THIBODAUX, La. (AP) ? Louisiana alligator hunters scrambled for the reptiles' eggs this season, since a serious drought made them scarce.

The eggs are not used for food, but in many cases hatched, then raised until they are just big enough for supple skins that become pricey watchbands.

"Last year we picked up 500,000 eggs, this year we picked up 250,000," said Gerald Savoie Jr., owner of Savoie's Alligator Farm in Cut Off, La. "I'll be OK but a lot of the farmers are not. The biggest problem is we won't have enough skin to supply the watch straps for Cartier, Rolex, the higher priced watches."

Those companies normally take 300,000 skins a year from the entire Louisiana industry, Savoie said.

"So with next year's crop we won't have enough skins, they'll switch to another product," he said.

State regulators are expected to tighten up on the number of alligators that can be taken during next month's annual hunt for wild adults, partially due to the low count of nests taken over the summer.