HYDE COUNTY — An effort is on to reduce the alligator population in Hyde County.
County officials requested a targeted hunt to reduce the number of alligators in Swan Quarter, Fairfield and Engelhard, three areas with frequent alligator conflicts.
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The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission staff worked with county officials to evaluate the request and recommended an addendum to the Alligator Management Plan that would allow counties to request a population reduction hunt for unincorporated areas, according to the release. The addendum was approved July 12.
Applications for the alligator permit hunt drawing can be purchased now through Friday, Aug. 10, online using a Visa or MasterCard, by calling 888-248-6834 or in-person at Commission Headquarters 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older and there is an $8 application fee for each of the designated hunt areas.
A computerized drawing will award five permits in Swan Quarter, five permits in Fairfield and 10 permits in Engelhard. The permits will be valid from Sept. 1 through Oct. 1 in the designated areas around these communities only.
Applicants awarded a permit will be required to obtain an alligator hunting license no later than 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20. Those who fail to purchase the alligator hunting license by the deadline specified will forfeit their permit and an alternate applicant will be awarded the permit. An alligator hunting license costs $250 for North Carolina residents and $500 for non-residents.
The bag limit for permit holders is one alligator per permit with a season limit of one alligator per permittee. Permittees will be required to complete a harvest survey and allow commission staff to collect biological data from the harvested alligator.
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