1. Using a rifle in the FLA gator harvest is a commercial method. The regular hunter typically uses a bangstick/harpoon or less common wooden peg/dowel technique.. LA has different rules, IIRC.
2. 7 foot is hardly worth the work, I've seen bigger iguana's in the Keys.
Never had a rifle when I hunted 'em. IIRC, firearms were not supposed to be in the skiff. And yes, the FLA wildlife officers check tags, arms, permits, etc while you're out there.
Laz, Let’s hear your take on this.
Clearly the ATF should become the Bureau of Alligators, Tobacco and Firearms. The Alligator division should be well funded to give grants to academics to study the impact of alligator farts on global warming... and the endangered species threats of a global warming that puts Florida and Louisiana under 100 feet of sea water. Clearly we need massive funding to find out what we do not know. We need funding that teaches school children that alligators are their friend. We need alligator awareness training.
We need to ban athletic teams that use derisive phrases like GATOR to de-humanize alligators.
I would like to have a beer with Mr. Troy or Ms. Liz. Different way of life from most of M’erica, but they are a unique individuals. Dated a full Cajun woman for a while. Interesting family, especially for a white Yankee transplant.
I could see using a .40 or .45, but if you shoot in the head, .22 wouldn’t damage the skull if you were keeping it. If however you were shooting for the Cajun “chicken” meat and hide and didn’t care about the skull, then a .45 means he won’t keep swimming after you shoot him.
Back in the 1960s people were bawling about how gators were being wiped out. They were even on the endangered species list. Now they are everywhere.
Is the 7.62x53R the little brother to the 7.62x54R?