Going Gatoring

[IndianaBowman]

It's that time of year again!  Florida alligator season starts on Aug. 15th. I will be heading down with two great traditional bowhunters tomorrow morning.  It's a solid 24 hour drive from my house to Okeechobee, FL. We should arrive on Thursday morning. We'll unpack, jump in the pool for a refreshing, meander out back and catch a 7-8# bass, and then jump in the boat and go scouting for gators. We'll then get up the next morning and go shiner fishing for some hawg bass and then we'll be gator hunting from 5 PM to 10 AM...or until we get two nice gators.

This will be my 7th year in a row of chasing these modern day dinosaurs and it's just as fun today as when I first took my son.  I'll try to post updates as we go.

This was our first gator!

 

My daughter with a 9# bass.

 

My other daughter with a nice fat gator.

 

My 7 1/2 month pregnant daughter-in-law from last year.

 

This is one of my favorite photos. This is my son with a solid gator from last year.

 

[Kevin Dill]

Terry,

You are by far the best New York alligator guide I know!

   

[Izzy]

Safe travels Mr. Great pictures and hoping you get to take more..

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Terry, Have  a great and safe trip!

I hope your new gear set up will help with the big ones.

   

[Huntrdfk]

Always look forward to this Terry, I know you'll have a great time!


David

[IndianaBowman]

Ha! Kevin, I'm likely the ONLY DIY gator guy from New York!  But I'll still take it as a compliment.

Looking forward to your annual moose report. I believe you are the best DIY Alaska moose hunter in all of Ohio!  

[Kevin Dill]

Terry...I just think we both try really hard to have a lot fun doing what we love.

I hope you all have a ball bumping gators in the dark. Fantastic times and fun people!

[mike g]

Where is the Kill zone for a Gator..?

[Sean B]

Good luck buddy!!  I woulda LOVED to be down there with you!!  Can't wait for the updates!!

[Mike Vines]

Once again, I'll be following this hunt just like every year.  Good luck Terry.

[Big Ed]

Best of luck Terry!!

[finkm1]

Keep us posted. Shooting an alligator is high on my bucket list!!!

[bill langer]

Go "Git Em" Terry!!!

Can't wait for your reports.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[elkken]

Looks awesome .... have a great hunt and be safe

   

[steadman]

Good luck buddy!! One day I'll make it down there  

[59Alaskan]

Good luck!  Great pictures!

[glenbo]

Have a safe and memorable trip Terry

[IndianaBowman]

We're all done gator hunting. As usual it was a lot of fun and excitement.

The 24 hour drive is always tough, but we managed to roll in and head out to do some scouting. I wanted to look at some new areas and found a couple new places that looked pretty good. They would serve as a backup spot should we not be successful in my main area.

The next morning found us sleeping in till 6 AM and then hitting the lake for some bass fishing. Unfortunately, when the sun comes up in South Florida in August the fish go down. We caught a few, but not what I'm used to.

 

 

As much as I hate gar, they do bite in the hot sun and put up a good fight.

 

[IndianaBowman]

Then came the gator hunting. The season opened on the night of Aug 15th at 5 PM. We were on the water and looking for gators.

 

It didn't take long and the rain came...as it always does in August in Florida.  We pulled up and waited out the lightening storm under this low bridge.

 

[IndianaBowman]

We stayed under the bridge until well past dark and then we were back at it.  It didn't take long and we were onto gators.  We actually had already seen many gators and the guys had a couple of shots at some solid 8'+ gators.

Bill made good on his 2nd shot and the fight was on. Here we are trying to subdue the guy and he didn't like it much. I had him three times by the snout trying to tape it shut and he would do a death roll and break free. He really wasn't very happy with me.