On Monday, September 19, The Coastal Sportsmen hosted the Outdoor Channel's Jim Jones of "Hunting Across America" & Chris Chaffen of "Fish & Wildlife Journal" for a good old fashion Florida alligator hunt.
Also joining us on the hunt was Capt Lou Benson, Guide Aaron Pritchard & permit holder Bruce Keesling. Cameraman Dave Madsen completed the crew with his digital Sony camera.
The night started out with (20) twenty mile per hour winds & braking (2) two-foot waves over Lake Washington. Due to the dropping water & the deteriorating weather conditions of Hurricane Rita we knew our (2) two night hunt would have to be cut to (1) one. So sadly it was decided that the anything over (7) seven-foot was fair game for this hunt.
After filming the shows opening scenes at the hill, we loaded up on the airboats for a perilous trip around the edge of Lake Washington. Once up & into the marsh, we began "pushing grass" in search of our prey.
At this time of year a stretched out bullfrog is bigger than your foot and a fine meal for a hungry alligator. After scanning a huge open flat with the headlights, Capt Lou spotted (1) one lone eye sitting next to a buttonwood bush. With a flash of his headlight we headed over to the area & closed in on our prey.
As I approached the area at an idle, the gator disappeared before I could even get a look at it. I brought the boat to a complete stop & illuminated the "kill zone" with my headlight.
"Nothing"
Then, all of a sudden the massive broad head of a bull alligator popped up within (2) two feet of the portside gunnel.
I blurted out, "Oh my God" on camera & at the same time Jim launched an arrow into the gators back from his Bow Tech fishing bow.
Thud!!!
The water exploded like a bomb went off with everyone on the boat getting wet. The big bull gator made a run under the boat peeling off line but due to the water depth had no were to go. Jim loaded up a second arrow, which again penetrated into the gators thick hide. Now it was just a matter of time as the big bull splashed, slashed & death rolled next to the boats.
After putting (3) three well placed .357 rounds into the sweet spot behind his skull the jaws were taped, the spinal cord was cut & the beast was hulled up onto the deck. Jim took the honor of placing the tag into the tail and then out came the measuring tape.
(10) Ten feet even, a Trophy Alligator!!!
After the high five’s & pats on the backs we proceeded to find Chris Chaffen's first alligator for “Fish & Game Journal" TV.
The conditions continued to deteriorate throughout the night as the wind picked up speed over the marsh. We game across several sport size alligators but the second trophy continued to elude us. As we approached the “Oakhead Campsite� we decided to stop to stretch our legs, check the oil on the engines & share some hunting lies over a warm campfire on a cool marsh night.
As the ashes on our cigars burned down to our fingertips, we loaded back up on the boat in search of Chris’s trophy. Capt Lou & I decided to split up in an attempt to cover more ground as we hunted back towards the hill. Not (20) twenty minutes went by when Capt Louie’s strobe light went off about a quarter of a mile to the north. I punched the airboat onto a plane & headed off across the marsh the dark windy marsh.
As we broke through several strands of buttonwood bushes after a (100) one hundred-yard run, I saw the red glow of a pair of eyes in a pothole in front of us. I quickly settled the boat down into the water as the bow wake rolled into the hole like a tidal surge coming ashore from an approaching hurricane.
As we entered the hole the gator dropped to the bottom & remained motionless pretending that we didn’t see him. While still underneath the crystal clear water of the marsh, he turned & began to swim towards the safety & cover of the grass. I kicked the back of Chris’s seat & he rose, drawing the bow back to his cheek & taking aim.
As the gator continued to swim towards the grass Chris launched his Muzzy® tipped arrow & buried it into the left flank. The gator immediately went into a death roll as the line came tight against the buoy. I then began to signal Capt Lou from across the marsh to abandon his gator. Once the initial adrenaline rush overcame our prey, a second arrow was placed into the gator & he was quickly subdued with a bangstick shot to the head.
We knew he was close to a trophy but not quite sure if he would reach that elusive (9) nine-foot mark. I asked Capt Lou if the gator he located was as big & he stated he had located only a (7) seven footer. Chris not wanting to wait till we got back to the hill, pulled the measuring tape over top the gators belly & read it out, (8) eight-foot (6) six inches.
I immediately began to apologize to Chris for the size of the alligator. Chris looked up at me & said, “Jeff, this was one of the most exciting hunts of my life & I’ve hunted all over the world.�
At that point I quietly reached out over top of the front seat & shook Chris’s hand.
After another perilous ride across the lake all high on adrenaline, (2) two tired hunters, (4) four tired guides & (1) one sleeping cameraman made it safely back to the landing. Not a bad hunt for the conditions imposed on ourselves & by Hurricane Rita.
The next evening we met at the cooler to film the closings of the shows with interviews being provided by biologist of the FWC Alligator Program. Wednesday morning was spent at Froelich’s Alligator Farm in Christmas with Edwin Jr. showing how a gator is raised from a hatchling to being processed at (16) months.
After making several phone calls, Chris told me that he wanted his (8) eight-footer “trophy skinned� for a wall mount. I told him it would look great at his home on the office wall. Chris then laughed & said this gator will be going to the home office of the Outdoor Channel to be displayed in the front lobby.
I again reached over & quietly shook his hand.
In closing, I would like to thank the following people whose services made these shows become a reality.
Capt Lou Benson
Guide Aaron Pritchard
Permit Holder Bruce Keesling
Bow Tech
Muzzy
Pro Gear by Wangler
Froelich’s Alligator Farm
and Dave’s Airparts/Cyclone Props of St. Cloud, Florida
Also joining us on the hunt was Capt Lou Benson, Guide Aaron Pritchard & permit holder Bruce Keesling. Cameraman Dave Madsen completed the crew with his digital Sony camera.
The night started out with (20) twenty mile per hour winds & braking (2) two-foot waves over Lake Washington. Due to the dropping water & the deteriorating weather conditions of Hurricane Rita we knew our (2) two night hunt would have to be cut to (1) one. So sadly it was decided that the anything over (7) seven-foot was fair game for this hunt.
After filming the shows opening scenes at the hill, we loaded up on the airboats for a perilous trip around the edge of Lake Washington. Once up & into the marsh, we began "pushing grass" in search of our prey.
At this time of year a stretched out bullfrog is bigger than your foot and a fine meal for a hungry alligator. After scanning a huge open flat with the headlights, Capt Lou spotted (1) one lone eye sitting next to a buttonwood bush. With a flash of his headlight we headed over to the area & closed in on our prey.
As I approached the area at an idle, the gator disappeared before I could even get a look at it. I brought the boat to a complete stop & illuminated the "kill zone" with my headlight.
"Nothing"
Then, all of a sudden the massive broad head of a bull alligator popped up within (2) two feet of the portside gunnel.
I blurted out, "Oh my God" on camera & at the same time Jim launched an arrow into the gators back from his Bow Tech fishing bow.
Thud!!!
The water exploded like a bomb went off with everyone on the boat getting wet. The big bull gator made a run under the boat peeling off line but due to the water depth had no were to go. Jim loaded up a second arrow, which again penetrated into the gators thick hide. Now it was just a matter of time as the big bull splashed, slashed & death rolled next to the boats.
After putting (3) three well placed .357 rounds into the sweet spot behind his skull the jaws were taped, the spinal cord was cut & the beast was hulled up onto the deck. Jim took the honor of placing the tag into the tail and then out came the measuring tape.
(10) Ten feet even, a Trophy Alligator!!!
After the high five’s & pats on the backs we proceeded to find Chris Chaffen's first alligator for “Fish & Game Journal" TV.
The conditions continued to deteriorate throughout the night as the wind picked up speed over the marsh. We game across several sport size alligators but the second trophy continued to elude us. As we approached the “Oakhead Campsite� we decided to stop to stretch our legs, check the oil on the engines & share some hunting lies over a warm campfire on a cool marsh night.
As the ashes on our cigars burned down to our fingertips, we loaded back up on the boat in search of Chris’s trophy. Capt Lou & I decided to split up in an attempt to cover more ground as we hunted back towards the hill. Not (20) twenty minutes went by when Capt Louie’s strobe light went off about a quarter of a mile to the north. I punched the airboat onto a plane & headed off across the marsh the dark windy marsh.
As we broke through several strands of buttonwood bushes after a (100) one hundred-yard run, I saw the red glow of a pair of eyes in a pothole in front of us. I quickly settled the boat down into the water as the bow wake rolled into the hole like a tidal surge coming ashore from an approaching hurricane.
As we entered the hole the gator dropped to the bottom & remained motionless pretending that we didn’t see him. While still underneath the crystal clear water of the marsh, he turned & began to swim towards the safety & cover of the grass. I kicked the back of Chris’s seat & he rose, drawing the bow back to his cheek & taking aim.
As the gator continued to swim towards the grass Chris launched his Muzzy® tipped arrow & buried it into the left flank. The gator immediately went into a death roll as the line came tight against the buoy. I then began to signal Capt Lou from across the marsh to abandon his gator. Once the initial adrenaline rush overcame our prey, a second arrow was placed into the gator & he was quickly subdued with a bangstick shot to the head.
We knew he was close to a trophy but not quite sure if he would reach that elusive (9) nine-foot mark. I asked Capt Lou if the gator he located was as big & he stated he had located only a (7) seven footer. Chris not wanting to wait till we got back to the hill, pulled the measuring tape over top the gators belly & read it out, (8) eight-foot (6) six inches.
I immediately began to apologize to Chris for the size of the alligator. Chris looked up at me & said, “Jeff, this was one of the most exciting hunts of my life & I’ve hunted all over the world.�
At that point I quietly reached out over top of the front seat & shook Chris’s hand.
After another perilous ride across the lake all high on adrenaline, (2) two tired hunters, (4) four tired guides & (1) one sleeping cameraman made it safely back to the landing. Not a bad hunt for the conditions imposed on ourselves & by Hurricane Rita.
The next evening we met at the cooler to film the closings of the shows with interviews being provided by biologist of the FWC Alligator Program. Wednesday morning was spent at Froelich’s Alligator Farm in Christmas with Edwin Jr. showing how a gator is raised from a hatchling to being processed at (16) months.
After making several phone calls, Chris told me that he wanted his (8) eight-footer “trophy skinned� for a wall mount. I told him it would look great at his home on the office wall. Chris then laughed & said this gator will be going to the home office of the Outdoor Channel to be displayed in the front lobby.
I again reached over & quietly shook his hand.
In closing, I would like to thank the following people whose services made these shows become a reality.
Capt Lou Benson
Guide Aaron Pritchard
Permit Holder Bruce Keesling
Bow Tech
Muzzy
Pro Gear by Wangler
Froelich’s Alligator Farm
and Dave’s Airparts/Cyclone Props of St. Cloud, Florida
