Louisiana Alligator Season Hasn’t Even Begun And 4 Already Cited For Violations

A Louisiana foursome jumped the gun on the 2025 Louisiana alligator hunting season and they are paying for it dearly.

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According to a release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, we learn that on August 6, enforcement agents, Senior Agent Dustin Barton and Sgt. Joshua DiBenedetto, cited four subjects for alleged alligator hunting violations on Saline Lake in Winn Parish.

The LDWF report shows that Brenton Carpenter, 19, of Winnfield, Treyton Trawick, 23, of Winnfield, Sawyer Watkins, 18, of Jonesboro, and a 17-year-old juvenile, were cited for eight counts each of taking or possessing alligators during a closed season.

On August 2, LDWF agents received information from a concerned citizen that there were a number of dead alligators floating in the north end channel of Saline Lake. Soon afterwards, agents responding to the tip, discovered these dead alligators in the water with bullet wounds in their heads and some having tails removed.

Obviously this was of immediate concern as alligator season in Louisiana's West Zone doesn't even begin until Wednesday, September 3.  And this is nothing new for Louisiana hunters.  Alligator season begins every year in the East Zone on the last Wednesday of August and in the West Zone on the first Wednesday of September.

READ MORE: 2025 Louisiana Alligator Hunting Season

While conducting the investigation, these LDWF agents discovered that the four subjects were out frogging in the early morning hours of August 1 on Saline Lake when they shot and killed eight alligators.

Taking or possessing alligators during a closed season brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. The subjects may also be responsible for civil restitution totaling $3,006.