With Tate calling, and the gator only 20 yards in front of the boat, I could tell Jesse was getting nervous. As our mid-August hunt drew close, the weather around Panama City, Florida, looked bad real bad. American Buffalo Knife and Tool Co. is adding to its line of Roper Knives with the new Sunset Series Tumble Weed. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A $10 nonrefundable application fee is required to participate in the drawing. Alligator hunters may use hook and row, bow and arrow, and firearms (except shotguns) to harvest alligators. If alligators is on your bucket list then let's take a look at shot placement. 29-Mar-10. They do not entertain applicants with ages lower than 16. Always pay attention to the alligators position and aim accordingly. And just in case you are reading this post because you have a gator knocking on your front door and you really, really, really need to know exactly where to shoot him with your one bullet, and looking at computer generated images of alligator skulls hasnt instilled the confidence you were looking for, heres the kill spot on a real deal alligator. But, just like Morrell had rehearsed with her, with one squeeze Jesse drew, and by the time the gator was within 10 feet, Tate squeezed again and she fired. Here, Bowhunter Editor and Bowhunter TV host Curt Wells gets a firsthand look at the results: the new Slide Rock Hiker. Hunting hours for alligators in Florida run from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. Buy some good headlamps and be ready for a long, exciting night. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Gigs. In this video, Neil Byce, Director of Ops & Manufacturing at Bear Archery, highlights the new Super Kodiak, Series 4 of 4 of the company's Limited Edition Series of recurve bows. As you draw, the string should have no slack. Gator hunting crossbow setup??????? Florida Sportsman I knew our long night on the lake had just ended. Each state has different regulations, so check with the states Division of Natural Resources in which you will be hunting for how and when to apply. Arkansas, Alabama and North Carolina have a season. Currier checks lines in the morning and hauls in the gators, dispatching them with a shot from a 9mm to the top of the head. Joe Genzel Setting the hook on a big muskie is thrilling. Thats why it is vital to keep the string intact, primarily when you draw the bow. But it is legal to shoot a swimming alligator. bow hunting, fishing, upland hunting, shed . For instance, you must be a resident of Alabama and Arkansas to apply for a license. What caliber rifle do they use to shoot alligators? - Arew Thats not good. From experience, the easiest shot to make is when the gator is swimming. Applicants must be at least 16 years old in order to apply. If you hit the alligator in the belly it will thrash around and can do a lot of damage. In order to hunt alligators, you need a rifle that is at least .22 caliber. There are a lot of ways to skin a gator hunt in the Southeast. Coming tight on a bull redfish is a rush. Go where others arent. Hook and line. The next day it rained even harder. Subscriber Services. As a result, several bowhunters sign up for the seasonal alligator bowhunting season to experience the hunting thrill like no other. Harvest Methods. As Jesse slowly started to pull the line into the boat, the gator reached the surface, saw us, slapped its tail, and took off again. [CDATA[ . With the gator now exhausted and next to the boat, she handed the line to Morrell. Alligator Hunting in Okeechobee, FL - Florida Hunting, Fishing Outdoor It doesn't matter what caliber of rifle you're using - as long as you hit the right spot, the alligator will go down. Youll face additional expenses if you plan to hire a guide to aid you during your hunt. Watch as Dudley navigates the long distance, wind, and small target area for the ultimate gator shot!FOR PRODUCTS USED IN THIS VIDEO CHECK OUT THE NOCK ON STORE HERE - https://shop.nockonarchery.com/AND FOR MORE ARCHERY COACHING AND TIPS VISIT THE SCHOOL OF NOCK HERE - https://nockonarchery.com/school-of-nock/ Dispatching your gator. For dispatching gators, only bang sticks and shotguns are legal. For this reason, Morrell uses a headlamp with a rheostat to keep the brightness to a minimum. | The hunter must tag the animal immediately with a harvest tag provided by SCDNR for any of the alligator hunting programs. They are looking to introduce Airbows as a legal way to hunt next year. The typical Florida gator season runs from August to October, but because Morrell is a trapper, he can run his hunts year round. Nicole Jones Reeve's 900 Pound Alligator with Her Bow Aforementioned fishing (hook and line) method is the bulk common plus is the only style allowed in public areas. After arriving in Panama City, Jesse and I watched it pour down rain all day from our hotel room. When hunting alligators, it is generally recommended to use . Bowhunting Alligators Along the Antill Canal in Terrebonne Parish, 10 miles southeast of Gibson, we drift for 15 minutes before the first sighting. Why Does My Compound Bow Shoot to the Left? var sc_invisible=1; Texas is affordable when you consider all of the hunting that can be done on a license. Just as you would do with any other type of hunting, finding a good gator is about preseason scouting and looking for gators where other people arent going. What none of us expected was that over 10 inches of rain would fall over the weekend! It was rendered from CT scans using Amira and QuickTime by Ryan Ridgely, and labeled by Jason Bourke. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But any hunt requires careful preparation, expertise, and specialized equipment. Shooting delicious catfish is also legal in Kentucky. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Unless you break the spine on the first shot do not expect to kill a alligator with an arrow any other wound will take hours for the animal to die (even direct heart shot) I worked around alligators for years and the quickest way to kill one if you dont own a bangstick and dont want to shoot it with a gun is to pull it alongside the boat or onto the bank an cut the spine with a VERY sharp axe . In the long-run, of course, an alligator may die from a shot to one of those soft spots. Get a closer look at the Smith & Wesson Model 350, the latest addition to our #SundayGunday series. The alligator weighed 900 pounds and was aged at 80-years old. Here is an amazing virtual 3D video put together by the The 3D Alligator Project at Ohio University and the University of Missouri showing the anatomical structure of the head and skull of the American alligator. Hunters can also use snares, snatch hooks, hand-held catch poles, baited wooden pegs and fishing poles with baited wooden pegs, artificial lures or weighted treble hooks. "The light . Hunters often have a bucket list. If you plan to hunt, whether that may be in a hunting . 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. The size of alligator you are looking for will decide what you ultimately pay. Alligator hunting in Louisiana Swamps - NewOrleansWebsites License Fees: Residents $272, Nonresidents $1,022. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Most of the time, alligator hunting in Florida takes place at night until the morning, with a limit of two alligators per person. Roger McCulloch skipped a grizzly bear hunt in Alaska to drive 18 hours to Florida with one mission: shoot an alligator with bow and arrow. The FWC said Andrew Lynn Price admitted to shooting the alligator in the head with a rifle. "You have to find the fish . The same applies in Alabama. An Alligator Hunting License is $25 and an Alligator Possession Permit is $200. Bowhunting alligator is a big game hunting activity mostly legally allowed throughout the United States southeastern part. Pursued for their valuable hides, alligator populations Remember that you have a small target to aim at, and being off just an inch could result in a wounded but not dead gator. Now that you have all the right equipment ensure that you practice your shots as much as possible since most are in feet and not yards considering that the arrow rapidly loses speed because of its heavier weight. Aiming directly behind the eyes, Jesse slammed the bang stick into the gator's skull. Alligators. Only one alligator per bag should meet the size restriction in each zone. To make sure I was best prepared for the hunt, I reached out to Mark Land with Muzzy Bowfishing to learn as much as I could about the equipment I would need for bowfishing gators. Check out Pro Archer, John Dudley of Nock On Archery, drill an alligator target across a lake at 136 yards with a bow and arrow. Published Nov 2, 2020 6:24 PM EST. . The Tavares Police Department said it a . Your email address will not be published. The season bag limit in Mississippi is only two and better yet, book a guide as soon as you get drawn since they fill up quickly. A good guide will have scouted the hunting grounds and knows where the gators are living. For hunting or for fun. 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. Television shows such as Swamp People have increased the popularity of alligators and the sport of gator hunting. Alligator offer a lot of meat, but more importantly, you'll need . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Furthermore, make sure that you are in an elevated position as you shoot the alligator to ensure good penetration. Other than broadhead, other hunters use a bang stick or knife to dispatch a tethered alligator. Baited hooks are prohibiited but you can use snatch hooks or wire snares to snag a gator. Bellow is a table showing all animals and which size group they belong to and which weapon to use for perfect kills. Published May 1, 2023 12:53PM. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Moreover, preparing an extra gator arrow, harpoon, nylon string, and bang stick is advisable. Moreover, hunters can hunt alligators over four feet. Important TipsFirst and foremost, be patient. Hunting gators with a bow is a hunt unlike any other. Alligator hunting is a lot of fun. var sc_security="efab815e"; Provided by Ryan Longer. Ive wanted to take an alligator with a bow so In feb. 2019, I will drive to the Sunshine state to hunt gators and hogs with a bow. Some states allow you to use a baited line with a wooden dowel. While others may assist the permitted hunter, all participants (including permittee) must possess a valid South Carolina hunting license. . Curt Wells travels to Mexico to finish his "Deer Slam" by taking a coues deer. Keep your eyes on the prize and may your journey of gator hunting be successful with some fresh all-natural gator tail. An alligator has one vulnerable spot for a shot, at the back of the head where the spinal cord can be hit behind the thick skull. Where to Hunt Alligators | Grand View Outdoors Alligators may not be taken during this season on any property where alligators were taken during the September season. Alligator hunters may use hook and line, bow and arrow, and firearms (except shotguns) to harvest alligators. But, if a good sized gator dives and doesnt reappear right away, they arent going far and are worth waiting for. Patience also comes in handy as you will most likely have a few blown stalks before you successfully arrow a gator. Once you hit the alligator successfully, it will swim off, taking the long line of nylon and the buoy attached. 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. 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. World Record Alligator Gar: Discover the Largest Alligator Gar Ever You can also shoot it with a bow and arrow. All Rights Reserved. The way he ties and rigs the string to the arrow and Gator Getter, and then through the string container bottle and to the buoy, is a work of art. With just 1,000 tags issued and a handful of guides in the state, this can be a tough hunt to pull off if you are not familiar with gator hunting. Avoid hunting gators with a full moon because they will more than likely see you and submerge themselves prior to you locating them. Just $1 per month , Learn the habits of these prehistoric reptiles to tag your first swamp monster, By "There," says Rod Bonvillain Jr., a construction foreman from Houma. How to Hunt Your First Alligator. Plus, the 7 Best Gator States Upon receipt, the tag must be permanently affixed to the alligator within 10 inches of the tip of the . um . Alligator hunting tips - Mississippi Sportsman You can also use the following popular hunting methods: Also, hunters can hunt wild alligators on private lands in Florida. Land knows lower draw weights can still . At that time, the hunter will take the shot at the gator on the surface. Lifetime License holders are exempt from the Alligator Hunting License. The limit for Florida gators is two. At this point, rope burns and getting the line wrapped around your feet or hand are a real concern. Therefore, the bigger the distance between their eyes, the larger they are. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Another might have a trip to South Africa. For instance, some states require you to obtain license fees and apply for gator tags before you can hunt. Other states, such as Alabama, Arkansas, and North Carolina, have a separate alligator hunting season with only a few permits issued. It is unlawful to shoot at or kill an unrestrained alligator. If youre objective is to get the alligator out of the water and into your boat, you want to slow the beast down, not motivate it to fight harder. Alligator hunting is the capture and killing of gators.With the appropriate licenses and tags, the American alligator can legally be hunted in the Southeastern United States.The states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas all distribute alligator hunting licenses. If you buy new, Land advises using normal draw weights, but stresses hunters should stick to whatever they are comfortable with. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. . Most alligators that are male reach up to the 10-foot mark, while female alligators rarely do. Head-shooting an alligator isn't the same as shooting a human trying to kill you. Go with a guide or someone with experience in bowhunting alligators. Even so, the two have one thing in common: If you place your shots poorly, things tend to get progressively worse. Teca Gators may be found south of Calliga Hall, lurking in the marshlands that border the Lanahechee River. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The alligator was captured alive a short time later but was humanely euthanized due to its injuries. Hunting Regulations & Requirements - Mississippi Hunting *As with any hunt, regulations vary by state, and it is best to check with the local state game and fish to ensure you are hunting within the law. The limit for Florida gators is two. Get ready!". Russell put it best when he said, gator hunting is a lot of down time that culminates with 15 minutes of pure adrenaline-pumping excitement. After watching the water explode from a thrashing gator and also successfully punching a tag with him, I can assure you that statement is 100 percent accurate. Where is the quarter-sized kill spot on an alligator? - Starcasm Most hunters hang the bait higher at the beginning of the season to prevent smaller gators from taking the bait. Morrell explained that he generally finds his bigger gators in the deeper water, but tonight was definitely different. Gator Shot Placement Info - Bowsite.com milnrick, you will have a blast on the hunt. Shot Placement And Alligators - Gun Digest More popular methods include using spears, spearguns, harpoons, gigs, bows and crossbows. Gator hunting is popular in Louisiana and there are plenty of guides. 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. Gator hunting requires patience. . An alligator captured on a taking device (line set, lawful archery equipment, gig or snare) must be killed immediately. When they do this, you can do a quick snapshot against the gar to see if you can't bag it. Thats a different experience altogether. (Red Stakes) Age 11-16; Magnification, clarifier, or . You'll most likely find this animal in plains areas in packs. It does not store any personal data. Hunters are selected by a preference-based computer drawing and may apply online beginning May 1 of each year. Bow and arrow are just some of the equipment you need for bowhunting alligators. A Beginner's Guide to Bowfishing for Gators | An Official Journal Of Kentucky is one of the few states where you can legally shoot paddlefish with a bow (up to two fish per day); a true glamour fish in direct regards to bowfishing trophies, and they make fine eating. Supposed you are now clear with the law, next is to select a bow setup to use for your alligator bowhunting which is as follows: You can use your current bow to bowhunt alligators as long as it is within the allowed draw weight by your state. We are thrilled to have you here and we will do our very best to help you navigate the fascinating world of archery. Then he kills it with a bangstick, essentially a long stick that fires a round when he presses it to the top of the gators skull. Alligator Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. The Alligator is one of the larger animals in Red Dead Redemption 2. Spearguns. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Give a Gift You can also bowfish for gators by throwing a harpoon attached to a rope or shooting an arrow tied to a line. They are now flourishing and widely hunted throughout the southeastern United States. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! Data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) showed Lake Seminole was one of the best for success rates and average gator length. Only alligators four feet or greater in length may be killed. As you ease up to the buoy, grab the nylon string attached and slowly pull in the gator. As with any other game animal hunted, shot placement is key! Ready, Aim, Splash! Bowfishing soaring in popularity - Tennessee Its unlawful to take an alligator by means of firearms from, in, on, across or over public water. FWC seeks to introduce Airbows as a legal way to hunt Does the arrow keep falling off rest? Archery gear, firearms, and hook and line are weapons you can use here to hunt alligators, but it is illegal to shoot them when swimming. We considered the do-it-yourself option, but determined too much could go seriously wrong. This setup took years to master and is the primary reason Morrell is one of the best alligator outfitters in the state. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But sinking a treble hook into a 15-foot, 1,000-pound prehistoric reptile? Then, without reason, the gator slapped its tail and headed away from us. Before anything else, check if your state legalizes bowhunting alligators. 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. If you are using your bow, knock an arrow and broad head you would normally use to hunt and be ready to draw. If you do not have access to a tranquilizer gun, you can use a shotgun or rifle to shoot the gator from a safe distance. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. If youve never been on a gator hunt, its smart to go with a guide (hunts start at around $700) or an experienced hunter, but you can also go on your own as a nonresident in some states (see sidebar). An arrow shot too low would be destroyed in the ground, and too high, lost in the lake. We are here for you. 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. Most alligators that are male reach up to the 10-foot mark, while female alligators rarely do. When estimating the size of a gator, estimate the distance between the eyes and the nostrils to determine a rough overall length. From their ever-powerful tail to their big sharp teeth, gators are sure to top one of your most unique bow hunts. A variety of tools and techniques can be used to hunt alligators, often resulting in high success rates. How does it work? The license you use to hunt deer and other game is the one needed to hunt alligators. The company has updated the pic systems for their popular Fast Eddie sights to make them compatible with the new mounting systems that are becoming more and more prevalent on many of the newer bow models being brought to the market today. The Buyer's Guide to Crossbow Nocks: 5 Things to Look for. Thus, you can notice that there are some states in the USA that legalize hunting them. At this time there is no scheduled hunt listed in North Carolina. Restrained is defined as an alligator that has a noose or snare secured around the neck or leg in a manner that the alligator is controlled. "Texas has the perfect climate for alligator gar and they grow large there," White says. Crossbow Gator Hunt on the St. John's River | Outdoor Life From the longbow to the crossbow. Capture methods are restricted to hand-held snares, snatch hooks (hand-held or rod/reel), harpoons (with attached line), and bowfishing . Once you, as the hunter decide to take a shot, the driver eases up to the gator with the light directly fixated on the gators eyes as you draw your bow. If your state allows bowhunting alligators, the next step would be to take note of the regulations you need to follow. In 2001, angler Marty McClellan shot an alligator gar measuring 8 feet long and weighing 290 pounds. Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly check with your state if there are any updates in the alligator hunting regulations before proceeding so you can manage your expectations and start with your preparations. Jesse hit the gator right between the shoulders a perfect 10-ringer! Approximately 30 of line is tied off to the bottom of the structure while the baited hook end is suspended about 1-2 above the water surface. For those wanting to hunt alligators in Texas, the license you need to acquire is the same as when entering a deer hunting game. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Dont get discouraged if you miss. Morrell didn't have to squeeze my shoulder because I was already at full draw when the gator reached our boat. How Strongly Do You Have to be to Use a Longbow? Why Do Alligator Hunters Use Cane Poles? - Bliss Tulle For instance, zone 1A requires a minimum size of at least 96 inches. Info:georgiawildlife.com/hunting/alligator, Season: Second Saturday of September Second Saturday of October. This kind of precise kill . It will run through your rest and attach close to the knock of the arrow. Age 11-16; Any bow of your choice; Max Yardage: 25 yards +/-10%; What is the Youth Advanced Class? Jeff Stabile caught the alligator with a bow and arrow after it weighed 155 pounds and was seven feet long. "Just like buck fever, some hunters can't handle the pressure and are rendered completely immobile.". 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. On top of that expense you will need to hire a guide if you are not familiar with alligator hunting or have the proper gear. One or more of the following legal means and methods may be used for the taking an alligator, but only one method at a time can be utilized: Hook and Line (line set); lawful archery equipment (with barbed arrow) including longbow, recurve bow or compound bow with reel device and arrows with line of at least 300-pound test securely attached to the barbed fish point; hand-held snare or alligator gig. You can tell an alligators size by the separation between its eyes. Just because a gator sinks below the surface and out of sight, doesnt mean it is a lost cause. Here's what to do! So we opted to go with an expert, and that's how we found Tate Morrell. This more than 8-million-year-old species of reptile is native to southeastern United States, and can be legally hunted in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. Although Jesse and I were definitely rattled, Morrell kept it together as he expertly untangled the line. Judging a gator. PDF 2018 ALLIGATOR HUNTING GUIDE - Mississippi Department of Wildlife Without hesitation, Jesse said, "Gator hunting with Mr. Bowhunting Alligators How, Why, and Where to Hunt? Hunting hours are daytime only.