and 49-7-47.

Adopted 5/23/2022 Amended 3/28/2024