The best time of year for alligator hunting in Louisiana is the first three weeks of September. The West Zone, which includes Lake Charles, opens on the first Wednesday of September (September 2 in 2026), the water is still hot, and gators are feeding hard. Mareno’s Outfitters runs guided alligator hunts from September through October only, and the calendar usually fills about three weeks before opening day.
Below: the 2026 season dates, why September beats the later months, how early to book, what the hunt costs, and how the new October recreational lottery fits in. Updated September 2026.
When exactly is the best time of year for alligator hunting?
Late summer into early fall. In Louisiana that means September and the first half of October, and for a guided hunt with Mareno’s Outfitters the sweet spot is the first three weeks of September. Water temperatures are still high, alligators are eating, and a baited line hung the evening before has a good chance of holding a gator by morning.
Warm water is the whole story. Alligators are cold-blooded, so they feed when it is hot and stop when it is not, and feeding is what puts a gator on a baited hook. Ryan Mareno, who has guided Mareno’s Outfitters hunts out of Lake Charles since 2014, sees feeding activity drop off sharply from mid-November. That is why Mareno’s does not run alligator hunts in November or December, even though the legal season stays open through December 31.
Why do “alligator season” searches spike in spring?
Because spring is mating and nesting season, not hunting season. Gators are on the move, in the news, and in people’s ponds from roughly April through June, so search interest climbs then. No legal wild alligator harvest happens in Louisiana until late August at the earliest. If you are reading this in spring, you are early, and early is the best position to be in for booking.
Louisiana alligator hunting season dates (2026)
Louisiana runs two separate alligator programs, and they have different dates. The commercial, tag-based season is the one guided outfitters operate under. The recreational lottery season is new in 2026 and open to Louisiana residents only.
| Season | Opens | Closes | Who hunts it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial season, East Zone | Last Wednesday of August (Aug 26, 2026) | December 31 | Licensed alligator hunters with commercial tags, including guided clients |
| Commercial season, West Zone | First Wednesday of September (Sept 2, 2026) | December 31 | Same as above. Lake Charles is in the West Zone. |
| Recreational lottery season (new in 2026) | October 1 | October 31 | Louisiana residents drawn in the LDWF lottery |
| Mareno’s Outfitters guided hunts | Early September | End of October | Guided clients, resident or nonresident |
Dates come from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) season rules as of September 2026. The commercial season used to close after 60 days; LDWF extended both zones to December 31, so older articles and outfitter pages still show October closing dates.
Which zone is Lake Charles in?
The West Zone. Louisiana’s zone line runs up the Atchafalaya River and then follows Interstate 10, 12, and 55 toward the Mississippi line; Lake Charles and the Calcasieu Parish marsh sit well west of it. So the season around Lake Charles opens the first Wednesday of September, not the last Wednesday of August. If you see an August opening date advertised, that is an East Zone operation.
Can you hunt alligators in August or December in Louisiana?
August, only in the East Zone and only from the last Wednesday of the month. December is legal in both zones through December 31, but alligators feed very little once the water cools, so most guides, Mareno’s Outfitters included, stop running hunts at the end of October. A December date is a legal date, not a good one.
September vs. October: which month should you book?
September if you can get it, October if you can’t. Both months sit inside Louisiana’s legal season and Mareno’s Outfitters hunts both, but September has warmer water and more feeding, which is why the first three weeks of September book first every year.
| Factor | September | October |
|---|---|---|
| Gator activity | Peak feeding in warm water | Still feeding on warm days; slows with each cold front |
| Heat | Hot and humid; bring more water than you think | More comfortable mornings |
| Storm risk | Peak of Gulf hurricane season | Tropical risk falls through the month |
| Availability at Mareno’s | Books first; usually gone by early August | Later dates stay open longer |
| Other hunters on the water | Commercial-tag hunters only | Recreational lottery hunters, Oct 1–31, on properties without commercial tags |
One note on the October crowd. Recreational tags cannot be used on properties that already hold commercial tags, and Mareno’s hunts on commercial tags. Lottery hunters will not be working the same water you are.
How far in advance should you book an alligator hunt?
Book by early August for the current season, and earlier if you want a specific September week. Mareno’s Outfitters typically has its entire September–October calendar full about three weeks before the West Zone opens, which makes the first week of August the realistic deadline. Mareno’s starts taking deposits for the coming season in February.
Tags are the reason it fills so early. Louisiana issues commercial alligator tags per property, and a guide only has as many hunts to sell as he has tags. Your $300 deposit is what secures a tag in your name. Taking a second gator on the same hunt depends on a spare tag being available that day.
- February: Mareno’s opens deposits for the coming season.
- Spring: Pick your week. Early September goes first.
- Early August: The calendar is usually full by now.
- Late August through October: Call for cancellations. Openings do come up during the season.
Missed the window? Call anyway. Cancellations happen once the season is underway, and Mareno’s posts last-minute openings on its Facebook page. You can also reach the team through the contact page.
What a guided alligator hunt costs at Mareno’s Outfitters
$1,400 per hunter, with one alligator tag and basic meat cleaning included. Here is the full price list as of September 2026.
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guided alligator hunt | $1,400 per hunter | One tag and basic meat cleaning included |
| Deposit | $300 per hunter, non-refundable | Secures your tag and your date |
| Additional alligator | $600 each | Same hunt, if a spare tag is available |
| Spectator | $250 per person | Limited by boat space |
| Taxidermy prep, gator under 10 feet | $150 | Skinning and cleaning for the taxidermist |
| Taxidermy prep, gator 10 feet and over | $250 | Skinning and cleaning for the taxidermist |
| Hide shipped to a tannery | $100 | Drop-off to Mareno’s local taxidermist is free |
| Louisiana alligator license | $25 resident / $150 nonresident | You buy this from LDWF; not included in the hunt price |
Hunts are private, with groups of up to six people. Water is provided on the boat, and you can bring your own snacks and drinks. The FAQ page covers what to bring and how the day runs.
Licenses and tags: what you need before opening day
You need a Louisiana alligator license, and Mareno’s supplies the tag. Those are two different things, and mixing them up is the most common point of confusion for hunters booking their first gator trip.
- The tag is the state’s authorization to take one specific alligator. It is issued to the licensed alligator hunter (your guide) for the property being hunted, and it goes on the gator the moment it is landed. One tag is included in Mareno’s $1,400 price.
- The license is your personal credential to take part in the hunt. Residents pay $25 and nonresidents pay $150 for the Louisiana alligator sport hunter license, purchased from LDWF. Mareno’s does not include this.
“Tag included” does not mean “no license required.” Buy your license online from LDWF’s licensing page before you travel, and bring it with you. Out-of-state hunters should plan the purchase around their travel dates so it is valid on hunt day.
Guided alligator hunt vs. the 2026 recreational lottery
They are separate programs, and you cannot combine them. A recreational tag from the October lottery cannot be used on a paid guided hunt: LDWF prohibits conducting, advertising, or taking part in a for-hire guided alligator hunt with a recreational hide tag. Mareno’s Outfitters hunts on commercial tags only.
| Guided commercial hunt (Mareno’s) | Recreational lottery season | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | September–October (legal through Dec 31) | October 1–31, 2026 |
| Who can hunt | Residents and nonresidents | Louisiana residents drawn in the lottery; a nonresident may take part alongside a drawn resident |
| Tags | Commercial tags held by the guide; one included | Two recreational hide tags per drawn hunter |
| Where | Properties Mareno’s holds tags on | Eligible properties in the drawn zone that hold no commercial tags |
| Selling meat or hide | Allowed under the commercial program | Prohibited |
| Cost | $1,400 plus your license | $50 application per zone, plus the $25 resident license if drawn |
The 2026 lottery application window ran August 20 through August 30, so it is closed for this year. If you did not draw, or you live out of state, a guided hunt is the route to a Louisiana gator this season.
What time of day do you hunt alligators, and how does the hunt work?
Daylight only. Louisiana law allows alligators to be taken between official sunrise and sunset, so there is no night alligator hunting in the state. Mareno’s runs its hunts as a morning line check out of the Lake Charles area.
The method is hook and line. Baited hooks hang from poles or branches just above the water, set no earlier than 24 hours before the season opens. Once lines are in, state rules require them to be checked every day. On hunt morning you run the lines by boat, and when a gator is on, your guide walks you through the shot. Rifles and handguns are legal for dispatch; shotguns are not.
If you were hoping for a thermal night hunt, that is a different animal. Mareno’s thermal hog hunts and coyote hunts run at night, year-round.
Does weather cancel an alligator hunt?
No. Hunts run rain or shine. Louisiana requires baited lines to be checked every day once they are set, so a guide cannot leave lines in the water and wait for a nicer morning. Mareno’s Outfitters does not reschedule for weather, and the $300 deposit is non-refundable.
September is the peak of hurricane season on the Gulf Coast. Build a day or two of slack into your travel plans, bring rain gear, and if a tropical system makes the water unsafe, call Mareno’s directly at (337) 274-0880. On a normal September morning the bigger problem is heat: water is provided on the boat, but pack sunscreen and a hat.
How likely are you to get a gator?
Very likely on a guided hunt. Mareno’s Outfitters reports that every hunter to date has tagged an alligator. That is the difference between running baited lines on property a guide has scouted and holds tags for, and a public-land draw where you scout and set your own lines.
There is no refund for a no-catch, so book the month that gives you the best odds. That is September. You can see what recent hunts have produced in the gallery.
What if the alligator dates are gone?
Hog and coyote thermal hunts run year-round at $300 per person, and nutria hunts run in February and March at $400 per person. Alligator season is the only hunt Mareno’s runs on a hard calendar; the rest can be booked any month.
If you did get a gator date, ask about adding a thermal hog night to the same trip. The alligator hunt runs in the morning and the hog hunt runs after dark, so they fit around each other.
Louisiana alligator hunting season FAQ
What month is gator season in Louisiana?
September is the main month, with October a close second. The commercial season opens the last Wednesday of August in the East Zone and the first Wednesday of September in the West Zone, and both zones stay open through December 31. Gators feed less as water cools, so guided hunts concentrate in September and October.
Is there an alligator season in Louisiana in 2026?
Yes, two of them. The commercial season opened August 26, 2026 in the East Zone and September 2, 2026 in the West Zone, running through December 31. A new recreational lottery season for Louisiana residents runs October 1 through 31, 2026. Guided hunts, including Mareno’s Outfitters, operate under the commercial season.
Are an alligator tag and a hunting license the same thing?
No. The tag authorizes the take of one specific alligator and is issued to the licensed hunter for a specific property; on a guided hunt, the guide holds it. The license is your personal permit to take part, $25 for Louisiana residents and $150 for nonresidents. You need both, and Mareno’s includes only the tag.
What do alligators do in October in Louisiana?
They keep feeding on warm days and slow down after each cold front. Early October is usually still productive on baited lines around Lake Charles. By mid-November feeding drops off sharply as water temperatures fall, which is why Mareno’s Outfitters ends its alligator hunts at the close of October.
Can I take more than one alligator on a guided hunt?
Yes, if a spare tag is available on the day. Additional alligators are $600 each on the same hunt with Mareno’s Outfitters. Tags are the limiting factor, so tell the team when you book if you want a shot at a second gator, and understand it cannot be promised in advance.
Can non-hunters ride along on an alligator hunt?
Yes. Spectators are $250 per person on Mareno’s alligator hunts, and space depends on boat capacity, so mention them when you book. Private groups top out at six people in total. Spectators ride in the same boat, so it is a morning on the water for them too, not an all-day expedition.
Book your September or October alligator hunt
Mareno’s Outfitters guides alligator hunts out of Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the West Zone, from early September through October. The hunt is $1,400 per hunter with one tag included, and a $300 deposit holds your date. Call (337) 274-0880, email MarenosOutfitters@gmail.com, or use the contact page. You can read about Ryan Mareno and the guide team before you book.