Rule 391-4-12-.04 - Conditions Governing Operations of Authorized Agent-trappers(1) The agent-trapper will be issued a permit assigning in writing a specific nuisance alligator complaint by designated Department personnel. No agent-trapper shall possess any live alligator for more than 48 hours except as directed by designated Department personnel.(2) Alligators shall be humanely killed, but firearms (except a bang stick) shall not be used without specific authorization by the Department.(3) An alligator hide tag furnished by the Department shall be attached within 24 hours to any alligator killed by the agent-trapper and shall remain attached until consumed by the lubricator. No person shall possess any untagged alligator hide.(4) Alligators shall be skinned only at designated sites and in accordance with written skinning instructions provided by the Department. The tagged hides and parts of the alligators taken may be held by the agent-trapper at a designated site for purposes of salt curing or cold storage until time of sale.(5) The meat of the alligators taken may be consumed by the agent-trapper or his immediate family or may be sold or transferred only as provided in Chapter 391-4-13. Containers of meat processed for personal consumption by the agent-trapper or his immediate family shall be labeled in indelible ink with the hide tag number of the alligator from which it came and the agent-trapper's name.(6) Each agent-trapper may be assisted, providing that no such assistant shall transport or possess any alligator or conduct any trapping activity except in the presence of the agent-trapper. However, alligators may be skinned and processed by an assistant at a designated facility without the agent-trapper being present, and tagged hides or other properly packaged and labeled alligator products may be transported by an assistant provided they are accompanied by complete DNR shipping documents. Assistants shall assume personal liability for their own health, welfare, and safety while assisting an agent-trapper.(7) Property rights to nuisance alligator hide tags issued to agent-trappers shall be vested in the Department and shall remain the property of the Department. No person except an authorized agent-trapper shall possess any nuisance alligator tag at any time. Unused alligator hide tags must be returned to the Department within 15 days of the expiration date of the nuisance alligator collection permit.(8) Issuance of nuisance alligator collection permits and alligator hide tags shall be discontinued and agent-trapper contract terminated upon receipt of information verified by the Department that the agent-trapper has: (a) Attempted to generate alligator complaints;(b) Failed to respond promptly to an assigned complaint;(c) Been convicted of a violation of any regulation or law concerning the taking of alligators or alligator eggs;(d) Violated any portion of this rule;(e) Acted incompetently in carrying out the responsibilities of his assignments.(9) Agent-trappers must have a valid trapper's license in order to take nuisance alligators and sell alligator meat, hides or products. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-12-.04
O.C.G.A., Title 27, Secs. 27-2-10; 27-3-19.
Original Rule entitled "Conditions Governing Operations of Authorized Agent-trappers" was filed July 15, 1988; effective August 4, 1988.Amended: F. Jul. 24, 1990; eff. Aug. 13, 1990.Repealed: F. Aug. 27, 1993; eff. Sept. 16, 1993.