Alligator Hunt 2016

I am going on an alligator hunt tomorrow. I am hoping to find a big boy (12ft) like the one I photographed above. This gator is getting ready to do its night hunting as it has positioned its head along the waters edge. Any animal the comes to drink will be a target. Any critter like a turtle, little alligator, snake or bird that moves along the waters edge will meet a toothy end. All crocodilians possess 'integumentary sense organs' (ISOs)- that is, sensory cells present in the integumentary layer (skin). These ISOs are often called a number of different names.  In the Alligatorinae family (alligators and caimans) these are the only place that ISOs are found - the upper jaw, nose, around the eyes, lower jaw, even the upper palate. There are none elsewhere on the animal. The ISO’s are more sensitive than finger tips and allow alligators to detect the slightest disturbance of the waters surface alerting it to animal animal that has the misfortune of disturbing it within striking distance.

Alligator Season starts August 15th

Alligator seasons starts next month/mid month. This is a limited quota hunt in Florida awarded by special permit that had to be applied for months ago. While I didn’t get picked for a permit in the lottery this year two of my friends did and I can hunt with them on an agent license and harvest one of the two tags given to the hunter awarded the permit. Stay tuned for when the hunting begins as I will be posting photos, stories, techniques and current conditions. 

'You can try to hide but I'll find you' Going on my alligator hunt recon this afternoon Season opens in two weeks pic.twitter.com/WEIjCIidA8