CLARION LEDGER (Jackson, Mississippi) 12 September 10 Big gators join the party early (Bobby Cleveland)
So much for the first night of the alligator season being for teams to get their "runt" gator out of the way.
Twelve teams were also able to get their big gator, too, including a huge 12-foot, 2-inch lizard that pushed the scales on the forklift at Turcotte Field Station to 462 pounds.
A total of 56 of the eligible 60 teams participated at Barnett Reservoir, taking 48 gators. The limit is two per team, but a rule requires that the "runt" gator, one over the minimum of 4 feet and under 7 feet, be taken before a mature one can be hunted. The key to success is getting the small in the boat quickly.
"It's really not that hard," said Cory Rawson of Carthage, holder of the permits that got a 4-footer and then the monster. "There's thousands, and I do mean thousands, of the small ones that size."
Rawson and his team of six friends, all from the Carthage area, hunted the river near Eddie's Island.
"We got the little one about 9:30 (p.m.) and we had already released a 7 1/2-footer," said teammate Gary McKey. "Then we saw this big one swimming the river at the mouth to Pine Lake about a half mile below Eddie's at 11. We hooked up about 30 minutes later."
The ensuing battle took 90 minutes and involved seven men in two boats, with four rods (two in each boat) and a bow and arrow.
"Pretty insane, and very intense," McKey said. "It got a little crazy next to the boat. When we tried to noose him, he started his roll and broke all the lines but one. Twice, we were down to one rod, and it was the smallest one, an Ugly Stick medium heavy and a bass reel. But we got more hooks in him.
"Then, I blew up the barrel of a 12-gauge shotgun. I had to stick it down in the water and against its head and pull the trigger. I knew it was dumb, but at that point, it had to end."
Saturday's second night ends the first of the two, two-night weekend seasons at Barnett.
Big gators join the party early