Georgia hunters expected to snap up permits for gator hunt

MACON, Ga. (AP) – Georgia wildlife officials say hunters are now able to apply for a limited number of permits for the state’s upcoming gator hunt.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications through July 31 to identify 1,000 hunters. They will be granted permits to hunt gators between sunset Aug. 19 and sunrise Oct. 3, although there’s no restriction on hunting hours.

John Bowers, chief of the DNR’s Game Management Section, said in a statement that officials expect to have 10,000 or more applications submitted for the 1,000 available permits.

The Telegraph reports (http://bit.ly/29Y4XWb) that legal methods for catching a gator are limited to hand-held ropes or snares, snatch hooks, harpoons, gigs or arrows with a restraining line attached. The animals must be immediately killed with a handgun, bangstick or by severing the spinal cord.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)