TAMPA TRIBUNE (Florida) 29 July 07 Gator Hunting 101: Classes With Teeth (Steve Kornacki)
Tampa: A state-run seminar at the Florida State Fairgrounds whetted the appetites of a pair of wannabe alligator hunters Saturday.
"Catching an alligator is on my list of things to do before I die," said Bill McManus of Largo. "It's a real-life experience."
His brother-in-law, Kevin Clarey of Cape Coral, chuckled and added, "I just want a pair of alligator boots."
They were among about 100 who attended a free, two-hour seminar conducted by Steve Stiegler, a wildlife biologist in the Alligator Management Program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Several hunting guides and vendors also offered for sale an assortment of gator hunting equipment, such as harpoons and bang sticks.
Stiegler discussed the legal methods of taking gators, safety and hunting techniques and equipment. He showed a video detailing skinning, tanning and meat processing. Last year, 6,419 gators were harvested in Florida, where gators have been found in all 67 counties.
"They are potentially dangerous animals and you have to take precautions," Stiegler said. "The key is wearing down the gator once you've caught it. If you force it to the boat early, they will do what alligators do best: They will thrash and knock people out of the boat, biting everything in sight."
He described harpoons, snatch hooks and bow fishing equipment as legal methods of taking gators, noting that conventional firearms such as rifles and pistols are illegal. The bows, arrows and hooks that are thrown and fired are attached to restraining lines. Hunters tug on the restraining line once they catch a gator to wear it down.
"A bang stick should be used to kill the animal," said Stiegler, waving the 5-foot aluminum shaft with a stainless steel head that holds a firing cartridge. "There is a chamber for the pistol cartridge in the head.
"When you strike the gator with the bang stick, preferably at the top of the skull, it fires the cartridge."'
He stressed the need to make sure the gator is dead, adding that its jaws should be tied together with duct tape or electrical tape. You can't be too careful with man-eaters, Stiegler noted.
Tom Hawe, a guide from Zephyrhills who takes out licensed hunters in Lake Hancock south of Lakeland, prefers unconventional gator hunting.
"I go out with a deep-sea fishing pole and bait the hook with Wal-Mart chickens," Hawe said. "The conventional way is to go out with an airboat or outboard rig, shine a light in the water and come up on 'em. Then they throw weighted treble hooks and try to snag 'em or throw a spear."
He proudly displayed the skulls of 12-foot and 8-foot gators at his vending table. "I've caught 20," he said.
He said he was inspired by the late Steve Irwin, the television personality and wildlife expert who trapped crocodiles.
Dennis Towns, who runs Cajun Gator Hunt Equipment in Masaryktown and is a 41-year gator-hunting veteran, prefers a harpoon to secure the gator and a snare to control it.
Those attending the seminar had permits; an alligator farming license costs $270 and a farming agent license to assist in harvesting costs $50. All members on a hunting boat are required to be licensed.
Brothers-in-law Clarey and McManus were permitted for one week each in Lake Okeechobee. Gator season begins Aug. 15 and ends Nov. 1.
"I'm an outdoorsman and I've always wanted to do this," Clarey said. "It's so exciting."
McManus added, "Other things on my list of things to do are getting an H1 Hummer and a European trip. I don't know when those will happen, but I'm going gator hunting."
Gator Hunting 101