Alligator Hunting..

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Now, being a hunter and a reptile lover in the same sense I had mix feelings when my friend, Thom, sent me these pics he took at a local Festival. I post because want to see what everyones veiws on this is, especially from fellow hunters with the love of herps. Would you consider it as valid as deer/turkey hunting or would you consider it more along the line of rattlesnake hunts? Mind you, I am not a trap using hunter.. I do not sit and wait, I actualy stalk the animals I hunt, so there for I do not agree to some of the hunting methods gators are taken by ie. Snare and line.. Anywho, let me know youre thoughts..

[B-Rep]

Hunting is ridiculous...but that's a different story.

As for your claim to be a reptile lover, I would hope my friend, that any reptile lover wouldn't even consider killing Gators for food, let alone sport.

The pictures are sad, but I suppose it's a reality we have to deal with...Thanks for posting.

[Scales Zoo]

Sheila and I hunt deer, we don't shoot just the trophy's, and we do it primarily for food.

Aren't alligators cites appendix 1? It seems odd people would be able to hunt "endangered species".

Do they use them all as food and leather?

I saw a hunting show on T.V. that was hunting gators. They shot one in a dugout (it couldn't get away) and it made them feel more like a man. Reminded me of those people who shoot tigers in cages, so that they can have a trophy in their house, and feel more like a man.

My gut feeling is that I am against it, but I don't know much about it, so I can't really say right now.

My gut feeling is also that the gator hunt is primarily a trophy contest, and that a lot of gators just get wasted for "the fun of it".

Ryan

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

As for your claim to be a reptile lover, I would hope my friend, that any reptile lover wouldn't even consider killing Gators for food, let alone sport.

Never considered killing one, however I am an all around animal loving kind of guy.. Of all animals, and yes I do hunt. Hunting is an undescribable experience, if you are in it for the hunt and not for the "trophy". I eat what I kill, and if chance has it, I may consider doing a gator hunt.. I'm not a blind one-sided bigot and just because I like a species more than another does not mean I'll decriminate a species just because I keep alot of them on my land.. The hunt is a hunt no matter what animal and I enjoy the experience of the hunt and I feel you've never been hunting so how can you down it when you do not understand it? I'm going to guess you are a Vegitarian, just a guess - no insult..

Aren't alligators cites appendix 1? It seems odd people would be able to hunt "endangered species".

American alligators are CITES II which means that they are regulated and since hunting, legally for most animals is regulated it's a one in one shot.. And in Texas, Florida and most other places where they naturally occur they are considered game animals, they are quite more common than many people oppose.. Even here in Oklahoma, Alligators are threatened, where I get the priviledge to help regulate population counts and they are very far from what people think of the population, hell, most dont even realize we have gators naturally.. You cannot hunt here. The hunt only lasts for 20 days of September in Tx and I think all of the gator hunts in any legal hunting state.. I think..
As for the by products, they are used for everythin, the hide is sold for leather and the meat is sold for consumption so most of the animals aren't wasted, maybe just the entrails, which are eaten by other animals so it's regulated and clean..

I saw a hunting show on T.V. that was hunting gators. They shot one in a dugout (it couldn't get away) and it made them feel more like a man. Reminded me of those people who shoot tigers in cages, so that they can have a trophy in their house, and feel more like a man.

I agree, hunting does have the select few individuals that don't generally care for the hunt and only do it for bragging rights, but hopefully that'll die out.. Plus, permits to hunt are expensive so not many of us could do it for the trophy, I know I couldn't afford that sort of trophy, even if I had the gut for it..

My gut feeling is also that the gator hunt is primarily a trophy contest, and that a lot of gators just get wasted for "the fun of it".

I wouldn't quite agree because most gators are now averaging out at 6-8' so nothing fantastic there, plus the permits are expensive so I think that'll cut down on the red necks..

Xain

[Bartman]

i think its plain sick. There is absolutly no point at all to do this. I doubt alligator tastes good and even if it does eat something that gets raised purposly to eat not something thats trying to survive! Even if you wanted to hunt 1 or 2..or even 5! That picture with maybe 20 is disturbing. Thats way to many crocs to take out of an ecosystem at once!
just my 2 cents

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

I doubt alligator tastes good

To be quite honest, alligator is good eatin'

That picture with maybe 20 is disturbing.

That was a 5 man team and there were only 9 animals in the truck.

Thats way to many crocs to take out of an ecosystem at once!

[FONT=times new roman]
In order to understand and properly manage Texas's alligator population, TPWD Wildlife Division conducts extensive studies in coastal marshes on the number, character and harvest of alligators every year. This information helps TPWD determine trends in the population, assess alligator habitat and establish wise hunting limits for the species.

TPWD Wildlife Division staff monitors the Texas alligator population via aerial nest surveys and night time "spotlight" counts. For example, in 2001, TPWD Staff conducted 24 hours of helicopter surveys along coastal marshes documenting hundreds of alligator nests. In addition, staff conducts annual spotlight counts along 41 established lines covering 22 counties to supplement aerial survey estimates and provide population estimates in heavily vegetated areas.

Harvest recommendations for each season are determined by TPWD biologists using a 3-year average nest count, the percentage of adult alligators in a population, and a sustained yield harvest rate. Alligator season begins September 10th and ends September 30th. The number of alligators an individual landowner may harvest is based on the acreage and type of habitat owned.

Based on data acquired, TPWD allows egg collection, farming, and hunting activities for alligators by permit. Annual harvest records are kept, to document harvest size, sex, county of take and harvest date. This information is useful in finding trends in the species as well as hunter profiles. All aspects of the alligator program are carefully monitored, and the populations of the Texas alligators are steadily growing, as with all the natural occuring animals..
Xain
[FONT]

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

I doubt alligator tastes good

To be quite honest, alligator is good eatin'

That picture with maybe 20 is disturbing.

That was a 5 man team and there were only 9 animals in the truck.

Thats way to many crocs to take out of an ecosystem at once!

In order to understand and properly manage Texas's alligator population, TPWD Wildlife Division conducts extensive studies in coastal marshes on the number, character and harvest of alligators every year. This information helps TPWD determine trends in the population, assess alligator habitat and establish wise hunting limits for the species.

TPWD Wildlife Division staff monitors the Texas alligator population via aerial nest surveys and night time "spotlight" counts. For example, in 2001, TPWD Staff conducted 24 hours of helicopter surveys along coastal marshes documenting hundreds of alligator nests. In addition, staff conducts annual spotlight counts along 41 established lines covering 22 counties to supplement aerial survey estimates and provide population estimates in heavily vegetated areas.

Harvest recommendations for each season are determined by TPWD biologists using a 3-year average nest count, the percentage of adult alligators in a population, and a sustained yield harvest rate. Alligator season begins September 10th and ends September 30th. The number of alligators an individual landowner may harvest is based on the acreage and type of habitat owned.

Based on data acquired, TPWD allows egg collection, farming, and hunting activities for alligators by permit. Annual harvest records are kept, to document harvest size, sex, county of take and harvest date. This information is useful in finding trends in the species as well as hunter profiles. All aspects of the alligator program are carefully monitored, and the populations of the Texas alligators are steadily growing, such as by 1980, the Texas alligator population was at around 68,000 and increased to 140,000 by 1984 and to show ya the spiffiness of the population growth it's estimated that there are 286,000 alligators in Jefferson, Liberty and Orange counties alone, Ironically that's double the number of the statewide population in '84. However, there is no statewide population at this particular time so I can't give ya' that, and if you must check out my info, contact one of the biologists working with these animals at txgator.info@tpwd.state.tx.us
Xain

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Aw yes, the lovely edit button.. Good job Xain

[jtpRUGGER]

Xain, you are a moron, and you know nothing about alligators. Haha...just kiddin. I agree with you on everything you said. When Thom sent me those pics, I was honestly disgusted. I even felt a little bad about the gator tails I have eaten. Furthermore, it made me question my own hunting habits. In spite of that, I think the "Gatorfest" in Texas is not such a bad thing. In no way do I think it compares to the Rattlesnake Roundups, such as the one in Sweetwater, TX. Alligator populations in texas are increasing. The hunts are strictly monitored. Believe me, as a Texas hunter I know what it takes to get a permit. The rattlesnake roundups arent really monitored (more so lately, fortunately, but not anywhere near enough to make a difference). Rattlesnakes are brought in from areas that are not supposed to be collected from. Rattlesnakes are gutloaded with sawdust based food products to increase weight for the shows. The snakes are butchered, and treated extremely poorly. In addition, the roundups have public displays of working with venomous reptiles that are sickening. I dont know if the gatorfest has contests to see who can fit the most live gators in a sleeping bag with them, but I doubt it does. Thats my two cents.

[Jeff_Favelle]

AS long as the animal is used and the meat is eaten and the animals aren't TORTURED (ala Rattlesnake roundups), then I can't complain. I mean, if you think this is bad, think how they catch fish. They snare them in the mouth with sharp objects, gaff them in the neck to get them in the boat, and then let them suffocate OUT OF WATER until they die. And I'm sure 90% of you all eat fish or have at one time or another. A bullet to an alligator's head is a death that's 10,000x more humane.

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Lol, Josh, I was sick to my stomach as well, luckily I like to think to myself..I bet you I can fit 3 gators in my sleeping bag!
Jeff, very well put, I can't even think of something to disagree with you on this one, and this analogy is just spiffy..
Xain

[Mike177]

i have never been a fan of hunting, probably never will, but i have nothing against hunting in general, i think if u want to go out and kill an animal (except engaged species) thats your business and u shouldn't be looked down on because of it, the only beef (no pun intended) i have with hutting is when people go out and kill what ever they can, how ever they can, what ever they can. i have a Friend who hunts, and i don't condone most of the hunting he dose, because he is very wastefully in what he hunts, at one time to was driving down a dirt road at his ranch, saw a rabbit, shot it with a 12 gage, took a machete and chopped its foot off and said he was going to leave it for the buzzards. thats the kinda **** i don't like. also i don't agree with killing in massive #s. i will say this, i don't now and never will condone hunting of reptiles, but that is a purely buyest point of view, just like i would think someone who loved dogs would not support people shooting them for food.

just my $00.02, oh and thanx for sharing Xian

[Jeff_Favelle]

Thanks man. I don't like to see anything suffer, but if the animal is used and killed humanely, then I see no problem with it. Those alligators probably died 1000x more humanely than 90% of the herps in CAPTIVITY in the hands of stupid keepers. No kidding.

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

I agree, I know several people like that and though they exist, I for some reason blame television, books and critics for why most people think that most hunters are wicked and think that killing an animal is just evil in the ways.. However, these same people eat meat, and the ones that are vegitarians are just blind or refuse to realize that thousands of animals are killed each year just so they can have there Healthy and Conscious free meal, sad how wrong they are, yet they are so willing to down us.. A friend and fellow hunter once told me, " I didn't climb to the top of the foodchain to become a vegitarian." Heh, and neither did I. Xain

[V.hb]

I have to agree with you Jeff on that.. If the animal is killed humanely, and everything is used (meat, skin bones whatever) then it should be fair game really. It isnt as if alligators are an endangered species. However, I do understand Xain's point of view on this as well, being that he has been exposed to these animals for a good portion of his life, and he knows and respects them. Alot of these animals IMO are killed in a very disrespectful manner.. These arent fish here, they're massive incredible animals. It's really too bad not many people see them for what they are.