Both Land and Russell noted that gators really begin to pack on the weight once they hit the nine to 10 foot mark. For the 2017 season, I was fortunate enough to draw a tag in South Carolina. Most of these types of hunts charge by the foot. The state prohibits baited hooks and only allows restraining lines to secure the animal. If your state allows bowhunting alligators, the next step would be to take note of the regulations you need to follow. I shoot a crossbow for gators an have harvested more then most. As Morrell tried to calm down Jesse (and her daddy), he said, "Now the real fun begins. All Rights Reserved. Look for areas where there are fewer hunters. The Bowhunter team relives successful past elk hunts with Cross Mountain Outfitters. A shot to the spine will immobilize the alligator and it will eventually die. The same applies in Alabama. Without hesitation, Jesse said, "Gator hunting with Mr. For dispatching the animal, its handguns, bang sticks or archery gear only. | On the other hand, 30 to 70-lb compound bows work excellently for alligator hunting. If you miss, the bullet can ricochet off the water. More popular methods include using spears, spearguns, harpoons, gigs, bows and crossbows. Alligator hunters may use hook and line, bow and arrow, and firearms (except shotguns) to harvest alligators. It may sound easy, but theres a hunting procedure you may want to follow before shooting on impulse: If you are a beginner in bowhunting alligators, it is advisable to have a guide or someone with experience using a q-beam to spot the alligators eyes. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. When Troy Landry, Willie Edwards, and the other stars of Swamp People catch an alligator on a hook baited with rotten chicken, pull the line in, and wrestle the beast to the side of their boats, their work is far from done. Info:www.wlf.louisiana.gov/alligator-hunting-regulations-overview, Season: Aug. 28 - Sept. 7 for public waters/land and Aug. 28 - Sept. 21 for private waters/lands, License Fees: $25 license plus possession permit; $100 residents, $200 nonresidents. Season bag limit is two, with only one exceeding seven feet. Avoid hunting gators with a full moon because they will more than likely see you and submerge themselves prior to you locating them. There are various wild animals to hunt, whether for trophy purposes or to have the thrilling experience that not everyone will have in their lifetime. FWC has an annual lottery for 5,000 alligator tags that they sell statewide. Dispatching your gator. For starters, Land strongly advised that I either hunt with someone who had experience hunting alligators, or seek out a guide, noting that alligator hunting can quickly go south if you dont know what you are doing. Published Nov 2, 2020 6:24 PM EST. As with any other game animal hunted, shot placement is key! Once you stick the gator with a harpoon, now the excitement really begins. When Tommy hunted gators on his own in season two of the show and decided to shoot at them in open water, we got a sense of what an incredible sharp-shooter he really is. If you are now determined to hunt the alligator you spotted, it would be wise to shoot the animal on its back for an ethical and instant kill. Morrell should know, not only has he been guiding gator hunters for over 20 years, he's also a licensed Florida alligator trapper. Mrs. Jackie had drawn two alligator tags but opted to have Jesse use one of her tags if she could go along and watch the action. I am here to tell you (and for the record I think the reels are a pia) that I haven't found anything the allows you to consistently shoot groups at the distances the reels . Gator hunting is popular in Louisiana and there are plenty of guides. Firearms may be used to take alligators only on private property. All Bowhunter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Info:myfwc.com/license/limited-entry/alligator-hunt-permit/, Season: Sept. 10-30, 2020 (Core areas), April 1 June 30, 2020 (Non-core areas), License Fees: Resident annual hunting $25, Non-resident $315. In addition, they permit only one alligator per tag. Non-resident fee is $200, in addition to those costs. Go where others arent. All of this context is to illustrate how alarming it is to see something like this alligator below when you're not expecting to see a gator at all. You can start pulling the alligator in the boat once you are sure it is dead but make sure to tape its mouth with electrical tape first. For example, a smaller alligator may only require a 20-gauge shotgun. . In Louisiana, the fees are pretty cheap, but Louisiana Wildlife Fisheries only issues alligator tags to hunters who own their land or those with permission to hunt someone elses. Elk, bear, and moose are the most popular animals to hunt for big game seasons, yet at some locations in the United States, alligator hunting exists and is legal. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Alligator hunting is a lot of fun. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. Why Does My Compound Bow Shoot to the Left? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. With the gator now exhausted and next to the boat, she handed the line to Morrell. Then you bring the gator to the boat to shoot it or bangstick it. The drawing is held is held mid-June. It is unlawful to shoot at or kill an unrestrained alligator. But Morrell wasn't about to quit, and once again he called to the gator. Joe Genzel For instance, some states require you to obtain license fees and apply for gator tags before you can hunt. Your email address will not be published. Plenty of camping is available on surrounding public lands. According to FWC officials, alligators can be used in a variety of ways, including alligator farms, zoos, and other establishments. A tropical depression was due to hit the day we arrived and not leave until after we left. Alligators make for an unusual target but are exciting to pursue with a bow and arrow. Additionally, you must capture and secure the alligator using a restraining line before despatching it. Before we knew it we were headed out to another lake in Walton County. The limit for Florida gators is two. Furthermore, they imposed a minimum size limit of not less than four feet. Morrell told us the gator doesn't know the line is connected to your bow. Once you spot the alligator, the scenario would be that youll harpoon it using your bow, pull the alligator, and use a broadhead or bang stick to finish off the animal. Hunters participating in the Public Alligator Hunting Season may take alligators in public waters and on private land where permission is granted, but alligator hunting is prohibited on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and USFWS wildlife refuges. In 2001, angler Marty McClellan shot an alligator gar measuring 8 feet long and weighing 290 pounds. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hunters are allowed a bag limit of one alligator and, depending on the zone, it must meet a certain size restriction. With a little homework you can find the hunt that is right for you. Compounds with no sights or stabilizers may shoot in this class; Max Yardage: 25 yards +/-10%; Same for both men & women . Shot placement. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. Get ReadyForget about being as still as possible covered from head to toe in your favorite camouflage, or washing your clothes in odor destroying detergent and spraying down with scent elimination. Tip #4: Opportunity to Shoot Some Gar. Your email address will not be published. Baited Bank Hooks. He moves toward the bow, finger pointing to a disturbance 20 yards . Harvest Methods. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! But any hunt requires careful preparation, expertise, and specialized equipment. Gators, especially large ones, can hold their breath for periods of more than an hour. Teca Gators are among the most deadly of their species. Does the arrow keep falling off rest? The alligator weighed 900 pounds and was aged at 80-years old. Arkansas, Alabama and North Carolina have a season. Others want to kill an alligator. Venice, Louisiana, and the surrounding area has an abundance of marshes where you can shoot some alligator gar. Some hunt them for their meat and skin as a critical ingredient in Southern cuisine or to use in manufacturing bags and belts. The Alligator is one of the larger animals in Red Dead Redemption 2. Although this really didn't surprise me, one thing was certain, no one was more proud of her than me. The American Alligator was once placed on the endangered list in 1973, but with proper conservation efforts, they were taken off the list in 1987. Avoid harpooning the gator in the head and focus in on the back or body of the gator to ensure good penetration. You can tell an alligators size by the separation between its eyes. An entangled string will disrupt the success of your bowhunt and will lead to complex situations. When estimating the size of a gator, estimate the distance between the eyes and the nostrils to determine a rough overall length. Since this was Jesse's first out-of-state hunt, Morrell tried to make this extra special. You'll most likely find this animal in plains areas in packs. Here are the following Southern states in the United States where you can hunt alligators: If you plan to hunt alligators in Florida, you need to secure a permit which you can begin to apply mid-May. In other words, a lot of the pressure we bow hunters put upon ourselves to close the distance on big game land animals has been lifted..so you would think! The good news was the weather was forecast to clear around 8 p.m. At the dock of Lake Seminole, we met JD and Mrs. Jackie, who would be accompanying us on the hunt. Television shows such as Swamp People have increased the popularity of alligators and the sport of gator hunting. Even so, the two have one thing in common: If you place your shots poorly, things tend to get progressively worse. Get your fish arrow anywhere in the gator. Minimum size limit is at least four feet. The license you use to hunt deer and other game is the one needed to hunt alligators. FOX 35 Orlando. For most zones the size limit is 48 inches. Your email address will not be published. They are now flourishing and widely hunted throughout the southeastern United States. This kind of precise kill . (with line attached from arrow to bow or crossbow). As always, Hunt Strong and enjoy the experience. Here in Florida, you can only hunt gators at night, so youre contending with the darkness, driving the airboat over submerged stumps that could throw you into the water, and freak storms you cant predict, says Bill Booth, co-host of Swamp People: Serpent Invasion. Most of the time, alligator hunting in Florida takes place at night until the morning, with a limit of two alligators per person. Go with a guide or someone with experience in bowhunting alligators. There is something so fascinating about the American Alligator.
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