I called the TPWD line to check on the drawings.
512-389-8221
I was not drawn for the alligator hunt, nor my son for the youth hunt. I have been on at least 15 of those gator hunts including my oldest son on the first ever youth hunt. I was even drawn 5 years in a row once. Got a long losing stretch going now though.

Oh well, maybe next year, especially with 8 preference points. That is unlucky as these hunts don't have that bad of odds.

Why?

Because it tastes like chicken.

That is a very old picture by the way. Check out that old browning bowfishing reel. It was huge.

I didn't get drawn either

I love to eat gator tail but don't have the itch to kill one. Kinda like me loving to eat beef but not caring to kill a cow. For those that do gator hunt, I bet it's a rush!

I have taken one over 11 ft and have taken them by bow and snare and that can be fun, but running them on a line is much like running a jug line. Anything under 8 ft, I normally don't shoot but with a blade in the spine at the base of the skull. They are just a big lizard is all.

My son who is now 22.

I was thinking about entering but decided against it. I do have a few questions though. How are the hunts conducted and what are the legal ways of hunting them on the TPWD hunts? Do you hunt them like you see the people hunting crocodile in Africa where you shoot them in the brain? Or do you bow hunt them? Seems like it would be a good time I just don't understand how it would be done. Thanks.

Me neither.

I just called and I didn't get drawn either. (Didn't get the youth pick either.)
The odds looked really good too.

Question - how do you know when the drawing date is for each drawing you entered?

I didn't get drawn either. Only my first try though...

Correct me if I am wrong....

You cannot shoot a gun over open water. You have to use snare, hook & line or bow.

You can shoot an alligator in the water that is on a snare, hook & line, or bow/arrow with line attached. Just can not shoot a free swimming alligator. They experimented with allowing that during a couple of the early public hunts years ago, but the results did not turn out well enough to implement it into the regulation.

Here my son is pulling one in. I had stood in the water there like a heron waiting and shot it with a bow. Now finishing it with the shotgun.

So what about on private property? Do you still have to wait for the "season"? My buddies place still has quite a few on their private lake. The big one they killed this year was in season, but I'm curious if that applies to private. I mean... they seem like a danger for young grandkids fishing on the bank to me, and if it were my place I would want them all gone. Sure not worth loosing a little one over.

Is there some kind of permit you can get to get rid of them?

For the area your talking about I am certain it must be during the open spring season which is pretty much only for private land or from private land on public water anyway.

But for the rest, I would call TPWD to ask. Or get a copy of the Alligator Hunting Regulations. This one is obsure enough that forum opinions could be the wrong answer.

yeah... I don't want to shoot anything out of date and risk getting fined, but would love to help out and make the place kid friendly again. They saw 4 or 5 gators in there and I know my little girl and boy are not going to be fishing or down by the water's edge until this is cleaned up. That one they shot was over 11 feet long!!!

I can understand imposing a season for public land, but with a dangerous animal on private land it seems a little wrong to me.... guess it's the same with Bears though.

how far north in texas is there range?

I don't know how wide spread they are in North Texas, but they are definitely in the Trinity bottoms around Seagoville. There are some gravel pit lakes real near the river in that area that were made when they built I-20 and they have gators in them. There are signs up saying they are there and when I used to drive by the area everyday I would occasionally see them. Not sure how many are there, but there are definitely some.

hey thank you. might try for a permit next year.

Greg,
In the coastal Counties people live with them every day. For the most part they are nocturnal and harmless to people. Just use common sense and they will not hurt anyone. Keep your dog and your kids out of the water in the warm months though. The water will be cool soon. By October they will not be very active. Especially this far north. If you get a problem gator that is agressive TPWD might have someone that can relocate it. I know they have relocated them to Gus Engeling before. Come next April-June if y'all need any help removing/targeting the bigger ones, give me a yell. I would just help with the how to, y'all would take the gators. Can show you how to skin them and salt the hides too. A big one can take about three hours if your not used to skinning them. Limit in the Spring is one per person per season.

wow won't find much better than that thanks