Remember that it can cost you jail time and hefty fines if you dont adhere to the law. If you plan to hunt, whether that may be in a hunting . (with line attached from arrow to bow or crossbow). Im including hogs because Ive taken hogs in 3 states already and they are a fun bow hunt and good to eat. Gators also shy away from bright lights. 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. The typical Florida gator season runs from August to October, but because Morrell is a trapper, he can run his hunts year round. Firearms are not allowed except for the use of bang sticks. Curt Wells can't pass up this opportunity to hunt mountain caribou in the Northwest Territories. It is important to note that all points used in any of these methods of take must be attached to a restraining line. You can also bowfish for gators by throwing a harpoon attached to a rope or shooting an arrow tied to a line. var sc_invisible=1; If you have an alligator hunt on your mind, youll need to make a game plan as you have only a few options to get it done. Morrell hunts out of an 18-foot, aluminum jon boat. var sc_security="efab815e"; Capture methods are restricted to hand-held snares, snatch hooks (hand-held or rod/reel), harpoons (with attached line), and bowfishing . Theres a chance that the alligator will spot you instead and swim away. Just then, Morrell's keen eyes spotted a gator over 200 yards away. If drawn, each tag holder gets two tags. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Sounds easy right? Always pay attention to the alligators position and aim accordingly. When hunting alligators, it is generally recommended to use . a little counter productive, shall we say. Go where others arent. At that time, the hunter will take the shot at the gator on the surface. Therefore, the bigger the distance between their eyes, the larger they are. Alligator hunting - Wikipedia Georgia is home to more than 250,000 alligators, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Alabama Teen Kills 12.5ft, 500lb Alligator, Plans to Keep - Newsweek Here are nine states where pursuing your dream of killing an alligator can become a reality. The alligator was captured alive a short time later but was humanely euthanized due to its injuries. Affordable compared to other states with higher amounts imposed on non-residents, There are separate hunting seasons for core and non-core areas, Those who hunt in the non-core areas have a bag limit of one alligator for every person per license year, Alligators captured on a taking device such as a line set, gig, snare, or lawful archery equipment need immediate kill. Both Grizzaffe and George are seasoned, salty professional alligator hunters. Subscriber Services. According to FWC officials, alligators can be used in a variety of ways, including alligator farms, zoos, and other establishments. Unlike the hunt the night before, the gators were not responding to Tate's calling. You spot the gator you want to harvest, harpoon it using your bow, pull him in, and use either a bang stick or a broad head to expire the gator. If you miss, the bullet can ricochet off the water. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Those drawn are immediately notified via email and have 48 hours to complete the purchase of the $200 permit. In dispatching an alligator, you do it via a bang stick or handgun. Airguns and bowguns are also legal tools. Use of baited hooks is not legal. Where to Hunt Alligators | Grand View Outdoors You can achieve this shot if the alligator is facing away and you are following behind it. Your email address will not be published. For the hog portion of this hunt I . Shooting an alligator in the tail or the back or the head wont do anything. . Thats a different experience altogether. Shoot him anywhere else, and youre just asking for trouble, and lots of it. Permits are $75 for residents and $250 for non-residents. The Bow RigYour setup is as follows: the arrow you will use is much heavier and longer than an arrow you hunt with. My hopes of taking a gator started to diminish as we watched our hotel's parking lot transform into a small pond. All alligators must be dispatched immediately after capture . Alligator gar can weigh several hundred pounds, put up an enormous fight and are often 10 feet long or longer. I'm preparing to remove an alligator from a pond.My plan is to shoot it behind the shoulder with my carp bow with a jug attached to the line so that we don't lose him.Then finish him off with my hunting bow or a rifle.Any advise from somebody who has actually got one before would be appreciated.The alligator is only 5 feet long but I don't want to mess this up. More popular methods include using spears, spearguns, harpoons, gigs, bows and crossbows. 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. Gator hunting requires patience. The bones of an alligator's skull are very dense and may be lodged in the animal's brain. You cant just pull a live alligator out of the water and throw them into your boat (unless youre Terral Evans). Copyright 2023 Archery Heaven on the Foodie Pro Theme. If you use a smaller caliber rifle, the bullet will simply bounce off of the alligator's skin. Once you hit the alligator successfully, it will swim off, taking the long line of nylon and the buoy attached. 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. 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. World Record Alligator Gar: Discover the Largest Alligator Gar Ever . From experience, the easiest shot to make is when the gator is swimming. Pre-charged pneumatic airbows. License Fees: Residents $272, Nonresidents $1,022. The best place to hunt alligators is the one that is accessible and affordable for you since fees vary from state to state. Furthermore, make sure that you are in an elevated position as you shoot the alligator to ensure good penetration. On the other hand, 30 to 70-lb compound bows work excellently for alligator hunting. Mississippi does not give out a lot of gator permits, but if you happen to get drawn there is the possibility of getting a true trophy. From the longbow to the crossbow. Why Bowhunting Alligators Should be on Your Bucket List Like other wild animals, alligators have a keen sense of hearing and eyesight. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Share this on Facebook (opens in new window), Share this on Twitter (opens in new window). After about five minutes, Jesse was winning the tug-of-war contest. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. | John Currier, an expert gator hunter from Louisiana, anchors a 1,000-pound-test line to a tree and hangs a baited hooktypically raw chickenabove the water from a PVC rod (you can use bamboo or fiberglass stakes too) and sticks it into the bank of a canal or swamp. Hence, you may be wondering how, why, and where you can bowhunt alligators which you can refer to below: Check first with your states local game and fish for any implemented bowhunting regulations for alligators to ensure you follow the law. Crossbows. 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. You can hunt alligators in most Southern states, such as Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama. And just like before, when the gator surfaced and saw us, he took off. Alligators may not be taken during this season on any property where alligators were taken during the September season. Texas is affordable when you consider all of the hunting that can be done on a license. Alligators may be found all across Mississippi. . The state's record book gator stretched some 14' 3 " and tipped the scales at 654-pounds. State law allows the transfer of tags as long as the tag owner is present. Shooting delicious catfish is also legal in Kentucky. We are here for you. However, the list might not be the same for all. Most gator hunts typically go like this: you cruise around looking for gators on a flat-bottom boat or an airboat, which if you have never done, you are in for a treat. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Only alligators four feet or greater in length may be killed. In addition, they permit only one alligator per tag. The department will mail a CITES tag to the hunter. Important TipsFirst and foremost, be patient. The size of alligator you are looking for will decide what you ultimately pay. In Arkansas, you must be a resident or hold an Arkansas Sportsmans Lifetime Permit to apply and all successful permit applicants must attend a mandatory hunter orientation class. A Florida Gladesman Explains How to Kill a Gator Real Good - Vice Bowhunting alligators can be pretty similar to large bowhunting animals. They are most prevalent in the southern two-thirds of the state, south of the U.S. 82 highway. He shot the gar on the Trinity River in Texas, which has been the source of many exceptionally sized fish over the years. 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. *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. Your email address will not be published. In some places, its legal to spot-and-stalk gators and shoot them with a centerfire rifle. 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. Published May 1, 2023 12:53PM. People hunt alligators for a variety of reasons. 10 Best Bowfishing Destinations - Petersen's Bowhunting Be patient since it could take hours to spot them and place a perfect shot. If alligators is on your bucket list then let's take a look at shot placement. There is something so fascinating about the American Alligator. After arriving in Panama City, Jesse and I watched it pour down rain all day from our hotel room. Can I Shoot a Bow in My Backyard in Texas? Even so, the two have one thing in common: If you place your shots poorly, things tend to get progressively worse. There are over 250,000 alligators in Georgia, and the license fee is one of the cheapest. Getting a bow set up to hunt gators with would be the easiest part. Nonresidents can also apply, but they can expect to pay $1,034. Tate!" Morrell should know, not only has he been guiding gator hunters for over 20 years, he's also a licensed Florida alligator trapper.