Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Whip on August 26, 2010, 11:17:00 PM
-
This trip had its beginnings last June during the annual Trad Gang St. Jude auction. One of the listings was an alligator hunt in central Florida offered by Chris Horsman. Chris has graciously donated this trip annually, and I think this was the fifth year for the hunt.
I watched the auction thread with interest, but assumed that it would be priced out of my range. I eventually took a swing at it, and then Chris upped the ante by adding a second tag to sweeten the pot. Woody Blackwell (Knife River) offered to partner up, and we were off on the bidding wars. We worried about last minute snipers, but did end up with the high bid, for an amount that we both felt was one of the biggest bargains of the auction.
Phone calls and emails were exchanged, and plans were laid for the second week of the Florida alligator season. After spending a few days with Marty McMahon I headed for Okeechobee Florida for a rendezvous with Chris, his father Pete, and Woody.
We checked into a local motel, laid waste to a large buffet dinner place, and headed out for an early departure at the boat landing.
-
Our hunting grounds would be the Kissimmee River north of Lake Okeechobee. This is the land and swamps made famous by Will and Maurice Thompson in the Witchery of Archery. I had read the book, but it had been a number of years, so I made sure to reread it prior to our trip. It provided a perfect background for our adventure.
Our means of transportation was a step or two above what the Thompson brothers had available.
The Bog Trotter
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Florida%202010/FloridaHogs-Gators2010112.jpg)
Alligator hunting is a nighttime affair with hunting hours from a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunrise. We left the landing a couple of hours early to have a chance to see the river and surrounding marshes during the daylight.
The area we would be hunting was a wide area maybe three or four miles across by twelve miles long. We sailed across Lily pads and marsh grass, with ducks, egrets, herons, storks, and a myriad of other aquatic wildlife scattering in front of our approach.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Florida%202010/FloridaHogs-Gators2010116.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Florida%202010/FloridaHogs-Gators2010121.jpg)
Chris has spent years in the marshes of this area, and his passion and love for this unique land is quickly obvious. He shared stories of the history and ecology of the area as well as his own adventures and misadventures along the way. His insight, and that of his father Pete, really added the extra spice to our trip and he helped Woody and I see the true beauty of the place.
-
Here we go!!!!!!
Been looking forward to this one Joe, keep it coming!
-
:coffee:
-
:campfire: :jumper: :jumper:
-
With the sun nearing the horizon, it soon was time to start searching for alligators, and it wasn't long before we found what we were looking for. Many were small, but there we also spotted some very large gators, and many in between.
The moon had been full the night before, and according to Chris that was not generally a good thing for alligator hunting. The larger gators in particular prefer the dark of night to do most of their hunting, and the bright moonlight would not be an advantage.
As we worked our way along the river however, it seemed that we were seeing plenty of lizards to keep our interest high, and it quickly became apparent that it would become more of a game of finding a speciman large enough to met our personal goals.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Florida%202010/FloridaHogs-Gators2010125.jpg)
Most of what we were able to approach tended toward the smaller side, with some approaching the 6 - 7 foot range. Anything larger that that seemed to slip beneath the surface before we could drift within range. They didn't get large without knowing what an airboat was, and they didn't hang around to give us a chance to put an arrow into them.
I won the initial coin toss for first shot, and after taking the first shift as shooter, Woody and I started alternating in one hour shifts. Some opportunities were presented, and some shots taken and missed. Shooting the heavy fish arrows would take a little getting used to for both of us.
Finally, at about 3 am, Woody was in the bow and managed to arrow a gator. If you know Woody, you know that he is a master flint knapper. And of course he had brought along some personally knapped heads for just this occasion. With the gator firmly secured by the barbed fish arrow, Woody drove a stone point tight behind the front leg.
In the excitement of the moment the camera was forgotten. :knothead: You'll just have to take my word for it that Woody was very happy with his trophy, and it measured in at a little over 6 feet long - perfect eating size!
We continued to see red eyes glowing back at us, and ended up staying on the river right up through sunrise.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Florida%202010/FloridaHogs-Gators2010128.jpg)
-
It was time to head back to the dock, and on to the motel for some much needed sleep. As we flew along the river channel Chris spotted a very large alligator trying to back itself up into the bull rushes to hide as we passed.
I hadn't seen the gator, and when Chris suddenly swung the boat around I wasn't sure what he was doing. I suppose the lack of sleep had me groggy and slow to react. By the time I saw the gator it was making a fast escape. I quickly nocked an arrow and drew, but just as I reached my check the gator disappeared into the thick brush along the bank. A half second slow on the biggest alligator we had seen close to the boat all evening.
Time for bed tonight. I'll have to finish this one up in the morning. :coffee:
-
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
Sounds like another great hunt!
-
:campfire:
-
time to wake up Joe :jumper:
-
Hurry up Joe, I have to leave for UT in an hour.
-
Bringing up some great memories. Thanks for sharing Whip.
-
Now this is what I've beeen waiting for, waiting for, waiting for...Doc :coffee: :coffee:
-
Oh boy.
-
Our first night on the water was a long one. We were excited, and had been seeing lots of gators, so we had stayed out the entire night and then slept well into the afternoon. I'm getting a little too old to be pulling all nighters, so we didn't want to do that again.
We hit the water at about 10 pm, and headed straight toward the spot we had seen the large one earlier in the morning. Of course he was nowhere to be found. But there were plenty of other eyes glowing back at us.
The skies were overcast, and we hoped that would help keep the night darker and negate the effect of the full moon to some extent. We cut off the main river channel into some narrow side sloughs. The water wasn't as deep here and we found gators right away.
With as many as we had been seeing I set a goal of at least a 7 foot gator. When they are in the water generally all you can see is the head, so judging size is an estimate. The rule of thumb is the distance between the snout and the eyes in inches will give an approximation of the length of the entire gator in feet. Seven inches to the eyes equals a seven foot gator. It's a great way to estimate size. Except for the fact that they don't allow you close enough to use a tape measure. :rolleyes:
We slipped up on one weed covered head and were nearly on top of him before I recognized what I was looking at. I promptly missed him to the left and he disappeared.
More eyes straight ahead, and we eased toward them. This one also stayed at the surface as we approached. The head seemed wide and long enough, and as the arrow hit him in the back all hell broke lose!
-
He was on, and not very happy about it. He dove under a thick mat of weeds and it took some time to work him out of there, but eventually we brought him to the boat.
He was a little short of what I had been hoping for, measuring 6'7" from snout to tip of the tail. But I was very happy, and actually the smaller alligators make for better eating. This one would be perfect!
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Florida%202010/FloridaHogs-Gators2010137.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Florida%202010/FloridaHogs-Gators2010138.jpg)
-
Whooooot!!!!!!!!
-
Nice gator Joe; he looks plenty big enough to me. :thumbsup:
-
Very Nice Joe! That is on our short list for sure......Congratulations to both of you and THANKS to Chris..... :clapper:
-
The Chuck Adams pose. ;)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Florida%202010/FloridaHogs-Gators2010142.jpg)
As was the case with my hog hunt, the actually kill was not the highlight of the trip. While that is always the ultimate goal anytime we hunt, it is the rest of the experience that really makes it special.
This trip provided another chance to see a part of Florida that most tourists never even know exists. Some may take an air boat ride in the middle of the day. But not many sit in the swamps in the middle of a moon lit night drifting on a river listening to a deafening chorus of frogs. It was hard to imagine the Thompson brothers being out in the vastness of the swamps for weeks at a time. Without mosquito spray, themacells, or head nets.
Special thanks go to Chris and his dad Pete for all they did for us on this trip. The passion and love they have for this and the local knowledge and background really added to the trip and gave us an appreciation for life in the swamps.
Alligator hunts are not cheap, and this was definitely one of the best bargains on the St. Jude auction this year. If you were to try to do this on your own a non-resident tag alone would be far more than what we paid for the hunt. Add the cost of hiring a guide with a boat, and the costs go up quickly. If Chris decides to offer this again next year you should jump at this unique opportunity to experience a different side of Florida.
-
Congrats Whip ! And good on ya Chris & Pete !
-
Cool thread. Congrats guys!
-
Congrats Whip! It is amazing how loud the Florida swamps are. It was nothing to have over 100 frogs in site at one time. Most of them were small, but occasionally a big one. Would make some great eating.
Again, thanks for taking us along.
-
Great post.
Congrat guys on some fine gators, ain't much better eatin' than gator tail.
-
Way to go Joe.
-
Joe & Woody, Congrats to you both!
-
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
-
Very Cool Joe! :campfire: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
-
That is awesome!
-
Way to go Joe! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
:clapper: :clapper:
That is awesome. I am with Don and Skyler a gator hunt is in my short list. I hope I can find a way to do that.
-
Sorry I'm late, Whip! :wavey:
More and more it seems that I enjoy hunts for the comraderie: the hunt itself is secondary. Some hunts can be pretty "iffy", but that's fine as long as I'm having a great time with friends. This time, though, it was time spent with a great friend and two new friends. The icing on the cake was that the hunt was wonderful and memorable. Many, many thanks to Chris and Peter Horsman. I think you'll have a hard time finding two guys that are more sincere, honest, and giving. It was a treat to spend time with them.
And what a place... I've been to Florida many times, but never got back in the boonies as far as we did that night. Although the river is quite different from what the Thompson brothers experienced, it still retains enormous beauty and mystery.
Our chariot:
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/krf123/Gator1.jpg)
That's Chris top left, Peter's top right, and Whip with an ever-present smile. I probably wore a goofy grin the whole time. It was hard to believe our luck.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/krf123/Gator2.jpg)
Chris took us through Starvation Slough. It was a river of grass about a mile wide and several miles long. I'm sure the water level varies, but on our visit it was just a few inches deep. Spread over such a wide area, it was still a lot of water and full of wildlife.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/krf123/Gator3.jpg)
Charlie Lamb wrote something a few years back that stuck with me. He said something along the lines of, "You can be a photographer and you can be a hunter, but you can't be both at the same time." I've found (the hard way) that it's true. I didn't take many photos. For one thing, we were hunting, and secondly, the heavy mist kicked up by an airboat is not a healthy environment for a camera.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/krf123/Gator4.jpg)
-
As Whip mentioned, we were fortunate enough to see sunset and sunrise on the river, the two most magical times of day. Watching the colors come and go was riveting. It was equally fascinating to see and hear the "shifts" of wildlife. During the day, it was all birds. At night, the frogs went to work -- so many they were almost deafening. And the insects were thick in some stretches of the river. God bless the man who invented Deet!
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/krf123/Gator5.jpg)
Chris and Peter put us on lots of alligators. I was hoping for a "booner" but as a first-timer, I'd be happy with a "fork horn." I had a heck of time getting an arrow in one. Actually, I hit the first gator I shot at, but he went into thick bushes that overhang the river then looped back into deep water. The float at the end of the line hung up in the bushes. By the way the bushes were whipping around, he was doing some major struggling down there. Consequently, the barb pulled out (they're just under the skin) and we lost him.
After that, I must have missed eight or ten times. And these were all slam-dunk shots. If you want excuses, I've got 'em, but I think it boils down to short-drawing, snap-shooting, and not picking a spot. That was surprisingly hard -- unlike every other hunting I've done, you can hit a gator almost anywhere except in the armored plates on the back. There wasn't any one "sweet spot" to aim for. From the jowls to the tail, it's all good. Just aim low. And I did. And then some. :knothead:
Around 3:30 in the morning, I finally got a good arrow in one. We pulled him close to the airboat and I put a flint-tipped arrow to work. Every time I use one, I'm impressed all over again by their effectiveness. This one lost a tiny bit off the tip, but with a little retouch it'll be back to work. You might notice that it's lightly beveled (resharpened) on the left edge. It's already been through one hog and I bet Chris can find another hog for it.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/krf123/Gator7.jpg)
I didn't get any hero shots of the gator. This'll do nicely, though. Alligator, the other other white meat. ;)
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/krf123/Gator6.jpg)
-
It was my absolute pleasure and priviledge to guide Woody and Joe on this hunt. Two men more passionate or dedicated to the craft of archery, you`ll be hard pressed to find.
As Joe mentioned the moon was a pain but we got on `gators and I think the guys had a good time.
Woody`s points are just amazing. The skill and talent to make those boggles the mind. I`d be tickled to slip one through the numerous hogs that call the Kissimee river valley home.
Thanks guys
-
Great story and pics. Congrats!
-
Enjoyed it.... every cool !!
-
:thumbsup: Great job, and great story!
-
:cool: :clapper:
-
Way way cool!!!!
Congrats to the both of you!!
-
Good on you both!
:campfire: :campfire: :clapper: :clapper: :archer2: :archer2:
-
Wow, How cool...congrats to both of you guys :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
Congrats to you both, for donating to St. Jude's and for sharing your story. Whip, I guess you won't need a stand-in for the Guntersville bowfishing trip now, huh? :laughing:
-
wonderful story and pics .... and the Karma of St Judes :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
All four of you guys Done Good. Thanks for taking us along!
-
Way to go guys. Congrats all the way around!!
-
An awesome adventure, congrats! :thumbsup:
-
Great story.
-
Good job to all involved!
-
Great stories guys!Great pictures too,now I want to see the wild side of florida.I had no idea it was so beautiful.
Bill
-
Very cool fellas, thanks for sharing!!!
-
Great story and pics!!! Congrats on some nice gators!! :notworthy:
God Bless,
Ken
-
Originally posted by zipper bowss:
Great stories guys!Great pictures too,now I want to see the wild side of florida.I had no idea it was so beautiful.
Bill
Bill, there are some spectacular places in the world and this was as beautiful as any. In its own subtle way, it was as stunning as the Rockies or the Grand Canyon. Make time to go with someone who knows the area (and try to squeeze in a gator hunt, too). :)
-
Great story guys. I was wondering when you guys were going to go.
Congratulations!
-
Beautiful place! Sounds like a great trip! The water at night is an awesome experiance. Ya'll did Good!!!
Benjy
-
:thumbsup: Great advice, Woody!
Bill
-
Congrats Joe on a fine gator!!!!!
-
The fasinating thing, to me anyway, is how the Kissimmee river has been straightened and dyked using tax payer money in order to help a small amount of local landowners grow cows and sugar. Now, seeing the error of their ways, the Army Corp of Engineers is pushing all the dykes back in and letting the river return to its natural state, as is evident by the area of Starvation Slough
A great deal of the land around the river is "publicly" owned and is held by the water management districts, but little or no access is allowed. another bunch of goverment keeping publicly held land away from the public.
The damaged caused in the name of flood control, to Okeechobee and the Everglades, may never fully be understood or corrected.
This part of Florida is seen and enjoyed by a small amount of people in comparison to the amount that go see the Mighty Rat. But is a vital part of the entire wetland ecosystem of south central Florida. Millions of people think Florida is orange groves, strip malls and old people in Lincolns, nothing could be further from the truth. But I`m also kinda glad they don`t know its here, so I can keep it to mu self and not have to share....
Thanks to all for the kind comments about my river and all who call it home
-
Congratulations guys! :thumbsup: This is on my to do list. :campfire:
-
Well done guys. Another great adventure spawned from St.Judes Auction. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
Chris, I've said it before, but your knowledge and love of the area are what really made the trip so special. You are so right about how most people perceive Florida. If all there was were shopping malls and amusement parks I would probably never return. But to see the swamps as you showed them to us makes me want to come back as soon as I can. What a beautiful place!
-
I feel the same, Whip. In fact, I've already set a big empty peanut can on the counter to start saving for next year's auction... If Chris is as generous next year as he has been for how long now -- five or six years? -- I'll definitely be bidding again. Hunting gators is great fun. The river country is spectacular. Chris and Peter are a hoot to spend time with. On top of all that, the money goes to one of the best causes you'll ever find. Add it all up and it's a bargain at ANY price.
-
Whip- What shoppong centers and amusement parks?
-
Cool story guys, congrats and thanks for sharing.
-
Cool story and great pics!
-
Great stuff guys....thanks for sharing the stories and pics.
Congrats all around.... :campfire:
-
Touche, Mr Marty touche