I learned the hard way on hunting gators in Florida, go with an outfitter.
We have tried to get a tag to kill an alligator for 5 years now with no success.
Wanting to add a gator to my bucket list, so we called around and ended up hunting at www.razzorranch.com and our bucket list was more then filled with a gator.
We started out at 7am going over some simple info and signing waivers before the hunt, and off to a large orange grove about 20 mins away to fine the honey hole we was told about.
Wow what a honey hole it was, was seen a ton of gators of all sizes, it was a good hot day or guide says. In the back canal was the size we was looking for sitting on the bank in the sun. Our guides backs up and says there he is on the bank, now very slow and quietly back up and let’s go over to some trees to the left. After slowly move there, we set the shooting sticks up and was being told in my ear, now hit him in the head, just behind the eye. Bang my gun goes off and the gator slides into the water. The guide yells hit, and hold your gun up, and we run to the spot and cast on him.
After ten or so cast the guide says I think maybe he went into a cave, but he is hit.
I’m like now what? Then off comes the guides shoes & socks and into the water with a pole pocking around in front of him. Then the next thing I know he tells me I think I feel em, give me the snatch hook. I grab a giant hook on a big orange rope and kinda toss it to him. The guide toss it out and yanks hard, grab the end and pull. I’m thinks I was going to shoot the gator and go over for some photos, and here I am by the bank with a wounded gator on a rope dragging it in. Holly crap, it’s not easy to pull one in when they don’t want to come in.
Slowly we get him up to the bank and his head pops up like a bobber when fishing.
Get over here and take my pistol, the guide says. Now shoot him in the w on the back of the head. Bang and it’s all over but the dragging him to the truck.
Don’t ever think you with just shoot and photo on a gator hunt, because it doesn’t always go easy. I need a drink to calm my nerves after this one.
What an adventure getting up close to one of natures killers.