FL Gator Hunt Lotto Is Coming Up

[BellR]

Hey All,

 

Though I'd start a thread on Gator hunting in FL since I have some experience with it.  Some basics of the FL Gator Hunt:

1) For non-resident, if you get drawn for tags it is $1022.

2) If you get drawn you get tags for 2 alligators.

3) Each pair of tags is for a certain time and area.

4) You cant sell tags once you are drawn. 

5) As long as you are present, you can have as many hunters as you want helping you fill the tags.  The other hunters must have a $52 trapping agent license.

6) There are currently no preference points at all, and out of state hunters have the same chance as the good ole' boys from the swap in the lottery.

 

The application process for the lottery is coming up in the beginning of May, and if anyone is interested in applying you will have from May 6-16 to put in your application for Phase I. 

 

This year, the way its going to work this year is there are 4 phases.  In the first 3 phases, if you are drawn your credit card is automatically charged.  There is no returning tags, so be sure to apply for only the units/times that you can hunt.  Since they changed it this year so that if you are drawn you automatically purchase the tags and cant return them, I don't expect many tags at all to go to Phase II.  Basically, if you want to do the hunt you need to apply for Phase I.

 

Phase I Application: May 6-16

Phase II Application: May 20-30

Phase III Application: June 3-13

Phase IV (First Come): June 17

 

 

So... if after reading through that anyone is interested in more information about anything to do with it feel free to ask.  My wife and I will be applying this year since we will just barely sneak in as Residents before we move.  In addition, I have a bunch of friends down here that will be applying, so hopefully we will draw some tags and I'll post some pics. 

[BellR]

Here is the European mount that we did of a gator we got our first year. This one was 6'3"

[Marion]

How much do guides usually run/do you have any recommendations? Id love to get a gator or two for some nice boots or a sick full mount if it was a big one

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[BellR]

As far as guides go, I haven't had any experience on that side of things.  I'm fairly cheap, so we decided to do our own hunts, butcher our own gators, tan our own hides and euro mount our own skull.  If I was looking or a guide, I would post over at http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forumdisplay.php?33-General-Hunting and ask around there.  There are a lot of people involved with gator hunting on there including at least two of the major gear vendors down that way and a few guys that work with FWC on the decision making so they should be able to recommend a good one. 

 

A big part of hunting gators down here is picking the right area.  Some of the county wide tags that you can get it doesn't matter if you have a guide or not, the chances are you wont fill them.  On the other side of things there are the Storm Water Treatment Areas (STA's), where you can easily fill two tags with 8' gators in one night without a guide.  This year, the wife and I are only applying for the STA's since we will have a limited time to hunt.  I might have a friend that would be willing to guide in the STA's, I'll have to ask and see what he says. 

 

For boots, you probably want a pair of gators that are very similar in size, probably the 6'-8' range. 

Edited April 7, 2016 by BellR

[BellR]

Haha, so I did a quick search and that buddy I was talking about... apparently he is interested: https://www.facebook.com/bodiedrakeproductions/

 

Bodie is a good guy and he has gotten some BIG gators.  I'm sure that there are other good outfitters out there, but Bodie would be my personal recommendation just because I know him very well.

[Marion]

Ok, awesome! Thanks again for the info. Its definitely been a trip I've been interested in doing for a while now. And seems relatively reasonable enough to do. Maybe this year or next will be the year

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[EspressoBuzz]

Silly questions. What happens to the gator meat? How much meat does an average gator dress out to? How does one get it back to NY?

Edited April 7, 2016 by EspressoBuzz

[BellR]

Silly questions. What happens to the gator meat? How much meat does an average gator dress out to? How does one get it back to NY?

 

Well, that depends on if you have it butchered or you do it yourself.  A lot of the butchering places basically take your gator and give you approximately how much meat would come off of it, packaged up and ready to go.  There are a few processors who will give you your meat back, but you have to look for them specifically.   

 

On the other hand, we butchered ours the next day in the garage.  It took 4 of us about 2-3 hours to skin it and butcher it up, and if you didn't care about the hide it would go a lot faster.  For a 6' gator we averaged around 40lbs of meat, for a 9' gator it was some where around 100lbs.  This includes all of the scraps and misc cuts that we use for sausage as well as the ribs, jowls, backstrap (jelly roll), tail and legs.

 

Another option some people take is to sell the meat.  If you take your gator to a processor, many will skin it in return for the meat or vice versa.  It all depends on what you want to get out of the hunt.

 

As far as getting it back up, it depends on if you drive or fly.  If you drive, just pack it into a cooler and head home.  If you fly, it is possible to take coolers with dry ice onto planes.  I cant remember if it has to be checked or carry on, but I know you can do it.  We always drive though, so I've never looked into it much.

Edited April 7, 2016 by BellR

[BellR]

Ok, awesome! Thanks again for the info. Its definitely been a trip I've been interested in doing for a while now. And seems relatively reasonable enough to do. Maybe this year or next will be the year

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If anyone draws tags for any of the STA's in time period 1 (during the end of August) and the wife and I don't, I may also be able to help fill them. 

 

More info for anyone interested in the hunts:

http://myfwc.com/license/limited-entry-hunts/general-info/alligator-hunt-permit/

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/harvest/

[BellR]

So, results for phase 1 are in. I whiffed on the lotto but the wife pulled her first choice tags, so we are a go for gator hunting. Anyone else apply?

[BKhunter]

This is a hunt I def will do at some point......Gator meat is GOOD!!!