Alligators Have a Short Spring Hunting Season Here

Alligators live in the resacas (old river channels) and drainage canals of the lower Rio Grande Valley. Hidalgo County is in the non-core zone for alligator hunting.

In the non-core zone, the season runs April 1 through June 30. The limit is one alligator per person per license year. That is a tight window and a small limit, so plan ahead.

To hunt alligators, you need a standard hunting license and a CITES tag from TPWD. In non-core counties, you must immediately affix a Wildlife Resource Document (WRD) to the alligator at harvest, then submit a Non-Core Alligator Hide Tag Report within 72 hours with a $21 fee to receive the permanent CITES tag by mail. The tag tracks the harvest. Getting onto good habitat is the hardest part, since most suitable land is privately owned. Confirm the season dates and that tags are still available before you go. Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual for current rules.