THE Email

"Dear Alligator Permit applicant" the email read. 

Alligator Permit Drawing Results were posted! The drawing for Phase I of the alligator harvest permit issuance process was complete and I could check the status of my application online to see if it had been drawn.

I checked Mike's application first. ***Unsuccessful*** then Dr. Fred's ***Unsuccessful*** Uh oh, this was not looking good. I finally checked my application. Was mine drawn? YES!!! :D

 ***Successful***

I had won the gator lottery!!! I had the privilege to hunt for two gators in Lake Pierce during the week of 08/15/2011-08/22/2011. The deadline to purchase the awarded permit was June 6th. I purchased mine the same day I had received the email. I could not let my permit be forfeited and made available during Phase II. I purchased my permit online, which was not free. Although I was out $280.59 before the adventure had even begun. I didn't care. I couldn't have been happier!

I waited anxiously for my license, permit & two tags to be mailed to me by FWC in July along with my training and orientation manual...