You have one week to win SC’s alligator hunting lottery

For some, bagging an alligator might feel like winning the lottery. But before you can hunt one of South Carolina’s watery reptiles, you literally have to win one.

This Saturday is the deadline to enter the lottery for a license to hunt alligators in South Carolina this year, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources announced in a press release.

For a $10 fee, would-be gator hunters can enter a randomized computer drawing for a chance to hunt gators this fall.

The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. Saturday. Alligator season runs from noon on Sept. 14 to noon on Oct. 12.

Most of the counties in the lower part of South Carolina are open for alligator-hunting during the season, including Richland and Lexington counties. Winners of the lottery will need to pay another $100 for the tag, money that goes toward alligator research, management and conservation efforts.

Hunters are limited to one gator per permit.

Bristow Marchant

The State

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Bristow Marchant covers local government, schools and community in Lexington County for The State. He graduated from the College of Charleston in 2007. He has almost 20 years of experience covering South Carolina at the Clinton Chronicle, Sumter Item and Rock Hill Herald. He joined The State in 2016. Bristow has won numerous awards, most recently the S.C. Press Association’s 2024 education reporting award.  Support my work with a digital subscription