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What's the deal with alligators? What's the best way to defend yourself against one, other than taking along a small dog that you're not particularly fond of.

I know alligators are legal to hunt with a license in places where hunting is permitted.

Question spawned from http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... hp?t=10038.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:What's the deal with alligators? What's the best way to defend yourself against one, other than taking along a small dog that you're not particularly fond of.

I know alligators are legal to hunt with a license in places where hunting is permitted.

Question spawned from http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... hp?t=10038.

- Jim

They hunt them using a trap like device. Its very regulated and I think there is a lottery type system to get a permit to hunt them.

Most times I think the best defense is to avoid them and give them wide berth. They run pretty fast. They don't climb trees very well

The situation at Brazos Bend is strange there is a lot of close encounters with them and the general public. May and June they are particularl active. They are hungry from a winter and breeding and egg laying. They see so many people they aren't shy.

Liberty wrote:

seamusTX wrote:What's the deal with alligators? What's the best way to defend yourself against one, other than taking along a small dog that you're not particularly fond of.

I know alligators are legal to hunt with a license in places where hunting is permitted.

Question spawned from http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... hp?t=10038.

- Jim

They hunt them using a trap like device. Its very regulated and I think there is a lottery type system to get a permit to hunt them.

Most times I think the best defense is to avoid them and give them wide berth. They run pretty fast.

They don't climb trees very well


The situation at Brazos Bend is strange there is a lot of close encounters with them and the general public. May and June they are particularl active. They are hungry from a winter and breeding and egg laying. They see so many people they aren't shy.

Neither do I anymore!

But then...maybe I've just lacked the proper incentive.

seamusTX wrote:other than taking along a small dog that you're not particularly fond of.

I have no objection to strategic retreat, but it's not so easy if you have little kids or elderly people in your protection.

- Jim

Saw one idiot on the path yesterday at Brazos Bend Park, poking at a 10 footer with a stick. He asked if we wanted to get a picture of one hissing, we told him no and kept walking. Did tell my wife to have the camera ready in case it got a hold of him.

I have an 8 footer in my lake. I give him his respect as he respects my .45. He will swim up to my dredge during the night shift but keeps his distance during the day. When I have an employee on "fire Watch" while maintenance is being performed on the boat/pipeline, he is also on gator watch!

I have a fair amount of experience with alligators. Their fearsome reputation comes primarily from inaccurate sources like movies. They generally aren't quick to attack.

Alligators are primarily very passive critters and you can walk past one, relatively closely with little concern with a few caveats: A female on a nest or with recently hatched young. Yes, she'll come after you. Quickly! Or if you threaten an alligator, as in the case of the guy with the stick at BBSP. Had he been spotted doing that he's subject to a big fine and possible arrest.

The only time I'm concerned with people and alligators is when I've seen unsupervised toddlers on the pier at 40 Acre Lake at BBSP. If a very small child falls in the water and a gator is close, he/she may very well take the child as it's eating size. A full grown adult isn't.

In addition to walking close by thousands of alligators out on the trail, I've been in the water with them quite a number of times wade fishing and baited by virtue of having a number of fish on my stringer. At times some of the fish were a bit bloody at the gills. I've had very large alligators come out to check me out, with these fish in tow in chest deep water. I've seen them swim from the bank, come up fairly close, and then swim away. I've never felt I was in terrible danger, but yes, I was VERY alert. At these times I kept the stringer in my hand and would let the gator have them if he was so inclined. So far, I've never lost a fish. Or finger, or any other part.

I've also encountered them while kayaking numerous times. They bolt and swim away. I've never been concerned. I actively look for them while paddling and find them unique and a treat to see.

I re-read my previous post and realized I neglected to mention that my experience with alligators was accomplished over the course of many, many years.

I don't like those prehistoric monsters and wouldn't hesitate to shoot one if need be, fine or no fine.

They don't taste like chicken but are delicious.

Anygun

anygunanywhere wrote:They don't taste like chicken but are delicious.

Anygun

"I've also encountered them while kayaking numerous times. They bolt and swim away."

Lucky you. I know a guy who had his canoe attacked and capsized by a large female probably guarding her nest.

Liberty wrote:They hunt them using a trap like device. Its very regulated and I think there is a lottery type system to get a permit to hunt them.

They are hunted by setting out a baited hook. Permits are issued to landowners that have an alligator population on their property. The number of permits depends on the total number of alligators. I perform the population surveys and hunt the beasts.

They will avoid humans in the wild but once they get comfortable being around people it gets dangerous. That is why you can receive a hefty fine for feeding alligators in the wild. They start associating people with food and when they are hungry anything is possible.

The skull in my posts is from a 12 footer I got last year.

IIRC, the baited hooks (big hooks) are suspevded over the water. The gator has to come up out of the water to snatch the bait. This keeps the littl'uns from hooking themselve. The successful hunter then pulls up the gator and dispatches them with a well placed shot to the head in their tiny brains.

Anygun