Later this year, Alabamians will have the opportunity to hunt sandhill cranes, the first time the species has been opened to hunting in the state in more than 100 years.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will conduct a computer-controlled drawing to award 400 permits to hunt the crane, migratory birds whose population has steadily grown in recent years.

“The last sandhill crane hunting in Alabama was in 1916,” said Seth Maddox, WFF Migratory Game Bird Coordinator. “This is the first time in 13 years that we’ve had a new species open to hunting. The last was alligator in 2006. It’s pretty exciting.”

The season will be split into two parts: the first from Dec. 3, 2019 to Jan. 5, 2020 and the second from Jan. 16, 31, 2020. Hunting will be limited to North Alabama in a zone that runs from the Georgia state line down Interstate 20 to Birmingham then north of I-22 to the Mississippi state line.

There will be a limit of three birds per permit though hunters can harvest their limit in one day if they choose.

The registration process will open in September with the drawing in October.

Only Alabama residents 16 or older or Alabama lifetime license holders are eligible to register for the permit drawing. Applicants must also have a regular hunting license and a state waterfowl stamp.

Those selected for the permit must take an online test that includes questions on species identification and regulations. Once an applicant passes the test, they will be issued a permit and tags and then must buy a federal duck stamp and Harvest Information Program license and, if hunting on a wildlife management area, a WMA license.

Alabama becomes the third state east of the Mississippi River to allow for hunting of the sandhill crane. Kentucky opened its season in 2011; Tennessee opened its in 2013. Thirteen states west of the Mississippi River have sandhill crane hunting seasons.