Special Notifications for hunting zones

West Central Zone Hunters:  Be aware that alligator hunting access is allowed to permitted hunters at the Panther Swamp NWR boat ramp located at Lake George on Callihan Road and at the Parker Bayou Boat Ramp located off of Old Hwy 49 adjacent to Hillside NWR.  Federal agents will enforce a no alligator hunting restriction north of the Callihan Road bridge and east of Hwy 49 .  Be certain that all ammunition is stored separately.

Northeast Zone Hunters:  Be aware to consult U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACOE) regulations regarding hunting activities and boat ramp use before hunting USACOE regulated waterways. Special permits from the USACOE may be required. Some USACOE refuge areas are closed to all hunting.  For complete information, go to their website at US Army Corps of Engineers, then click on "Wildlife", then click on "Hunting Permit Program".  You may also call (662) 327-2142.  Additionally, the Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone IS NOT open for Northeast Zone Permit holders. No portion of Ross Barnett Reservoir or Pelahatchie Bay is open for Northeast Zone Permit holders.

Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone Hunters: The only area open for hunting is as follows: The public waters of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District only within the area north of a line from Fannin Landing to Channel Marker "A" to the Natchez Trace Overlook on the main lake of Ross Barnett Reservoir, and south of Lowhead Dam on the Pearl River (excluding all areas of the main lake that are west of the Natchez Trace, i.e. North Bay and Twin Harbors).  The area south of a line from Fannin Landing to Channel Marker "A" to the Natchez Trace Overlook on the main lake of Ross Barnett Reservoir and Pelahatchie Bay is closed to alligator hunting.

ALL ZONES: Only lakes that are described specifically within each Zone are open to alligator hunting.

NO other lakes are open. 

Alligator Season Harvest History

 2021202020192018201720162015
Number of Permits9859869559279148841138
#Those permitted Who Participated851 (86.4%)858 (85.4%)816 (85.4)    
#People Participating       
Avg. Hunting Party       
Successful Hunters       
Alligators Harvested       
<7 feet / >7 feet long       
Caught and Released       
Hours Spent Hunting/Gator Harvested8.707.847.869.459.9810.6810.41
2023 Alligator Hunting Guide
Download the 2023 Alligator Hunting Guide
2023 Alligator Hunting Guide

Alligator season opens on the last Friday in August each year. Permits for alligator hunting are by Special Permit only.

Public Water Season: 12:00 Noon August 25 until 12:00 Noon September 4, 2023

2023 HUNTING ZONE PERMIT ALLOTMENT

Northwest40Southwest190
Northeast130South Central150
West Central190Southeast160
Peal/Ross Barnett100  
View the 2021 Alligator Hunting Season Report
2021 Alligator Hunting Season Report

Additional Information

Where can you hunt on a public waters permit?

Each permit is limited to a specific hunting zone.

There are seven geographical public water alligator hunting zones.

  • NORTHEAST (excluding all portions of the Pearl River/Ross Barnett Zone)
  • NORTHWEST
  • WEST CENTRAL
  • SOUTHWEST
  • SOUTH CENTRAL
  • SOUTHEAST
  • PEARL RIVER/ROSS BARNETT (see Regulations for complete description) 
  • ONLY "public waterways" within each zone, as defined by MDEQ, will be open to hunting. No other public water will be open to alligator hunting, except the lakes within the Northeast, Northwest, West Central, and Southwest Zone, listed specifically below.   To view which "public waterways" in each zone are open to hunting, view the maps below.
     
  • Including:
     
  • Crystal Lake (Rankin Co.) in the Northeast Zone
  • Okatibbee Lake (Lauderdale Co.) in the Northeast Zone
  • Lake Ferguson (Washington County) in the Northwest Zone
  • Beulah Lake (Bolivar County) in the Northwest Zone
  • Lake Bolivar (Bolivar County) in the Northwest Zone
  • Lake Whittington (Bolivar County) in the Northwest Zone
  • Eagle Lake (Warren County) in the West Central Zone
  • Chotard Lake (Warren and Issaquena Counties) in the West Central Zone
  • Albemarle Lake (Issaquena County) in the West Central Zone
  • Tennessee Lake (Issaquena County) in the West Central Zone
  • Lake Washington (Washington County) in the West Central Zone
  • Bee Lake (Holmes County) in the West Central Zone
  • Little Eagle Lake (Humphreys County) in the West Central Zone
  • Dump Lake (Yazoo County) in the West Central Zone
  • Lake George (Yazoo County) in the West Central Zone
  • Tchula Lake (Holmes Co.) in the West Central Zone * NEW 2018
  • Lake Mary (Wilkinson County) in the Southwest Zone
    >>>> NO OTHER LAND LOCKED LAKES ARE OPEN FOR HUNTING <<<<
Legal Waterways clarification

For those permitted in the following MS Public Water Zones

  • Northeast
  • Northwest
  • West Central
  • Southwest
  • South Central
  • Southeast
  • Legal public water for public water alligator hunters include any public waterway, as designated by MDEQ, and all associated portions of each drainage that are not privately owned and have navigable access from the designated waterway
  • For those who hunt on or near state borderline waters, such as the Mississippi River, lower Pearl River (in Pearl River and Hancock Counties), Eagle Lake, Chotard Lake, Albermarle Lake, Tennessee Lake, Lake Ferguson, Lake Whittington, and Lake Beulah
  • BE ADVISED, to cross the state border while pursuing alligators into any water that is not part of Mississippi will be considered illegal alligator hunting by the adjoining state (i.e. AR & LA). It shall be the hunter's responsibility to be aware of state borders.
  • Public Waterways Map per MS Department of Environmental Quality.
  • MDEQ What is a Public Waterway? per MS Department of Environmental Quality
  • Search for public boat ramps: Ramps & Piers

NOTICE Public waterways VS. Public Water - Do not confuse the two terms, in regard to the Public Waters Alligator Season. ONLY the public waters of the state designated as "Public Waterways" by the MS Dept. of Environmental Quality are open to alligator hunting.  The only exceptions are the lakes listed above.  Hunters must become familiar with the rivers designated on the MDEQ website (see link above).  Not all "public waters" are considered as "public waterways."

NOTE:  State Boundary Line Waters: There are NO reciprocal license agreements with adjacent states (AR & LA) for alligator hunting. Therefore, anyone licensed to legally hunt alligators in MS may only hunt in MS waters.  It is the hunter's responsibility to know his/her location in regards to state boundaries.  Reciprocal license agreements allow hunters/fishermen to legally hunt/fish in adjacent state line waters with either state's license when both states have concurrent seasons or creel limits. THIS IS NOT APPLICABLE TO ALLIGATOR HUNTING.