Alligator Hunting (Looking for help/tips)

[T-roy66]

Hey 150CLASS
Don't believe some of the advice your getting on snagging a free swimming alligator. Here is the section right out of the Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations.

Means and Methods
In non-core counties, no person may employ more than ONE taking device at any time.
Alligators may only be taken on private property.
Alligators may be taken from pubilc water, however, the person and the taking device MUST be on private property.
Hook and line (line set) must be secured on private property with a portion of the line above water. Minimum 300 lb. test line.
Hook-bearing lines may not be placed prior to the open season and shall be removed no later than sunset on the last day of the season.
Each line set shall be labeled with a plainly visible, permanent, and legibly marked gear tag that contains the full name and current address of the person who set the line and the hunting license number of the person who set the line.
Line sets shall be inspected daily, and alligators shall be killed, documented, and removed IMMEDIATELY upon discovery.
Firearms (excluding rimfire), air guns, and arrow guns may only be used to hunt on private land in non-core counties.
Firearms (excluding rimfire), air guns, and arrow guns may be used to dispatch alligators legally captured on a taking device in any county.
Gigs, hand-held snares (with integral locking mechanism), and lawful archery equipment (with barbed arrow), must have a float attached to the line. The float shall be no less than 6” X 6” X 8” or, if the float is spherical, no less than 8 inches in diameter.
Again if I can help answer your question PM me.

[GarGuy]

Hey 150CLASS
Don't believe some of the advice your getting on snagging a free swimming alligator. Here is the section right out of the Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations.

Means and Methods
In non-core counties, no person may employ more than ONE taking device at any time.
Alligators may only be taken on private property.
Alligators may be taken from pubilc water, however, the person and the taking device MUST be on private property.
Hook and line (line set) must be secured on private property with a portion of the line above water. Minimum 300 lb. test line.
Hook-bearing lines may not be placed prior to the open season and shall be removed no later than sunset on the last day of the season.
Each line set shall be labeled with a plainly visible, permanent, and legibly marked gear tag that contains the full name and current address of the person who set the line and the hunting license number of the person who set the line.
Line sets shall be inspected daily, and alligators shall be killed, documented, and removed IMMEDIATELY upon discovery.
Firearms (excluding rimfire), air guns, and arrow guns may only be used to hunt on private land in non-core counties.
Firearms (excluding rimfire), air guns, and arrow guns may be used to dispatch alligators legally captured on a taking device in any county.
Gigs, hand-held snares (with integral locking mechanism), and lawful archery equipment (with barbed arrow), must have a float attached to the line. The float shall be no less than 6” X 6” X 8” or, if the float is spherical, no less than 8 inches in diameter.
Again if I can help answer your question PM me.

I'm pretty sure he is hunting a core county.

[T-roy66]

Look at the rules. It is the same for either core or non core counties. There is only one group that has the authority to use a snagging hook and that is a licensed nuisance alligator control person.

[GarGuy]

Look at the rules. It is the same for either core or non core counties. There is only one group that has the authority to use a snagging hook and that is a licensed nuisance alligator control person.

Well I respect your knowledge on the subject so I will dig a little deeper. I know folks that snag gators every year in south Texas. It has been my understanding that as long as you used 300 lb plus line it qualified as hook and line. I know for a fact it is commonly done. Ill text a warden and get clarification if you don't think its legal.

[Quackerbox]

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.

Yes sir.

That's also why we belly skinned ours. Horn backs are hard and not as desirable. Unless you want them long pointy ones of course


The guys running our hunt explicitly said no snagging. But we hunted state grounds
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[GarGuy]

Well after talking to TRoy I better advise to talk to your wArden before snagging. It seems some folks at tpwd will say you cannot snag a live gator. Others are doing so regularly with warden approval as long as line is over 300 lb test. I can find nothing in writing that prohibits it nor that would disqualify snagging as hook and line.

TRoy might know of something in the regs. I know he was told its not legal so the ling story is ...don't snag one on my word. Ask your local warden how he interprets it.

[gander]

I wasn't thinking it was legal to snag one, I was pretty surprised when some listed it as an option. Thought it was only legal in Louisiana. I knew you could catch them by baited line and bowfish them in core counties and that's all I thought was legal in those counties.

[duckboy007]

I wasn't thinking it was legal to snag one, I was pretty surprised when some listed it as an option. Thought it was only legal in Louisiana. I knew you could catch them by baited line and bowfish them in core counties and that's all I thought was legal in those counties.

I shot mine with a bowfishing rig with the mandated float attached, but it's hard to do in Texas, as it is only legal during daylight hours. We were on the water right before sunrise, and I got an arrow in mine right at legal light. I don't see why they won't let you do it at night, you can be alot more selective that way. Only legal overnight method on normal private lands is a hook-set.

[gander]

I shot mine with a bowfishing rig with the mandated float attached, but it's hard to do in Texas, as it is only legal during daylight hours. We were on the water right before sunrise, and I got an arrow in mine right at legal light. I don't see why they won't let you do it at night, you can be alot more selective that way. Only legal overnight method on normal private lands is a hook-set.

I've shot quite a few with my bowfishing setup and the float, but you're right. It is much more difficult to get on one with the bwfishing setup. I have never shot one with the bowfishing setup that would be 10 feet in length, I think my biggest was 9 foot something with the bowfishing setup. Although I haven't tried much with the bowfishing setup, usually just have the bow with me and if the opportunity arises, we'll take it.

[T-roy66]

That what I like about the green screen we are here to gather information and learn. The Texas law is worded weird. Maybe someday they will write it so you don't have to be a lawyer to interpret.I know I learned from our conversations.

[Gladesgator]

Catching gators in FL, we never used rotted stinking baits. We used reasonably fresh whole fish, half of a raccoon etc. on private lands. Worked just fine.

The FL public water season is September and only at night, no firearms or set hooks allowed. Bow gear, harpoon darts and snagging are allowed.

It is strange the various states have such different laws regarding alligator hunting.

[s_nuss]

I've shot quite a few with my bowfishing setup and the float, but you're right. It is much more difficult to get on one with the bwfishing setup. I have never shot one with the bowfishing setup that would be 10 feet in length, I think my biggest was 9 foot something with the bowfishing setup. Although I haven't tried much with the bowfishing setup, usually just have the bow with me and if the opportunity arises, we'll take it.

On the ones you've taken with your bow rig where did you penetrate? Neck? Most "bow hunting" gator clips I've seen are guys who already have one hooked on line already.