The Board of Natural Resources voted to allow hunters to take up to 850 alligators annually - an increase from the current 700. Sarah Dearman, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says the change will take effect 20 days after the new rule is filed with the Secretary of State's Office. The alligator season runs from September to October.

More than 5,700 hunters are expected to apply for licenses. The waiting list is about two to three years long.

Georgia started allowing alligator hunting in 2003.

Hunters generally use hooks and line to bring the alligators alongside a boat, then kill them with a gunshot.