Alligators are Predators too (action pics and story)
- Thread starter Byron South
- Start date
Chupathingy
New member
Quote:
And how old do you figure a 11.5 foot gator is?
Like all reptiles, Alligators grow until death albiet at a much slower rate as they get older. The life span can be as long as 50 years atleast thats the longest on record. An 11.5 footer would be roughly 30 years old give or take few years depending on diet and availability of food.
Yep, had 2 of them too. We released them but don't tell anyone because we weren't really supposed to have them back then. They were about 3 feet in length when we released them.
Chupa
And how old do you figure a 11.5 foot gator is?
Like all reptiles, Alligators grow until death albiet at a much slower rate as they get older. The life span can be as long as 50 years atleast thats the longest on record. An 11.5 footer would be roughly 30 years old give or take few years depending on diet and availability of food.
Yep, had 2 of them too. We released them but don't tell anyone because we weren't really supposed to have them back then. They were about 3 feet in length when we released them.
Chupa
Quote:
Like all reptiles, Alligators grow until death albiet at a much slower rate as they get older. The life span can be as long as 50 years atleast thats the longest on record. An 11.5 footer would be roughly 30 years old give or take few years depending on diet and availability of food.
I believe that there are some older than 50 years on record. Latitude also seems to be a factor in growth. Allagators that live farther north tend to grow at a slow rate than those farther south all things being equal.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wil...ast/index.phtml
The current Texas record is 14 foot 4 inches from West Columbia, Brazoria County.
There was a 13 foot 9 1/2 inch gator that went over 800 pounds. That one was in a core county (Trinity) and caught on hook and line.
Like all reptiles, Alligators grow until death albiet at a much slower rate as they get older. The life span can be as long as 50 years atleast thats the longest on record. An 11.5 footer would be roughly 30 years old give or take few years depending on diet and availability of food.
I believe that there are some older than 50 years on record. Latitude also seems to be a factor in growth. Allagators that live farther north tend to grow at a slow rate than those farther south all things being equal.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wil...ast/index.phtml
The current Texas record is 14 foot 4 inches from West Columbia, Brazoria County.
There was a 13 foot 9 1/2 inch gator that went over 800 pounds. That one was in a core county (Trinity) and caught on hook and line.
Byron South
New member
Thanks guys,
This was truly a great experience. Best part about it was that it all happened les than ten minutes from home and I got to share it with my wife. I'm as proud of her gator as she is and she is of mine. It was truly a team effort. I married well.
Danny,
Tell Mark I said "Howdy". Also remind him that he is a little crazy as well. If he doubts you, just remind him about wading in duck hunting on Sandy creek. Lots of gators in those sloughs on Sandy creek.
Baddog 226,
N. E. Texas (Upshur)
Rod,
I was thinking more along the lines of fried or better yet blackend. You may be on to something with those fajita's though.
Lonny,
We are gonna eat them, have their skins tanned (maybe have some boots made when my ship comes in) and I'm gonna boil the skulls for trophies.
William,
I believe a decoyo would work good. In fact I was actually thinking of trying my Flambeau coyote decoy on the edge of the water. The thing is the banks are mostly covered in thick reeds. I hear alligators love to eat dogs.
Thanks again everyone.
Good Hunting and God Bless,
Byron
This was truly a great experience. Best part about it was that it all happened les than ten minutes from home and I got to share it with my wife. I'm as proud of her gator as she is and she is of mine. It was truly a team effort. I married well.
Danny,
Tell Mark I said "Howdy". Also remind him that he is a little crazy as well. If he doubts you, just remind him about wading in duck hunting on Sandy creek. Lots of gators in those sloughs on Sandy creek.
Baddog 226,
N. E. Texas (Upshur)
Rod,
I was thinking more along the lines of fried or better yet blackend. You may be on to something with those fajita's though.
Lonny,
We are gonna eat them, have their skins tanned (maybe have some boots made when my ship comes in) and I'm gonna boil the skulls for trophies.
William,
I believe a decoyo would work good. In fact I was actually thinking of trying my Flambeau coyote decoy on the edge of the water. The thing is the banks are mostly covered in thick reeds. I hear alligators love to eat dogs.
Thanks again everyone.
Good Hunting and God Bless,
Byron
Todd Woodall
New member
Byron,
That is just too cool! See ya Friday for some Gator fajitas or "Gatitas"! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif I aint playing blackjack with Rod though! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
Lets not let the fact that your wife outshot you pass too quickly though! I know, I know lets here about how that .243 felt like a 2x4..........right? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Congrats to you both!
Take care
Todd
That is just too cool! See ya Friday for some Gator fajitas or "Gatitas"! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif I aint playing blackjack with Rod though! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
Lets not let the fact that your wife outshot you pass too quickly though! I know, I know lets here about how that .243 felt like a 2x4..........right? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Congrats to you both!
Take care
Todd
Last edited:
Curt Barrett
New member
That's really cool Byron. Congrats to you and Lana. Certainly a unique hunt. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
JAMaidens
Custom Call Maker
Well... it has finally happened. Byron South has shot all of land dwelling predators and has been forced to start shooting the ones that live in water! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Great read and pics Byron... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
AllPredatorCalls
Active member
Congrats! Great job! Man them things are BIG ... Guess I'll start working on a "Aligator Hunting" section at AllPredatorCalls.com
AP
AP
berettaman
New member
Great pics and story!!
Byron, great story and pics. That's one video I want to see. You are living the life. I'm envious and will probably never call a gator. I hunt almost everything by calling and as a hobby have called nearly 35 kinds of critters, more if you count different specific calls to bring in males or females. But never tried a gator and have never seen one outside of a zoo. Way to go. You can call anyting if you make the right sound.
What does a big one weigh? They look heavier than brown bears to me.
What does a big one weigh? They look heavier than brown bears to me.
HighPlainsDrifter
New member
Absolutely awesome. What a unique adventure. Not sure if anyone else has ever done what you accomplished but its surely the first time I have ever heard of it. Actually taking one in the water is pretty unique too. I have seen many a croc meet its end by a well placed bullet but they are almost exclusively on crocs laying on the bank sunning themselves. Congradulations to both of you on a couple of trophies you will cherish for a lifetime. You are a class act Byron.