Charleston, SC (WCBD)–Starting Sunday May 1st the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will begin accepting applications from the public to hunt alligators.
It’s estimated that between 4,000 and 6,000 people will apply, but only 1000 permits will be issued. The permits will also be divided between the 4 regions available to hunt. Those regions are the Midlands, Pee Dee, Southern Coastal and Middle Coast, which encompasses Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley County.
Applicants that are not accepted will receive preferential points, which increase the chances of getting selected the following year.
Ron Russell of Gator Getters has been hunting gators for years. He says that public hunting began as a way to put fear back into alligators. He added, “alligators were protected for so long that they had lost some of their fear of people.”
When it comes to the hunt Russell says no prior experience is required, but says “it’s nothing like you’ve ever hunted before. I always tell my customers that it’s hours of boredom for 30 minutes of total excitement.”
Permit applications will be accepted until June 15th. The season will not begin until the second Saturday in September.
For more information including proper equipment and procedure, you can visit: