Alligator Hunting and Gator Cooking

A 5-minute overview of North American alligator hunting that features a Georgia hunt from Wm. Hovey Smith, the author of "Practical Bowfishing."

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• alligator hunting
• crossbow hunting
• bowfishing
• gator cooking
• alligator recipes
• alligator hunting book
• alligator hunting equipment
• bowfishing boats

[wmhoveysmith]

My German is nonexistent. But yes, I really do this. And yes, you can purchase alligator steaks in the supermarket in a number of Southern U.S. states and in specialty markets worldwide. The trick is not to overcook the meat, and if you fry it use fresh oil.

[wmhoveysmith]

Bondo boat is actually a Satilla that was once made in Douglas, GA. It is similar to the River Hawk and Guneau type of craft with flotation belts molded on the sides to make it super stable. The Satilla was made of laid-on fiberglass cloth laminated to plywood which made it super strong, but apparently too expensive to be commercially successful. I have never seen another one.

[wmhoveysmith]

The pistol is the now discontinued Ruger Old Army. I have a 7-part video on "Modern Percussion Revolvers" that include load information and taking squirrels and deer with this and other pistols, including Cabela's stainless steel Buffalo that has a 12-inch barrel and adjustable sights. This gun is made by Pietta in Italy. The Buffalo is not quite up to the quality of the Ruger, but is a workable gun when given good loads and a little TLC.

[wmhoveysmith]

Why hunt gators? The reason that most Southern U.S. states have alligator seasons is that the populations have grown where several people and many pets die each year as a result of alligator attacks. In Florida there are about as many alligators as residents and it is needful to thin the population. This is a challenging outdoor sport, takes skill and provides good eats. If you detect humor in these videos it is directed at me and my somewhat exotic attempts to take and eat legal game animal

[wmhoveysmith]

Reptiles apparently do not feel pain to the extent that mammals do. I have seen gators swim, apparently unconcerned, with torn-off limbs or missing sections of their tails as a result of encounters with other gators. I have also never witness one react, as to pain, when shot or harpooned. They attempt to escape and fight, but are not so stricken with pain as to be immobilized as we would be with a similar injury. They also do not vocalize when arrowed or struck.

[wmhoveysmith]

Play nice folks. I don't mind you disagreeing with what I do, but be civil about it. You probably would not like the fact that I regularly shoot and eat swan too, along with squirrles, bear and most other game and have videos up about those too.

[doughesson]

@velconzx The usual intent is to kill the animal quickly.No matter how well aimed your shot is.once the projectile,whether bullet,crossbow bolt or arrow,leaves the hunting device,all bets are off.You might could hit a limb,the wind picks up right at the shot or the animal reflexively jumps at the shot causing you to miss or hit a non lethal part of the critter.

Real hunters try to avoid making their prey suffer.

That bites but it's part of hunting.

[derAlrounder]

leude das is übel die tierquälerei also hallo?????? die tiere hängen 15 minuten an einem pfeil das tut ziemlich weeeeeehhhh und is tierquälerei!!!!! lasst das und kauft lieba een aligator steak im supermarkt!!!!! die haben das tier net gequält!!!!!!!!!!! TIERQUÄLER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[alwayslongboard]

what kind of boat is bondoe boat



[guap910]

its like tlkn to a brick wall.any animal in my way im going to smash its brains in!

[ac3b1s]

@guap910 Animals were put here for us humans to eat? Who put that amimals than for "us" here? And whats with the animals that could eat you? Are you put in for them to eat? I love eating meet but you are not worth to be on the top of the food chain

[Mako561]

@educatedman76 I beleive most states have similar laws to Florida regarding that sort of thing, only when dealing with animals not known to be food such as predators, are you allowed to properly throw out of the meat.

[educatedman76]

@Mako561 I did not realize that. Does this apply to all states?