1. (a) The department may contract with a qualified individual for the removal of nuisance alligators.

2. (b) A control hunter under contract to the department may contract directly with a political subdivision, governmental entity, or property owner's association (as defined by Property Code, §2004.004) for the removal of nuisance alligators, provided:

   1. (1) the control hunter's contract with the department provides for such arrangements; and
   2. (2) a Wildlife Division employee authorized to approve the removal of nuisance alligators has performed an initial site visitation, evaluated the proposed nuisance-removal activities, and authorized the removal of a specific number of nuisance alligators.
3. (c) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, complaints concerning alligators shall be investigated by the department prior to approval for removal by a control hunter.
4. (d) Control hunters may take alligators only by means or methods specified by the department at the time of authorization for take.
5. (e) Control hunters may take alligators approved for removal at any time.

Source Note:The provisions of this §65.363 adopted to be effective August 26, 1997, 22 TexReg 7898; amended to be effective October 21, 2003, 28 TexReg 9081; amended to be effective September 1, 2006, 31 TexReg 5362.