Pelahatchie Bay Alligator Season

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) will offer 24 alligator hunting permits for the Pelahatchie Bay area of Ross Barnett Reservoir during May 2024.

This alligator hunting season is set during the breeding season for alligators and prior to emergence of aquatic vegetation that restricts boating access in hopes to enhance hunting success for adult breeding female alligators. This is an effort to try to reduce breeding populations of female alligators in Pelahatchie Bay.

Dates of the hunt

There will be two hunting periods:

1. May 3-6
2. May 10-13

Each hunt period will allow twelve (12) permit holders among six (6) hunting parties.

All about the hunt

• Each permit holder will be allowed to harvest two alligators over 6 feet long.
• There will be areas established as “no hunting zones” in portions of water near residential areas.
• Other restrictions will apply and harvest reporting is required.
• Each permit will cost $100 and all participants in the hunting parties are required to possess an Alligator Hunting License ($25) and a combination type hunting license.

Application process

• Applications are a two part process with two applicants, primary and secondary:

1. The primary applicant will apply first and needs to know the full name, date of birth, MDWFP customer number, and valid email address of the secondary applicant.

2. Once the primary applicant submits the application, an email will be sent to the secondary applicant.

3. The secondary applicant then confirms his or her information and submits it into the drawing.

If drawn, both persons will be hunting out of the same vessel.

• Permits are selected by a random drawing conducted by a third-party entity and an electronic application is required.

Applications will be accepted beginning at 10:00 a.m. Feb. 1 through 10:00 a.m. Feb. 8, 2024.

• There is a $2.34 electronic processing fee. Applications will be accepted on-line at www.mdwfp.com
• Each application requires two applicants. If drawn, both applicants will be permitted and must hunt together in the same hunting party.

Notified if you win

• The first drawing will take place on Feb. 13 at 12:00 p.m. Winners will be notified by email and will have until 12:00 p.m. Feb. 15 to purchase their permit via an electronic link in their winning email notification.

Any unpurchased permits from the first drawing will be entered in a second drawing of remaining available applicants.

• The second drawing will take place on Feb. 21 at 12:00 p.m. Winners will be notified by email and will have until 12:00 p.m. Feb. 23 to purchase their permit.

A credit card or debit card and a valid email address is required to complete the online application and permit purchase.

Who is eligible 

To be eligible to apply for an alligator hunting permit you must:

1. Be a resident of Mississippi
2. At least 16 years of age at the time of application
3. Must have one of the following valid licenses:

•  Mississippi Sportsman License
• All-Game Hunting/Fishing License
• Small Game Hunting/Fishing License
• Apprentice Sportsman License
• Apprentice All Game License
• Apprentice Small Game License
• Senior Exempt License
• Disabled Exempt License
• Lifetime License

Nonresidents with a Mississippi Lifetime License are eligible.

Apply here