Took Jay Campbell, his lovely wife Karen and Jays boy Cody to the Kissimee river Sat. night. The show from the lightning was quite a sight to see but passed fairly quickly. We ran north on the river to a big flood plain. There we started the back and forth with the light looking for the eyes. We ran thru over and up some fairly substantial trees and bushes that are now flooded. I think Karen thought I may have lost my self a little, but we came out right were I expected, kinda.
There was quite a few other boats around so gators were scarce we finally found one we liked and Cody made a text book shot. In short order the gator was to the boat. It got a little energetic when we gaffed it but soon rolled over for taping.
Hockey stick wrap will substitute for eletrical tape when you ai`nt got none. Someone didn`t check the tool box, ooops. Anyway makes for better articles for Jay. We haulled the wee beastie up on the deck and Randalled it thru the spine. Cody 1 gator zip.
After running hither tither and yon we decided to start heading back to the ramp, investigating a few side creeks here and there. I spotted some decent looking eyes under some willows and motioned Jay to get ready. As the leviatan rose from it slumber and made haste to the murky depths, Jay, the composite archer, shot through the grass rake empailing said beastie with well shot arrow. It dove for the depths, we hauled it in, it dove again, as we hauled, another arrow was buried in its flesh. The adrenaline flowed. As we hauled our prize to the bank once more to apply the coup de grais the alligator left the water towards our intrepid archer. Throwing caution, wives and sons behind him Jay ran screaming for his mommy into the night. Your author, hero and guide leapt apon the lizard and with a deft swing of the Randall dispached the dinosaur saving women, children and scardy cat lawyers..................
The gator was less the 7 feet a definate case of ground shrinkage. But Jay DID run away and I`m still the hero