Orlando Airboat Rides & Charters | Alligator Hunting |

The pubic alligator hunt is the hunt during the public waters hunt during the dates that the state of Florida has set for the purpose of hunting alligators. The 2008 dates will be August 15 to October 31.

If you are interested in hunting any dates other than this, you might be interested in a private hunt on private property or a nuisance hunt, I can give you the number of some nuisance guides, just e mail me for the information.

Now, on to the pricing. The pricing structure for most public alligator hunts vary from guide to guide, but it is the bottom line that is important to most hunters, so this information will help you choose the best guide to suit your needs.

Alligator hunt prices will vary every year due to the cost of fuel, availability of permits, cost of skinning and processing and current value of alligator hides and meat. These things fluctuate annually and most guides will adjust their prices accordingly.

You will have the price of the charter, this is the cost of a Guide, fuel, vessel, equipment, insurance, USCG license, expertise, drinks, snacks, transport of alligators to processors and taxidermists, phone calls, problem solving after the hunt and before the hunt, helping you choose colors for your hide, getting your meat transported, and just all around helping you with whatever comes up, and believe me, there is plenty.

You will have the price of Trophy Fees, this is an additional fee that is attached to the charter in the event you get a very large Gator (over 10'), this is because alligators of this size require much more time to harvest and transport to processors and taxidermists. This fee allows Guides to have lower charter fees for hunters who harvest Gators under 10'. This fee will usually be waived by me if you take your Gator from the dock to your own processing facility.

You will have the cost of you license or permits, this is the cost of licenses or permits from the state of Florida to allow you the legal means in which to hunt Alligators.

You will have skinning and processing fees, this fee is charged by the facility that skins your Gator and process the meat for consumption. There are two skinning choices, flat skin (for tanning the belly of the Gator) or trophy skin (the cut that is required for most taxidermy, which is cut on the bottom center of the Gator) trophy skinning always costs more than flat skinning, about $20 more. If your meat is not processed in a licensed facility it cannot be sold, it can only be consumed privately (the hunter).

You will have the cost of shipping your meat, unless you take it with you, or pick it up at the processors facility yourself, approximately one week after your hunt.

You will have the cost of Taxidermy, The price varies widely on taxidermy, please contact John Walker Taxidermy for information, there is a link on my affiliations page.

That being said, some Guides will break these costs down, depending on the hunters particular needs, or include all these costs as a package deal. In either case, it is the hunters responsibility when choosing a Guide to understand exactly what is included in their particular hunt. When possible, it wise to get your agreement in writing. Airboat and Gator Charters will always put this agreement in writing and provide you with all USCG license numbers and insurance information. We hope that this helps you choose a Guide and we hope that it is with us!