I went down to my ranch on the mid-Texas coast to set some alligator lines yesterday. I had one big gator that I was after and since there were two tags in my pocket decided to make another set on the bank where my property meets borders the intercoastal. Right before dark I checked the first set and saw the big gator underneath the chicken I had for bait. It was a sleepless night knowing the big gator would be mine in the morning.

A little bit after daylight I went to check the first set. The pole was broken but the hooks were still attached. One down and one to go. When I got to the second set the rope was in the water and moving. I grabbed the rope and gently pulled it up when a large gator head came to the surface. Wow, this one was to big to handle by myself so I gave my nephew a call to come help me.

After he arrived we headed through the marsh to the set. I handed him a .22 magnum rifle and told him to shoot the gator as soon as the head appeared. On the first go-round he was trying to aim through the scope but couldn't see him. The gator was right at our feet so I told him the next time to just jamb the barrel behind his head and pull the trigger. I eased the gator around again and heard the shot. All heck broke loose and the gator was getting mad. My nephew had "gator fever" and was standing there in shock. I yelled to chamber another round and keep shooting. After three more shots the gator was finished.

He taped out at 10'5"s and is the biggest I have taken off the ranch so far. He was shaking like a leaf and said this gator hunt is the most exciting hunt I have ever been on. Here is a picture of his gator.

Nice... but check out this Texas gator that had to be killed near someones house...



the game warden is 6'5" btw

Did I say it was the biggest. Let's see a picture of your gator.

Great adventure M16!!!

Perry

Hey M16 don't get too excited. I think the second one has a little photo help.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/wcgator.asp

That's a HECK of a gator, M16. Congrats are in order!

I see by the photo your hunting area has received some good rain as witnessed by the nice green grass. I thought our brown, parched landscape was bad until I saw a few areas around Lampasas recently. They don't even have brown, parched grass.

Again, congrats on the nice gator...

I have removed the photo since it is not as worthy as 470 Chapstick's photo shopped version.

I would have liked to have seen a PIC of that gator, honestly I don't know how you guys live with those things around I would not go near any water!!!

quote:

Originally posted by M16:
I have removed the photo since it is not as worthy as 470 Chapstick's photo shopped version.

Over ten feet sounds very nice indeed for a Texas gator. Sorry I missed it.

I hope the deer on your place(s) are doing well -- I am seeing reports of anthrax and some other diseases showing up.

M16 please repost the photo! Would love to see it! Things just don't look right with the other photo IMHO.........

M16, would you please post the photo again. The story was great and I'd sure like to see the gator.

Are these critters good to eat?

quote:

Are these critters good to eat?

You betcha! I'm sure others will chime in but, it literally does "Taste Like Chicken" IMO.

Great in Gumbo,fried in a skillet, grilled, etc.

Gator tail is fine meat.

Reloader

Gentlemen, the thin skin is getting tiresome around here. It seems anyone who has anything to say or show, there seems to be hurt feelings. What the hell is wrong with you guys? DAMN!

A 10' Gator is a good gator, and is about two feet larger than the average trophy gator,being about 8 feet, any place. However the picture of the 13' gator in that picture that 470 Capstick posted is not photo shopped. It was killed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife, in a private back yard in Southeast Texas. A 13 footer is giaganic for anyones gator population. To top this off some one shot a gator in Grapevine lake on the north end of D/FW airport, on the county line between Fort Worth, and Dallas, Texas about two months ago, and the TPW is looking for who ever shot that gator. That gator measured 13' 6", and D/FW is 350 miles from from the coast! Almost all the lakes in the eastern half of Texas have gators.

M16's gator is a a good gator, though due to his thin skin, and ensencitive comments by others, I didn't get to see the picture of it!

It's getting to be a pain just logging on here, and it seems on most forums! I think some of us need to get off the computer, and go hunting, as M16 did, and calm ourselves down a little.

Amen Mac!

M16,
I once had some alligator sausage that was EXCELLENT. You ought to try to find a recipe. Great hunt.

Perry

M16,

Please replace your picture. I believe you - we do have some big gators in Texas. I've seen some monsters up on Sam Rayburn and I'd love to see a picture of your nephew's gator.

Do you plan to do anything with your gator? Eat it? Tan the hide? Taxidermy the head?

These photos are going around as taken by a news helicopter in north Texas

I guess I have to apologize for sorta hi-jacking this thread... I never said it was my gator or that M16's wasn't a very nice trophy.. I started out with "Nice" to compliment him on his kill... I just got an email with that pic and wanted to share it...

I'm disappointed that people are getting so thin-skinned and defensive about everything... be happy and proud of your accomplishment, it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks.. that's becoming the problem with hunting.. people have to kill the biggest, the baddest or pay the most money on a hunt for it to be worthy of the peanut gallery.... WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!

I enjoy the stories more than I care about the size or quality of the trophy, it's the hunt not the carcass and horns.

Once again my apologies, but repost the pic.. it was a great shot with the gator hanging on the front end loader..