Friday, March 11, 2016

Facts About Gator Hunting In Louisiana

By Ryan Turner


People get their thrills from doing different things. Gator hunting in Louisiana, happens to be one of the dangerous, but very fulfilling pastimes. Louisiana alligators are the largest of their kind, and their population has been increasing over time. For anyone interested in taking this up as a new hobby, there are some things to keep in mind.

You will require to have a hunting license, from the wildlife and fisheries department. If you own land within the area, you need to get a permit showing that it supports the existence of the reptiles. You will also need maps that show your boundaries, to avoid cases of trespassing. If you are not a resident of the area, or just do not own land there you can use the public waters. You will also need to tags for the animals before the beginning of the season.

Despite the fact that the population of these reptiles has increased considerably over time, their hunting is still restricted to certain times. Within this area, the timing depends on the zone you are in. In the east zone, it starts on the last Wednesday of August. In the west zone, it starts on the first Wednesday of September. The seasons last for thirty days after the opening day. This helps to avoid disturbing them during the mating and nesting seasons.

The animals spend most of their time in water and are generally quite awkward on land. They generally feed at either dusk or dawn, but may be seen close to the surface on warm days. This means that you can catch them at any time, between sunset and sunrise. Their capturing during the night however, has been banned in this state.

You will need to have the proper equipment, to hunt for these massive creatures. In most cases they are hunted for their meat, their skins or to keep a souvenirs. You can use a hook and line, firearms, but not shotguns, and bow and arrow. This will all do minimal damage to the carcass.

As a hunter you need to be very careful when engaging the animals. They are naturally very aggressive and are also very fast in water. They can also be very large and heavy, in this case if they bite you and pull you into the water they could kill you. You are advised not to swim in gator infested waters or try to feed wild ones. A training course, could also be helpful in giving you more experience.

Once an animal has been dispatched, it should be tagged before being moved to another location. The tags stay on these animals till they go to be processed. The skinning of the reptile should be done by someone with enough experience. If done wrong, it could lower the value of the hide. The catch can also be stuffed and kept a souvenir.

You need not be an experienced hunter to engage in this sport. You can hire a guided tour through the bayou and get to see the professionals at work. This will give you the thrill of the tour, while keeping you out of harms way. While in the area you can visit the city Pierre Park, for a chance to feed, touch and take photos with the reptiles.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment