Alligator Hunting (Looking for help/tips)

[Tony Pic]

I went out 4 years ago in the Georgia Swamps around the Savannah area. We had to get a hook in them first, pull as close as possible them shoot only with a pistol or bang stick. Lost quite a few. We judged the size of the gators by the spacing between their eyes when we spotlighted them. A lot of fun and great eating. Good luck and hunt safe.

[GarGuy]

I was curious if rod and reel followed by a rifle was in the cards. It checked the all the boxes.

Not sure if I could be able to get close enough but Ill be out again this weekend with some lights so I will see how close I can get at night.

Great scouting at night but a no no for hunting them.

[T-roy66]

PM Sent

[Slew]

Livescope him and snag him! That would be awesome!

[SaintBlaise]

Here's our old school method.

I don't think you really need to scout the gators, but only where you want to set your lines. We only used Roseau cane for the poles, that is something you can cut now and let it dry. On the cane we wired a close-pin near the top of the smaller end to hold the line. If you only want to catch the big ones, you have to 'hang'm high', maybe 4' over the water. If it's tidal, it's tough. We used chick leg quarters for bait on some big ars tuna hooks, forgot what line we used. May have been para-cord, probably something better out there now.

Here's a few tips.
* If you are not pressured to tag out quickly. Watch the weather, and don't set you lines when you know you going to have a rainy day or a cold front.
* make sure you have a hook pole in your boat. This is if you see one you want to shoot that's not on the line. I hunted this place in West Columbia and the guys we got the tags from claimed they were loaded with 12 footers. The biggest we got was a 9', until the last day we are going to check lines and a 12 footer surfaced next to the boat (about 6' away, it was a sight) as we were hauling butt in that mercury 4.5. I couldn't take that easy shot because we didn't have the hook.

To DUGIE's point. I recall that season we keep the leg quarters in an ice chest for weeks. There were maggots all over them, it was so bad I had to use channel locks to handle that junk. This wasn't intended, I was just young...the gators didn't complain.

Where are you hunting?

[MikeB01]

GarGuy... is the snag hook method also legal in non core counties?

[GarGuy]

GarGuy... is the snag hook method also legal in non core counties?

Yes but must be 300 lb or more line

[Quackerbox]

Livescope him and snag him! That would be awesome!

You keep saying. That, when it happens Im gonna be on the boat

[150class]

Here's our old school method.

I don't think you really need to scout the gators, but only where you want to set your lines. We only used Roseau cane for the poles, that is something you can cut now and let it dry. On the cane we wired a close-pin near the top of the smaller end to hold the line. If you only want to catch the big ones, you have to 'hang'm high', maybe 4' over the water. If it's tidal, it's tough. We used chick leg quarters for bait on some big ars tuna hooks, forgot what line we used. May have been para-cord, probably something better out there now.

Here's a few tips.
* If you are not pressured to tag out quickly. Watch the weather, and don't set you lines when you know you going to have a rainy day or a cold front.
* make sure you have a hook pole in your boat. This is if you see one you want to shoot that's not on the line. I hunted this place in West Columbia and the guys we got the tags from claimed they were loaded with 12 footers. The biggest we got was a 9', until the last day we are going to check lines and a 12 footer surfaced next to the boat (about 6' away, it was a sight) as we were hauling butt in that mercury 4.5. I couldn't take that easy shot because we didn't have the hook.

To DUGIE's point. I recall that season we keep the leg quarters in an ice chest for weeks. There were maggots all over them, it was so bad I had to use channel locks to handle that junk. This wasn't intended, I was just young...the gators didn't complain.

Where are you hunting?

I should have all month in September so ill be picky and try to work the conditions.

Ill be mostly working from the bank but should have access to a john boat if needed.

Just east of Houston and thanks for the tips!

[SaintBlaise]

I should have all month in September so ill be picky and try to work the conditions.

Ill be mostly working from the bank but should have access to a john boat if needed.

Just east of Houston and thanks for the tips!

I hunted the Legget Ranch in that area South of Anahuac. They had some monsters out there.

[Slew]

You keep saying. That, when it happens Im gonna be on the boat

My second ones is going to be mobile! I'm applying again this year in Arkansas and Texas! Nee to put little man in. He's way luckier than me!

[150class]

Did some scouting this weekend but didn’t see the 2 big ones unfortunately.

Here’s a few from the weekend:










This was the biggest guy I found and a new one that hasn’t been seen before:




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[Slew]

So how bigga gator do you need to make a pair of mens boots? Size 10.5 if we're gonna be picky!

[Quackerbox]

So how bigga gator do you need to make a pair of mens boots? Size 10.5 if we're gonna be picky!

The fella I talked to said I could get 3 pair out an 8 footer as long as all you did was the upper and heel with the hide. Trimmed pieces could be used for pull straps.

That would be two par of 12s and an 8

[duckboy007]

The fella I talked to said I could get 3 pair out an 8 footer as long as all you did was the upper and heel with the hide. Trimmed pieces could be used for pull straps.

That would be two par of 12s and an 8

I called up a few places before I went, and they all recommended 7-8 footers for boots. Nicer (smaller) scale pattern, and usually not as scarred as the bigger ones from years of fighting. I skint out a 7.5 footer and got it professionally tanned, just waiting on the right time to send it off for some boots.