Having Fun With Alligators

[gckid]

You playing with those gators was cool but you just signed there death warrant. Now the next person crabbing there will have them coming up and eating there crab line. This is a NUISANCE gator now and will have to be removed before someone ends up hurt. If a game warden would have seen you you would gotten a expensive reminder to not mess with alligators. I'm a nuisance hunter and 3/4 of gators I removed all started as "oh look a gator. lets feed him"

[Swamp Critter]

Originally Posted by gckid

You playing with those gators was cool but you just signed there death warrant. Now the next person crabbing there will have them coming up and eating there crab line. This is a NUISANCE gator now and will have to be removed before someone ends up hurt. If a game warden would have seen you you would gotten a expensive reminder to not mess with alligators. I'm a nuisance hunter and 3/4 of gators I removed all started as "oh look a gator. lets feed him"

Alligators, especially young ones like these, have been grabbing bait lines at this spot for years. It's not like it's in a neighborhood subdivision where someone will report it as a nuisance gator. Nor is it in a state park where people go swimming, canoeing, water skiing, etc. It's well known that there's alligators there and I'm not the first one to do this, nor will I be the last. And look, I "get it" about feeding alligators. I know it's a bad idea and yes, some people actually do feed them there. That's not what we were doing. We were crabbing, and the gators were getting at our bait anyway, so we just had fun with it. And as far as game wardens and fines, yes, I could have been fined for handling a gator. But what was I supposed to do? Leave it tangled like it was? I only pulled it up there to free it from the bait lines, get some good video up close, and let it go unharmed. I can't see anything wrong with that.

[huntin fool]

Originally Posted by Swamp Critter

Alligators, especially young ones like these, have been grabbing bait lines at this spot for years. It's not like it's in a neighborhood subdivision where someone will report it as a nuisance gator. Nor is it in a state park where people go swimming, canoeing, water skiing, etc. It's well known that there's alligators there and I'm not the first one to do this, nor will I be the last. And look, I "get it" about feeding alligators. I know it's a bad idea and yes, some people actually do feed them there. That's not what we were doing. We were crabbing, and the gators were getting at our bait anyway, so we just had fun with it. And as far as game wardens and fines, yes, I could have been fined for handling a gator. But what was I supposed to do? Leave it tangled like it was? I only pulled it up there to free it from the bait lines, get some good video up close, and let it go unharmed. I can't see anything wrong with that.

There isn't any harm in it. But it is the law. And the last thing I would have done is posted this on Youtube, and on a Outdoor Forum. I would have had my fun and just left it at that.

[Swamp Critter]

Originally Posted by gckid

You playing with those gators was cool but you just signed there death warrant. Now the next person crabbing there will have them coming up and eating there crab line. This is a NUISANCE gator now and will have to be removed before someone ends up hurt. If a game warden would have seen you you would gotten a expensive reminder to not mess with alligators. I'm a nuisance hunter and 3/4 of gators I removed all started as "oh look a gator. lets feed him"

By the way, no disrespect to you. I realize what you're saying, and I get it. I'm just saying this isn't the same as around houses, camps, etc.

[gckid]

Originally Posted by Swamp Critter

By the way, no disrespect to you. I realize what you're saying, and I get it. I'm just saying this isn't the same as around houses, camps, etc.

Even away from camps and houses is bad. They get a mental imprint on being fed and anytime they see a human they go to them. I've caught farm raised gator that had been released for five years and still act like they were waiting to be fed. This is out in the marsh were very few people go. They will travel quite a distance if needed so they could possible end up near someones camp.

[elebouef]

Hey gckid, have you ever been called out to Lowery, to catch some nuisance gators at a landing down there?

[Cali2Calcasieu]

Originally Posted by gckid

Even away from camps and houses is bad. They get a mental imprint on being fed and anytime they see a human they go to them. I've caught farm raised gator that had been released for five years and still act like they were waiting to be fed. This is out in the marsh were very few people go. They will travel quite a distance if needed so they could possible end up near someones camp.

Was out at Grosse Savanne pond and the fishing guide told me that they clean all the fish waaaay out at the back so its away from the lodge and wont attract other pests. The gators now listen for the rumble of a diesel engine and know they can get a free meal after dark. While he was talking about 12-15 gators swam up and were just sitting out in the pond watching us.....pretty awesome, until you realize they just are window shopping for dinner...