Great Sites For Hunting For Alligators

By Mark Bell


The southern part of the United States is renowned for its large gator population. Every year, lots of licensed hunters converge at various private and public lands to harvest alligators for many economic reasons. The following places are prime spots for hunting for alligators.

Starting off the list is Louisiana. For many hunters, the state is some sort of paradise thanks to its abundance of lush swamps. Many of the swamp systems in the state are primarily fed by the local Atchafalaya River. This river has the largest measured drainage basin in America.

As much as 30 percent of it is marshland, the remaining 70 percent occupied by forest cover. The marshland is an important source of food for fish, which has resulted in a massive fish population. The gators also feed on the abundant supply of fish, which help them grow to become larger than gators found in many other places within the country.

There is hardly a seasoned hunter who will not have a conversation without talking about Florida. It is home to the St. Johns Marsh which lies south of its feeder, the St. Johns River. Any hunter can get a good catch in the area as there is no shortage of gators. The St. Johns River is far larger than all the rivers in Florida. Many experienced hunters love the location because the local authorities issue licenses that permit as many as 500 hunts in the river annually.

Victoria County in Texas is another noteworthy location. The county lies on the Texas coastline, southeast of the city. Over the years, it has recorded some of the largest trophy catches in the entire state.

Each month, local homeowners make as many as 500 rescue calls to the authorities. The local gator species are bold and unafraid of humans, thereby occasionally entering public pools and homesteads. Catching one can be a tough call for an inexperienced hunter.

Another location you might want to know about is the Bayou Pierre River. It branches from the Mississippi before taking an eastward course. The section from where the two rivers branch off harbors a significant population of big aggressive alligators. The largest male species found in open waters was captured in the Pierre River. Once measured, the scales read 14 feet and 686 pounds.

Alabama has a decent population of gators as well. While Lake Eufaula is generally renowned for duck hunting, it is also an alligator paradise. A few years ago, there was a popular story of an alligator that sunk its jaws into a small hunting vessel. The hunters finally caught it, thrusting the river and locality into the limelight when their story came out.

As much as your upcoming hunt may sound exciting, you should strive to abide by the rules of the local jurisdiction. Licensing is a key part of this. Without a license, you may end up paying a fine or serving jail time. Also remember some habitats are protected, so stick to areas that you have researched on.




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