LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas hunters harvested 150 alligators during the opening weekend of the 2026 season, putting the state within reach of a new hunting record as the final weekend begins Friday night.

According to a September 22 report by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), the September 18-21 harvest left hunters 55 alligators short of last year’s record-setting tally of 205. Taking 56 more alligators would establish a new high. The AGFC noted 62 harvesting opportunities remained as of its most recent update.

The final hunting weekend stretches from September 25-28. Per AGFC regulations, legal hunting hours begin 30 minutes after sunset and end 30 minutes before sunrise each night, concluding the season entirely at 30 minutes before sunrise on Monday, September 28. Hunting activity may end sooner in zones where quotas are reached.

One of the state’s designated public hunting zones has already closed its season. Millwood Lake filled its quota during the first two nights of hunting, shutting down earlier than expected. AGFC herpetologist Amanda Bryant stated that this was a notable improvement from prior years, as hunters at Millwood historically struggled to reach their quota. AGFC had introduced this restriction in 2025 to encourage hunters to take available alligators rather than waiting for larger ones.

Bryant noted that public lands have yielded many of the largest alligators this season. "Public land hunters have found the largest alligators so far this year," she said, adding that seven of the ten biggest alligators harvested during the opening weekend were taken by public hunters who applied for permits earlier this summer.

Hunters in southeastern Arkansas were especially active, with Zone 3 leading the state in total harvests. This zone, which follows the Mississippi River from Louisiana to Monroe County, accounted for 90 alligators, 60% of the statewide total. Of those, 81 came from private land and nine from public land.

Zone 1, located in southwestern Arkansas, reported 56 alligators harvested, including 42 on private property and 14 on public land. In Zone 2, spanning from the Louisiana border to Pope County, hunters took four alligators, all from private land.

Arkansas’ hunting season reflects a remarkable recovery for the state’s alligator population, which was nearly eradicated by the 1960s. Conservation efforts began in 1961, and AGFC, starting in 1972, relocated about 2,800 alligators from southern Louisiana to various sites in Arkansas over 12 years. Large-scale recovery of the population allowed the state to open its first hunting season in 2007.

Last year’s record-setting season of 205 alligators broke the previous mark of 202 set in 2023.

Private-land hunters are reminded to call the AGFC quota hotline (833-345-0398) after 2 p.m. on the day of their hunt to verify whether their zone’s quota remains open. More information and updated regulations for the season can be found on the AGFC website.

The hunting season concludes Monday morning, at which point officials will have the final harvest numbers to determine whether Arkansas sets a new state record.