Everglades Adventures offers Public Waters Alligator hunts during Florida's statewide alligator harvest program from August 15th through November 1st of each year.

We conduct our hunts on harvest units located in Southern Florida including Lake Okeechobee and the Florida Everglades depending on areas drawn for permits. The areas we specialize in are #406 (STA-5), #601 (Lake Okeechobee WEST), #604 (Lake Okeechobee SOUTH) and #404 (Everglades WMA-WCA-3A). These hunts are only conducted during specific harvest periods designated by the state. Our year-round alligator hunts are offered only on private lands.

Permits and tags are issued for a designated area during a specific harvest period. We handle all aspects of this hunt for the client including all of the paperwork, licensing, cites tags, etc. All that is necessary is that you show up and hunt.

We also offer nightly guide services for individuals obtaining their own permits and tags thru the state of Florida's Alligator Harvest program. Individuals, both resident and non-resident can apply for their own permits and tags. Persons interested in this process should go to the following link which contains information on the hunt and the application process:

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/harvest/

These hunts are conducted at night only. Ours are conducted by airboat only. Weapons used for public waters hunts are compound bow, re-curve bow, crossbow or harpoon for the initial shot and a bang stick for the harvest. If using a bow you should have a minimum of thirty-five pounds draw weight and should be rigged with a bow fishing reel attachment with a retrieval line of 200 pound test minimum.

Once located, the alligator must be tagged by harpoon with a line attached with a float or shot with a bow equipped with a fishing rig. Once the alligator is tagged with the line, he must be harvested with a bang stick. We use a 357 magnum for the smaller gators and a 44 magnum for the larger ones.

This is the most exciting method for harvesting a trophy alligator. These hunts are up close and personal. They provide hands on thrilling adventure.

In order to obtain a alligator hunting license for our client's we require the client's name, address, date of birth, social security number, height, weight, color of hair, sex, race, e-mail address, drivers license number and if a NON-US citizen a passport number.

Alligator hunting requires the use of CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species) tags issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for use in their Alligator program. Many wildlife species in trade are not endangered, but the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important to safeguard these resources for the future. It is a requirement that a CITES tag is placed in the tail of ALL alligators harvested.

We have all necessary equipment available for any of our alligator hunts. The use of any of our equipment and firearms is included in the hunt and is offered at no additional charge.

We provide bottled water and soft drinks on all of our hunts. We also supply any ice for the hunt as well as any additional ice for your coolers to pack your meat. We recommend a large ice cooler (60 quart or larger).

Lodging and meals are included in our trophy alligator hunts which last more than one day. We have lodging available both on and off site. Additional information concerning lodging can be found at one of the following links: ON SITE LODGING or OFF SITE LODGING.

Clients should consider bringing a Poncho or raincoat, sunscreen, sunglasses and hat, camera and bug spray along on your hunt. Our night hunters should wear dark clothing on the airboats as light colored clothing reflects light.

We require a 100% (one hundred-percent) deposit to confirm your reservation. Payments can be made by cash, personal or business check, traveler's check, cashier's check or money order. Checks should be made payable to EVERGLADES ADVENTURES. The deposit's are non-refundable, but are transferable within the current season as scheduling permits. Thirty (30) day advance notice of cancellation is required.

Our boat is a 2004 18' Hamant. It has seating for four adults including the driver. It has a 620 horsepower, 496 cubic inch big block Chevrolet engine with a 2.38 stinger gearbox with a 82 inch three blade propeller. It has a 40 gallon fuel tank, stainless engine cage, polymer bottom, four trolling batteries with dual lenco trolling motors with remote handheld controls, three storage lockers, two independent live wells, brush guard, non-skid inside finish, AM/FM CD stereo, Garman chart plotter/GPS, VHF radio, and all required US Coast Guard equipment.

RATES: PUBLIC WATERS

NO ADDITIONAL TROPHY FEES ON PUBLIC WATERS HUNTS!

Standard Alligator Hunt. OUR TAGS AND LICENSES COST $1750.00

Includes one night of alligator hunting for ONE person (Resident or Non-Resident), all necessary licenses, tags, transportation from the ranch to the area, transportation by airboat, two guides, one night lodging and meals and ONE alligator (Less than NINE feet). The client would receive the whole alligator tagged for transportation. The cost of processing is not included on this hunt. However, we can process the alligator for you. Please see processing below.

Standard Alligator Hunt. OUR TAGS AND LICENSES COST $3000.00

Includes one night of alligator hunting for TWO persons (Resident or Non-Resident), all necessary licenses, tags, transportation from the ranch to the area, transportation by airboat, two guides, one night lodging and meals and TWO alligators (Less than NINE feet). The client would receive the whole alligators tagged for transportation. The cost of processing is not included on this hunt. However, we can process the alligator for you. Please see processing below.

Standard Trophy Hunt. OUR TAGS AND LICENSES COST $2750.00

Includes two nights of alligator hunting for ONE person (Resident or Non-Resident), all necessary licenses, tags, transportation from the ranch to the area, transportation by airboat, two guides, one alligator (NINE feet or larger), one night lodging and meals.

The client would receive the processed alligator hide and alligator head (taxidermy ready, fresh frozen). The client would also receive any desired meat from their alligator.

Standard Trophy Hunt. OUR TAGS AND LICENSES COST $5000.00

Includes two nights of alligator hunting for TWO persons (Resident or Non-Resident), all necessary licenses, tags, transportation from the ranch to the area, transportation by airboat, two guides, two alligators (NINE feet or larger), one night lodging and meals.

The client would receive the processed alligator hide and alligator head (taxidermy ready, fresh frozen). The client would also receive any desired meat from their alligator.

Standard Alligator Hunt. CLIENTS PERMITS AND TAGS COST $900.00 PER-NIGHT

THIS HUNT IS FOR CLIENTS SUCCESSFUL IN THE PUBLIC WATER DRAWING AND RECEIVING THEIR OWN PERMIT AND TAGS FROM THE STATE.

This hunt includes ONE night of alligator hunting for TWO persons, all necessary equipment, transportation by airboat and two guides. The client would be responsible for licensing, tags, transporting and processing of all alligators harvested. This is basically a guide fee hunt with CLIENTS PERMITS AND TAGS. One hunter must be a licensed trapper (WITH HIS OWN PERMIT) and the other person (guest) must be licensed as a state agent trapper (only) if planning to PARTICIPARE in any harvest. This $50.00 agents licenses is a requirement for each person participating in the harvest of alligators with you.

On this hunt we harvest the first two alligators over seven feet located. The client has the option of passing on any alligator in search of a larger one. This hunt can be customized for different individuals. It would be necessary to contact us to discuss pricing for different hunts. These hunts are conducted on a LIMITED BASIS.

PROCESSING

Processing of the alligator is only included in certain hunts. The hunts where processing is not included, we can process your alligator for you at an additional charge. The cost of the processing of your alligator will depend on the desired use of your alligator.

Clients who plan on having their hide tanned for product (belly hide) such as boots, purse, belts, etc. and are having the head shoulder mounted or table mounted or having the head used in a glass table mounted environment (such as the one pictured below) will have their alligator skinned using one method. The cost for this method of skinning is based on $20.00 per foot.

Clients who plan on having a full body mount or are having it utilized for any rug type mount will be skinned using a different method. The cost for this method of skinning is based on $25.00 per foot.

We have an ice plant and cold storage available to us for use in our hunts. Your alligator will need to be iced down and stored for 24 hours prior to processing. We also supply any ice for the hunt as well as any additional ice for your coolers to pack your meat. We recommend clients bring a large ice cooler (60 qt. or larger).

All meat processed from these hunts may not be sold to other individuals. The meat can be given away to other individuals by the trapper or agent but cannot be sold commercially.

TAXIDERMY

We have several reputable taxidermists which specialize in alligators and can handle all aspects of mounting, shipping and can be trusted to handle your taxidermy work.

Our clients are issued a written receipt for any taxidermy work prior to their departure. We list the CITES tag number of the clients alligator on the taxidermist receipt.

Our taxidermist's pick up the skins or mounts from our headquarters and transfer them back to their studios. They will contact you at that time concerning your mount, cost of any taxidermy work being preformed, deposit on the work, etc.

Additional charges for shipping hides, heads and showcases are based on the taxidermist's costs.

The alligator coffee table or showcase pictured above is approximately five feet long, two feet wide and thirty inches in height. The case shown contains a shoulder mount of an alligator approximately eleven feet in length.

Prices on taxidermy work depend on the size of the alligator and the type of mount desired.

The prices listed below are general prices subject to change and don't include shipping and handling.

Head Mounts are measured in inches from the distance from center eye to end of nose. They come in three basic types. Table top heads with felt are $40.00 per inch. Table top heads with a back shell or the jowls of the gator included are $50.00 per inch. Wall shoulder mount with a wooden plaque similar to a deer head mount are $55.00 per inch.

European Mounts are just the bone skull of the alligator and they are measured full length of the skull and are $20.00 per inch.

Rug Mounts with head and feet similar to a bear rug style mount are $150.00 per linear foot.

Life Size Mounts are 325.00 per linear foot for alligators up to eleven feet and $400.00 per linear foot for alligators over eleven feet.

Coffee tables or showcase similar to the one pictured above start at $1800.00

Hides being tanned for product (belly hide) such as boots, purse, belts, etc. all depend on the type of finish required and the size of the alligator hide. The skinned alligator hide is measured in centimeters across the widest part of the belly. To give a basic idea, an eight foot alligator measures approximately 52 centimeters and costs around $5.40 per centimeter for a classic finish in most colors or $280.00 plus shipping costs.

An informative video on alligator skinning and leather products can be viewed below.