September 10 officially kicks off the 2024 core county alligator general hunting season, ending on September 30.
Texas Parks & Wildlife defines core counties as “those counties constituting the prime historical habitat for the American alligator in Texas, where commercial hunting is viable and the department engages in significant biological monitoring of the resource and manages harvest through tag issuance to landowners.”
Dallas County is considered a non-core county. As such, the next general hunting season for Dallas County is April 1 to June 30, 2025; the bag limit is one per person per year.
Look here to review the counties where the general season is currently in place, review general hunting regulations, and learn the allowed means and methods for alligator hunting.
Although some may be hunting alligators, be sure not to become one of the hunted.
In July, The Dallas Express reported on citizens’ increasing concern due to the numerous sightings of alligators in the City of Coppell. Animal Services warned residents to refrain from swimming or fishing in the waters until further notice, stressing the safety risks involved in encountering wild animals.
In May, DX reported that individuals visiting Eagle Mountain Lake in North Fort Worth should be cautious when entering the water, as sightings of alligators have been reported.
In April, Luis De La Torre, a resident fisherman, recorded a video of a large alligator while fishing in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas. De La Torre spotted the alligator swimming and later heard the reptile growling after losing sight of it, reported Eagle Pass News River.
Alligators can be found in their natural habitat within the Trinity River watershed, inhabiting locations including Lake Worth, Eagle Mountain Lake, and the Trinity River. DFW Wildlife reported that a longstanding alligator population has resided in Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth for centuries.
Authorities recommend that if anyone sees an alligator, they should maintain a safe distance of at least 30 feet. In the case of a near encounter, residents should slowly retreat to avoid provoking the alligator. It’s important to note that alligators can move swiftly over short distances, reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
However, as you will see in the video taken in September of 2023, families at a lake in Huntsville State Park in Texas didn’t appear to be keeping a safe distance or retreating slowly (hear the screams and watch the thrashing in the water).
“Look how big it is!” someone can be heard saying in the video.
The video highlights the disturbing experience for families at the park when an alligator appeared, reinforcing the reasons behind the posted signs around the lake cautioning about alligators.
Check out the video posted on X by ABC News from September 13, 2023:
LATER, GATOR: Frightening moments for families visiting Huntsville State Park in Texas as an alligator appears to take aim at a group of children swimming in a lake.
No one was injured. There are signs posted near the lake warning of alligators. https://t.co/WWPwoxpOMt pic.twitter.com/8mPDLBIo4W
— ABC News (@ABC) September 13, 2023