Alligator hunting season is right around the corner, are you ready?

Binge watching Swamp People in anticipation of alligator season?  Thanks to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, there is a better way to make sure you are ready for a safe a successful hunt:  The MS Alligator Hunting Training Course, now available on YouTube.

The free, 11-part series teaches you everything from alligator history and biology to hunting regulations, capture and harvest methods, meat and hide processing and everything in between.  The video segments can be viewed anytime and will help set up for a memorable hunting season.

Maci Watts with a monster (Photo by Neeli Watts)

Alligator hunting season opens Aug. 27 at 12 p.m. and runs through Sept. 6 at 12 p.m.  960 permits will be issued across 7 hunting zones.

2021 PERMIT ALLOTMENT

• Northwest – 40
• Southwest – 190
• Northeast – 130
• South Central – 150
• West Central – 190
• Southeast – 160
• Pearl/Ross Barnett – 100

Permit applications will be available for purchase beginning on Tuesday, June 1 at 10 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 8.  Customers may purchase an application in only one hunting zone of their choosing.  Applicants must also be at least 16-years-old and possess one of the valid resident licenses listed here.  Applications can be obtained anywhere that sells Mississippi hunting and fishing licenses, by phone at 1-800-5GO-HUNT, or via the MDWFP webpage.  The cost for an application is a processing fee up to $2.34.

A random drawing for each hunting zone will be completed by June 14, and winners will have until 12 p.m. on June 16 to purchase their permit through the notification email. A second drawing will take place by June 22 to fill any remaining permits, and winners will have until 12 pm. on June 24 to purchase their permit through the notification email.  The cost for a permit is $200.

Warren County E-911 Director Shane Garrard filled a few tags last year as well.