Names drawn for alligator hunt

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission drew 101 names, including 10 from Northwest Arkansas, for permits for alligator hunting this year. Arkansas’s 2017 alligator season is Sept. 15-18 and Sept. 22-25. Hunting is only allowed at night. All permit winners must attend a hunter orientation class before being issued temporary tags. Classes are scheduled Aug. 19 in Hope and Monticello and Aug. 26 at commission headquarters in Little Rock. Successful private land at-large applicants must provide written landowner permission and a map of the proposed hunt area. Permit winners are allowed up to three assistants during the hunt, but only the permit holder is allowed to snare, harpoon and kill the alligator. Arkansas alligator hunters must completely subdue the gator before finishing it with a shotgun or shotgun shell-loaded bang stick using shot no larger than no. 4 common shot. All dead alligators must be tagged with a temporary possession tag and may be checked online. Additional hunt details will be provided at the mandatory orientation classes.