Alligator hunting season remains popular in the state of Alabama.

Dallas County is in the West Central Alabama Zone along with Wilcox County and Monroe County. The hunting season opens at sunset on Aug. 8 until sunrise on Aug. 11, and once again from sunset on Aug. 15 through sunrise on Aug. 18.

Dallas County has private and public waters where gator hunting is permitted. The West Central zone will have 50 people drawn by computer eligible for an Alligator Possession Tag, which are non-transferable. Hunters will be randomly selected by computer to receive one Alligator Possession Tag each.

“The tags in the West Central Zone are highly sought after because the state and world record gator came from this zone,” Sgt. Alan Roach said. “It was caught in Wilcox county on the Alabama river, referred to as the “Stokes Gator.”

The administrative fee to apply for an Alligator Possession Tag is $22, which individuals can register one time per zone. The tag is free, but the selected hunters and their assistants are required to have valid hunting licenses in their possession.

Only Alabama residents and Alabama lifetime license holders 16 years old or older can apply for tags. Alabama lifetime license holders may apply for an Alligator Possession Tag even if they have moved out of the state.

To register for the 2019 alligator hunts, visit www.outdooralabama.com/alligators/alligator-hunt-registration. Registration must be completed by July 10 at 8 a.m.

Applicants can check their selection status on July 10, after 12 p.m.   at https://publichunts.dcnr.alabama.gov/public.

Hunters selected will receive a tag must confirm their acceptance online by July 17 at 8 a.m. After that date, alternates will be notified to fill vacancies.

Each applicant will be required to attend and complete an online Alligator Training Course. All applicants for any of the zones will have a link posted on their page to take the online course.

All permitted hunters and hunting assistants in the West Central Zone must have in their possession a valid Alabama Hunting License. Each permittee selected to receive an Alligator Possession Tag will be pre-registered and issued a Temporary Alligator Possession Tag via mail prior to the hunt.

The permanent Federal CITES Alligator Possession Tag will be affixed to the harvested alligator by Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel at the check station at Roland Cooper State Park in Camden. All successful permittees must bring their harvested alligator from this zone to the check station between the hours 8 p.m.-7 a.m. on the days of the hunts.