Jennifer Shoots a Big Alligator

[IndianaBowman]

My son Tyler wanted to hunt gators for years and we finally went last year. He did great and got a nice 10' gator. My 15 year old daughter Jennifer thought it looked fun and wanted to go. Well, we have to keep the girls interested, so the hunt was planned. I drew a really good permit for Okeechobee County that allowed 2 gators. My older son Jeff would also be coming along to try for one. I have a friend in Florida who also drew a tag and said I could use one and if either of the kids wanted a 2nd gator they could use it.

The hunt was fantastic. We all got a nice gator and my son Jeff got 2.

Jennifer did amazing. She made a perfect shot with a 50# Bear Grizzly and the rodeo was on. The end result was a very big and angry 10' gator.

 

Jeff hunted really hard and had some horrible luck but ended well with a solid 7' gator and one over 9'. He was shooting a recurve of unknown make.

 

I was really lucky and was able to take a great 12'2" gator with my TimberHawk longbow. We had a fantastic family outing.

 

[Shore08]

Wow, nice hunt. Congrats to all 3 of you.

[IndianaBowman]

Here's a couple more fun photos. Jennifer with her head in the gator's mouth.

 

This one shows just how big the gator was. I'm 6' and 230#s. His tail is longer than I am tall and his head is nearly as big as I am.

[IndianaBowman]

Try that photo again.
 

[2treks]

THAT IS COOL STUFF RIGHT THERE. Congratulations to all.

[elknutz]

Wow, well done!  Sounds like a great family hunt.  Your daughter reminds me of mine at her age.  Your a lucky dad.

[vermonster13]

Very cool.

[hormoan]

WOW that is awesome, what a family adventure  

[celticknot]

That girl is gonna make some man a great wife in about 45 years.  

[joeo]

great, i have always wanted to do it here in the everglades but don`t own a boat , are you able to use all the meat besides the tail?

[Big Ed]

Congrats Terry, You are truley blessed bro with some fabulous children. Tell everyone I said Congrats. Hopefully the weather will work out better next year for some Rays. Talk to you soon, Ed

[JoeM]

Wow thats great!!  I might have to add that to my ever growing list of hunts to do.  Any weights on those brutes?  Congrats to all Joe

[IndianaBowman]

Guys, all I can do is thank the Heavens for my good fortune. I am blessed beyond measure. I have an amazing wife and fabulous children. I certainly am not worthy of all the blessings, but am truly thankful!

Joeo, the meat is all good. The tail and jowl meat is the best. It is all white and nice texture. You get into the limb meat and it is darker, gamier, and stringy. We save it all.

Big Ed, the weather in NY has been awful. I haven't had a chance to get Skippy, Jon Barr, or Swampbuck out bowfishing. Hopefully, within the next week or so. If not, I will get them next spring, I will not forget. I look forward to some ray shooting. I have a friend who just bought a place on Chincoteague and have free use of it and his 19' SeaArk!

[kennym]

Excellent job by all!!  Way to go there!!      

[IndianaBowman]

JoeM, we didn't weigh them, but Jen's gator was hefty and estimated at @300#s, mine was mutant big and four of us couldn't lift it. It had to be 500#s. Of course these are just guesses! I can't lift the skinned out hide and head!

[Leland]

Well done,it's great to see family doing things together.Just wondering what you will do with them.
Leland

[IndianaBowman]

Leland, the 2 my son got will be European skull mounts, Jen's will be shoulder mount, don't know yet on mine. Would make a really neat full body mount. My wife said I could get it full body and I could sleep downstairs with it. Of course, we save and eat all the meat. With this many gators we definitely believed in sharing some of the meat. My friends in Florida love gator meat.

[doug77]

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttt

[mwmwmb]

MMM gator. congrats

[Shleprock]

Now I have to put a gator hunt on my wish list.