Hunting & Fishing Huge gator seen during duck season

km71107

km71107

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 27, 2008
621
4
Northwest Louisiana
#1
My brother and a friend saw this gator yesterday while duck hunting in Bodcau WMA in NW La. He was in a 1 man pirogue and the gator was bigger than the pirogue! He estimated its head to be 24" to 27" long and 12" to 15" wide. His friend thought it was dead but my brother wasn't so sure. He poked it with a boat paddle and nearly shit himself when the gator took off.
bodcaugator4.jpg

bodcaugator3.jpg

bodcaugator1.jpg

I was hunting with him Sunday in the same area. Here are a couple of pics of what it looks like in there.
IMG_0763.jpg
IMG_0769.jpg
IMG_0761.jpg
IMG_0767.jpg
 
#6
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

F_CK THAT!!!! there aren't enough ducks in the world to get me within paddle, or even barrel distance of something like that. Just the idea of paddlin my ass around in water like that not knowing where or how many of those scaly bastards are in there is terrifying enough!!!
 
#12
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sendero_man</div><div class="ubbcode-body">check.... another reason I love Wyoming ! </div></div>

+1, I dont mind stepping on jackrabbits or antelope by accident, but Gators? no thanks.
 
#18
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

A piece of advice, if I may.

You can be sure they are dead when they are floating upside down. They will always float upside down after death--gasses, expanding stomach, science and all. This happens in as little as an hour after death. First hand experience here.

Any other time, they are very much alive....
 
#21
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BIGBOY</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">Man i would have jumped on his back if it would not be so cold</span> nah i aint that crazy i would have blast that fucker i think i would have to move to antoher location though. </div></div>

I am probably one of few who can actually say they've done such a thing. It happened on Holly Beach which is south of Sulphur, Louisiana. The gator was in the neighborhood of 6 feet long, give or take a few inches maybe. I jumped down from a 2-3ft overhang, onto his back, and began dragging him/her out of what looked to be a nesting hole, head first.

I hadn't clearly thought everything through, obviously. Once I was on its back and had my hands around the jaws to prevent being bitten, I didn't know what to do next. I sat there for a minute or two while the gator squirmed from side to side and it was only when it began to roll that I jumped free and out of harms way, allowing it to make a run for the water.

No, that's not a bullshit story. It actually happened when I was 26-27yrs old.
 
#22
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

I wouldn't stand in that water and I wouldn't wear my shells where they can stay submerged either.
You're making me doubt your cognitive abilities.
 
#23
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

Tucker, my mental state is just fine
crazy.gif
. There's no way in hell I'd stand in that water this summer. As far as the shells being submerged, we buy waterproof shells and have never had a problem.
 
#24
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

Usually gators are afraid of humans, and will take off upon seeing us. Im sure the gator saw your canoe floating towards him. But with as big as he was, he has been around for awhile, and didnt give 2 sh*ts about you. Im sure he was the alpha gator in that area and was not afraid of you. Your lucky he didnt jump on your canoe to teach you a lesson about being poked with a paddle lol.
 
#25
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: km71107</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tucker, my mental state is just fine
crazy.gif
. </div></div>

And everyone in prison is innocent.
grin.gif
 
#27
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

We've hunted all over Bodcau from the green tree area off the duck dam road (Duck Lake) to Bear Branch to Coile Pond to Ivan Lake. Coile Pond is a 3 mile 4 wheeler ride from the black top so your back a little ways from the hard surface. Flight ducks around 1130 hrs and Woodies on the water when you get there.

Nothing says Louisiana Duck Hunting like being knee cap to chest deep in dark water wadding through button willows. Wait until you see air bubbles coming up 10 feet away from you and then feel something bump your leg
eek.gif


Thanks for the pictures, brings back some good memories.
 
#28
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

wnroscoe, we were off of north rd not far from the creek. I wish I knew more about Bodcau but I just started hunting out there about 3yrs ago. I have a trip planned for Monday afternoon with a friend who grew up on the edge of Bodcau. He plans on showing us a few hunting and fishing spots.
 
#31
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

I think I'd practice the 3 S's in this instance.


Shit
Shoot
Swim like a motha fauker



As someone who hunts with a dog, I'd probably shoot the thing. When I lived down in Slidell I knew of dogs being had by gators most likely much smaller than that big rascal. You should go "Swamp People" on that ass!
 
#32
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

If y'all think just seeing the gator in the water laying is something....... Wait till the days comes when you are reaching for a duck and the gator pops up behind you to take the ones you collected and have on your belt. That is freaking nerve racking. I had a 7ft gator grab a duck off my belt as I was collecting the second duck I shot before taking them back to the boat. All I felt was a yank, I turned around to see what it was.... I swear it was liked I blacked out between that point and the boat. My buddy said I looked like Jesus walking on top of water screaming like a little bitch.
 
#33
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: km71107</div><div class="ubbcode-body">None. It was way too clear. Beautiful blue sky, bright sun and no wind. The ducks were way too high to touch.</div></div>
I take it you haven't hunted green timber much/very long. The clear, blue-sky days are usually the best. When I hunt timber, it is usually a clear day and we won't get there until 8 or later. Shots aren't fired until the ducks are below the tree tops. Easy pickins.
 
#34
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: matchking</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: km71107</div><div class="ubbcode-body">None. It was way too clear. Beautiful blue sky, bright sun and no wind. The ducks were way too high to touch.</div></div>
I take it you haven't hunted green timber much/very long. The clear, blue-sky days are usually the best. When I hunt timber, it is usually a clear day and we won't get there until 8 or later. Shots aren't fired until the ducks are below the tree tops. Easy pickins. </div></div>

We've been hunting timber for a few years. We always go in well before daylight anywhere we hunt. The problem was there were very few ducks below the tree tops. We were after wood ducks early and they were flying HIGH. When the big ducks started flying, it was the same story. The few that were low enough were on us and gone before we could get them because the trees are so thick in there. I prefer overcast days even in timber. It keeps the duck lower.
 
#35
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

We call them in below the trees. Using this method makes the tree hieght a non-issue. It is the only way to hunt ducks in flooded timber; unless one wants to waste shells and wound birds.

It is usually difficult to work ducks in to timber when skies are overcast as they will often hit open water and swim in to the woods. I don't think I am alone in thinking this way.
 
#37
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

That gator looks like a small sub swimming around. I think I'll pass on that duck hunting trip. However, it sure does make the duck hunting on the east coast that I grew up doing seem a little less challenging.
 
#39
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sendero_man</div><div class="ubbcode-body">check.... another reason I love Wyoming ! </div></div>
This made me laugh and appreciate Wisconsin.
 
#40
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

I think I would skip duck hunting season after seeing that thing in the water. Takes some balls to stand in there knowing that ugly thing is lurking around. Nice pics though!
 
#41
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: km71107</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My brother and a friend saw this gator yesterday while duck hunting in Bodcau WMA in NW La. He was in a 1 man pirogue and the gator was bigger than the pirogue! He estimated its head to be 24" to 27" long and 12" to 15" wide. His friend thought it was dead but my brother wasn't so sure. He poked it with a boat paddle and nearly shit himself when the gator took off.
bodcaugator4.jpg

bodcaugator3.jpg

bodcaugator1.jpg

I was hunting with him Sunday in the same area. Here are a couple of pics of what it looks like in there.
IMG_0763.jpg
IMG_0769.jpg
IMG_0761.jpg
IMG_0767.jpg

</div></div>

That is a big gator and I would love to have a crack at him one day but there is no way he is 20 footer.He may be 12 to 14 feet at best which is still huge.I'll bet that he was at least 3 feet across the back.To get a real close estimate on how long a gator is measure from the tip of his snout to his eyes in inches and that is how long he is in feet.A gator that size wants nothing to do with you he has been arround people long enough to know that we are bad news.Now his kids that are in the range of 4 to 7 feet are the ones that will test your patience and manhood.
 
#42
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

I didn't say he was a 20 footer. I said he was bigger than the 1 man pirogue. My brother said he figured he was 12', maybe 13'. We know how to judge the size of a gator, especially when he's a couple of feet away. He would fill the freezer and make several nice pairs of boots though.
 
#45
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The_Hoff</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I love how all the ppl from up north are freaking out and all of us LA boys are like w/e just another gator lol.

granted that is a huge muther, but shit i'd still be hunting lol </div></div>

+1 on this. I was thinking the same about the guys from up north. lol
 
#46
Re: Huge gator seen during duck season

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: km71107</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Somebody from La correct me if I'm wrong, but I think gator season is in the summer. </div></div>It is year around for me, because. If you ask the gator, we are open year around for him as well.
 
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