JACKSON — Alligator program coordinator Andrew Arnett made his first program update presentation to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission Wednesday. The presentation came during an educational session as his co-workers reassured him he would do fine.
He said the first part of the update was about the 2024 public waters alligator season. The season was open for 10 days from Aug. 30 to Sept. 9, 2024 on public waters. In total, 6,576 people applied for alligator permits and 981 hunters were drawn.
Arnett said of the 981 permits drawn, only 692 permit holders actually hunted. He added that 3,536 hunters took part in the season and 785 alligators were harvested this year.
Mississippi broke a couple of records. One alligator broke the longest and heaviest female record by measuring 11 foot and ¾ of an inch beating the old record by about 10 inches. The same alligator beat the weight record by five pounds weighing in at 324 pounds, Arnett said.
“She was pretty healthy and taken on the Pascagoula River,” Arnett said. “She was likely in excess of 60 years old. It takes a female alligator a long time to get to that weight and height. The group hooked it the night before and lost it when the line broke off in a tree top. They were able to get her on the second night.”