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John's Journal... Entry 165, Day 4

Hunting Alligators

Catching Live Alligators

EDITOR'S NOTE: Bo Hamilton, the manager of the Lodge of Louisiana in Barataria, Louisiana, is a well-known Gulf Coast angler and bowhunter. Today we'll talk with Hamilton to learn more about alligator hunting at the lodge.

Question: How did catching live alligators come about?
Hamilton: Catching live alligators started with people who didn't have enough sense not to grab live gators. Once we took guests out on the airboats at night and rode around the swamp to see gators. Then one night one of our guides named Mike climbed down and said, "Look, I can catch one for you," and grabbed one. Since people have become fascinated with catching live alligators, now we've made that one of our tours here at the lodge. The guests really love it.

Question: How big of a gator are the guides grabbing for the guests?
Hamilton: The guests will hold 3- to 4-foot-long gators. The guide usually holds any larger gators.

Question: Does the tourist catch the gators?
Hamilton: We try not to let the guests catch the gators, but we will catch them up and then hand them to the guests.

Question: What's the biggest gator either you or one of your guides ever has caught live?
Hamilton: Mike pulled up a six footer, and Morgan knows how to do that. I never have.

Question: What's the secret to catching a live alligator?
Hamilton: On the mud boat, we have two spotlights. You pull up behind the gator and shine the spotlights in his eyes to blind him. Generally he'll be headed away from the boat. Then you have to get close enough to reach down and grab the gator around its neck. The gator will thrash around, waving its tail. You just have to hold on, and after awhile the gator will calm down.

Question: What keeps a gator from biting you?
Hamilton: Well, you hold the gator's head away from you. You've got the gator by the neck, which keeps the gator from turning around and biting you. But basically you don't want to get that gator any closer to your body parts.

Question: After you catch the live gator, then what do you do?
Hamilton: We allow the guests to hold the gators and have their pictures made. We also show the guests the alligator's musk glands, tails and underbelly. Basically, we explain alligators to them. If a family wants to catch gators together, we try to let every member of the family hold the gator until everyone has their own gator to hold, and we can make a picture of the entire family.

Question: How many gators do you generally catch in a night?
Hamilton: We usually take between four and six people out and try to ensure that each and every one has a gator in his or her hands before we take pictures. I'd say four to eight gators at a time.

For more information about hunting alligators, fishing and/or duck hunting at the Lodge of Louisiana, you can visit the Web site at www.lodgeoflouisiana.com or e-mail the lodge info@lodgeoflouisiana.com.

TOMORROW: FIND OUT WHAT ELSE THE LODGE OF LOUISIANA HAS TO OFFER

 

 

Check back each day this week for more THE LODGE OF LOUISIANA ...

Day 1 - What's the Latest Information on Alligators
Day 2 - A Typical Hunt for an Alligator
Day 3 - What You Need to Hunt Alligators
Day 4 - Catching Live Alligators
Day 5 - Find Out What Else the Lodge of Louisiana Has to Offer


John's Journal