Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Best Locations For Hunting For Alligators

By Mark Bell


The southern states of the US have for decades been known to host vast populations of gators. Each year, licensed hunters from the rest of the country converge at different public and privately owned marshes to hunt them for a variety of reasons. The spots below are great if you intend to go hunting for alligators.

First off is the state of Louisiana. Many hunters consider it a Mecca for gator hunting owing to its abundance of swamps. Many swamps in the state are fed by the drainage basin of the Atchafalaya River. Its drainage basin has for long been the largest in the US.

A staggering 70 percent of the drainage basin is forested, with the other 30 percent covered in sprawling marshes. The marshes harbor a diverse array of food sources for fish, thereby resulting in a large supply of large fish. With plenty of fish to feed on, the local gators normally grow to be visibly bigger than those located in many other areas in the US.

Many hunters also regard Florida as a good location. The St. Johns Marsh sits perfectly at the southern end of the majestic St. Johns River. Hunters are always guaranteed a decent catch any day due to the heavy presence of alligators in the marsh. In terms of volume, no other river in Florida beats the St. Johns. The local licensing authority issues as many as 500 annual hunting licenses for the river, a factor that draws many seasoned hunters every year.

Not far away in Texas is Victoria County, another wonderful location. You can get to the county as you head southeast away from the city. There have been a couple of big gators that have been captured over the last few years.

Every month, at least 500 disturbance calls are made to the local wildlife office by homeowners. Texan gators have grown to develop little fear for humans and therefore occasionally venture into homesteads and public pools. If you are not a seasoned hunter, catching one may be a hectic job.

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 is another state that has its fair share of gators. While many know Lake Eufaula as a great duck hunting site, it is also a known alligator habitat. Not many years ago, local news stations were awash with a story of a large gator that bit right through the side of a hunting boat. While the beast was eventually caught, it certainly brought the river to the limelight.

While a hunt can be exciting, ensure you stick to the rules of your jurisdiction. An integral rule is licensing. If you do not have one, you should not hunt to avoid being jailed or fined. Also note that certain sites are protected, so know the status of every place before venturing in.




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