I spent from 12 yesterday till 6 crawling in 3 foot and smaller cement culverts trying to push a 10 plus ft gator with PVC pipe . My cousin Frank was waiting at an open manhole lid. The gator wouldnt budge so I improvised. I taped a treble hook and 400 feet of rope to the end of the PVC and hooked the gator. It was near impossible to move him. It was too small of a culvert to use a bangstick . I was eye level with him all I had was a 22 magnum revolver no way to really shoot . Man that gator was ticked he straightned out my hook and got off. It was getting late so I tried to prod him again. He still wouldnt budge so we were packing up to leave and took a break and were kinda broken hearted . I had crawld over 400 feet back in a pipe 3 times yesterday . All I had gotten out of it was a rush hearing him growl and snap and seeing those glowing eyes.

Well I said to Frank Im gonna pop that manhole lid one more time . I did and there he was his big old head laying there hissing . I blasted him with a 44 mag and finished him. It was a wicked sound through those pipes and it was a wicked impact with his head on cement shooting him. Always wear glasses when using a bangstick the gators skull or bullet casing will go off like shrapnel. I felt peices of something hitting me.

Here is one pic my batteries died but my cousin Frank has a few more pics.

Look at the gators elbows from living in that culvert. My elbows and knees about match his after today  

That's one big boy. Looks like you've been busy lately with all those pics. Thanks for answering what happens to it afterward on that other post. Just made me wonder.

That must have made a good ending after such a long day for you.

It was a long day my hands knees and elbows are raw from crawling in that cement pipe yesterday.

Bassindocktor

here are some links that better describe the program There have been revisions since this was printed but this is the basics of it

http://myfwc.com/GATORS/nuisance.htm

http://myfwc.com/GATORS/research/Articles/nuisance-csg2000.pdf

I have the closet gators at my house

lol @ muddy...

wow...sounds like quite the day GatorBK

GatorBK, thanks for the info. Interesting read. I didn't realize how greatly the population of the gotors has rebounded. I didn't realize how much the price for the skin has gone down too. I guess being in the Midwest I didn't realize they can be such a problem. I only see the occasional story when it is a very very large one. It was cool to read about the program. Thanks

LoL Muddyman ;D

Your welcome Bassdocktor gators are interesting and intelligent critters, more than most people think. They can recognize vehicles and hide when they see the same truck that hunts them. Other people can be parked fishing with the gators right there . I pull up they might go underwater for up to 2 hours. Or go hide in a pipe like this one did. they have the eyesight of an owl a sense of smell better than a dog, .And can hear really good and feel vibrations through their body. its next to impossible to sneak up on a gator, even when they are asleep (unless they have been fed).

Normally I dont go in a pipe but, It was just a gator that needed to be killed . he grabbed a womans dog about a year ago out of the pond. Its been an on going problem for over a year. We finially figured out his hiding spot . He had about a 1 mile of underground pipe to travel. he could go from the pond to the Indian river. which is 1/2 miles from each other. Gators can live in brackish water but have to go to fresh to clean salt outta their system. So whenever he wanted he just showed up in the pond . When we tried to catch him there he would leave for a week of more. He wouldnt take a bait he was a smart gator.

It was pretty intense you cannot imagine the noises gators make when they are mad. Especially in a pipe. Next time I try it I will make a shield the size of the pipe with a hole to see and one to shoot out of If I need to.

Here is a pic of him with the culvert slime washed off

what do you do with them after you kill/capture them

In the second link a few posts up it explains . Basicially we get to sell the hide and meat. The FWC doesnt pay us . Well neither is much good on this gator his skin was rubbed raw in places from living in the culvert. Look at his elbows in the picture above

Also he was in a pond treated with a dye that keeps the water blue looking. The inside of his mouth was blue green instead or white so its probably in his meat . the meat will be discarded. we might have made 60 dollars apeice on him :'( But the people were happy it was gone . And it will be an experience I will never forget

GatorBK:  my HATS off to YOU!! You are one TOUGH COOKIE doing what you do!! And thanks for all that wonderful information/insight on 'gators!! Makes catching any species of fish, with the possible exception of "sharkin'", seem tame by comparison. IMO:o)

HOw kool iz dat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GatorBK, all I gotta say is; you got a pair. Big, brass ones.

GatorBK, all I gotta say is; you got a pair. Big, brass ones.

X2

Its just a job and an adventure. here is what I did this morning before the rain hit . I took the 10 ft gheenoe and got a nine foot gator he took the me and the little boat for a ride ;D

GatorBK: do ya do your killin' before breakfast or after?? As I said, you are one TOUGH COOKIE to be doing that sort of stuff.

I usually eat a bite before I go but I didnt this morning.

I do always make sure I empty my bladder before catching them though ;D

I know IF I ever caught ANYTHING like that, MY bladder would be empty for sure!!!)

Well the main reason for emptying my bowels is if the paramedics or search crew ever fish me out of a lake I dont wanna have my drawers full LOL.