Another Big Gator from My Home State

[Dr. Cheese]

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/...s+trophy+hunt/

13 ft. long and 1,000 lbs.! I never saw a gator that big when I was coming up! I understand why they have an alligator hunt, but I hate to see an old bull like that die.

[Dr. Cheese]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Moultrie

The gator was caught in Lake Moutrie, down in the Low Country. I see in Wikipedia that another alligator ripped off a man arm there back in 2007. The same thing happened at Hilton Head last year, I think. I don't know why anyone would swim in a freshwater lake in the Midlands or Low Country of South Carolina!

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I don't know why anyone would swim in a freshwater lake in the Midlands or Low Country of South Carolina!

For the leeches.

[JAUQO III-X]

I think they should have left him alone.

Here is a video with the victim on display.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tgya...layer_embedded

[Relic]

Sad, really. I mean I really HATE to read stories about people getting their arms bitten off or kids being eaten and such, but the thing is that a gator is a gator is a gator... They just do what they do, and have been doing for millions of years. It's people who should really know better.
Oh well

[Skitch it!]

In a fair fight, he'd have won, what's she doing killing it anyway, self serving egotistical short@ss!

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I don't know why anyone would swim in a freshwater lake in the Midlands or Low Country of South Carolina!

You get used to the risk, like anything.

I used to surf in some of the sharkiest waters in the world a couple of times a week, I never got bitten, but I have several friends who have been and know someone who was killed. People on holidays would ask "Aren't you worries about the sharks?", and i'd just tell them you get used to it.

I know people who live in northern Australia who get in the water with what is considered to be the most venemous creature on the planet, the box jellyfish. Sure, the touch of a tentacle will leave you dead in minutes, but people don't get stung that often.. I personally think they are insane, there is no way i'd get in the water

[MatticusMania]

^^^ I like your sentiments.

Are these gators being found in places known to the public as swimming holes? Or are they in territory where most humans don't frequent? I'd agree with you guys that these gators should most likely be let alone to live their natural lives, but then there is the whole concern for public safety aspect to it as well.

Where I live Mountain Lions can be a big problem for people who like to hike the Canyons and whatnot. They always have signs posted like 'Warning: Mountain Lions Habitate Here' etc. Do they have gator warning signs posted in these places?

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Where I live Mountain Lions can be a big problem for people who like to hike the Canyons and whatnot. They always have signs posted like 'Warning: Mountain Lions Habitate Here' etc. Do they have gator warning signs posted in these places?

I have a picture somewhere from near my friends house up in crocodile territory.

At the beach this is a big fenced kids playground, about 6 foot high and it looks like it goes a reasonable length underground. It has a giant sign on the front that says something along the lines of "Warning, Crocodiles inhabit this area, do not leave children unattended outside of play area".

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

^^^ I like your sentiments.

Are these gators being found in places known to the public as swimming holes? Or are they in territory where most humans don't frequent? I'd agree with you guys that these gators should most likely be let alone to live their natural lives, but then there is the whole concern for public safety aspect to it as well.

Where I live Mountain Lions can be a big problem for people who like to hike the Canyons and whatnot. They always have signs posted like 'Warning: Mountain Lions Habitate Here' etc. Do they have gator warning signs posted in these places?

Alligators do turn up in swimming pools sometimes, but SC does not have a huge problem with alligator attacks on people. Alligator hunting started mainly to control the population which has really gotten large over the last thirty or forty years. Alligator hunting season ends around October 1, and by November, they will be brumating since it pretty cool by then most the time. The gators will come back out by the end of March or April.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Do they have gator warning signs posted in these places?

Well, here is SELA, there aren't signs posted, you just know that if there a body of water large enough to house one, it's probably in there. Even so, a kid lost his arm here a few years back to an alligator known to be in the water (the locals had named it).

Mike

[acubass]

I grew up on lake Marion and Moultrie in SC, no problems swimming on the big water and inhabited areas. I would do much swimming up in the coves, especially around the Eutawville area. But have on many occasions.

[tom once dead]

Originally Posted by Simo98

You get used to the risk, like anything.

I used to surf in some of the sharkiest waters in the world a couple of times a week, I never got bitten, but I have several friends who have been and know someone who was killed. People on holidays would ask "Aren't you worries about the sharks?", and i'd just tell them you get used to it.

I know people who live in northern Australia who get in the water with what is considered to be the most venemous creature on the planet, the box jellyfish. Sure, the touch of a tentacle will leave you dead in minutes, but people don't get stung that often.. I personally think they are insane, there is no way i'd get in the water

I've been stung by many a jelly fish, you get used to it. The only bad one was when I got stung by an Iracongi, now THAT was painful. There is a river right near my house where there are salt water crocs, I used to swim there when I was younger.

[MIJ-VI]

"I enjoy nature and animals a great deal and I understand why there is a reason for hunting," Mara-Christian told the Boston Herald. "I hunt because I want these creatures to be here forever."

Well... As long as she eats it...

[tom once dead]

I wonder what they plan on doing with the carcass.

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by tom once dead

I wonder what they plan on doing with the carcass.

You could make a really nice Bass strap, probably matching boots and a belt too!

[tom once dead]

I'd say a suit jacket and pants, maybe even a vest.

[Phalex]

I love the title of the video! I'm not sure how it works with amphibious reptiles, but when I take my rifle out to the woods to go hunting the objective is not to "Catch" anything.

I do hope that they use more than just the hide though. I bet 1000# alligator would fill a chest freezer pretty good.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I love the title of the video! I'm not sure how it works with amphibious reptiles, but when I take my rifle out to the woods to go hunting the objective is not to "Catch" anything.

I do hope that they use more than just the hide though. I bet 1000# alligator would fill a chest freezer pretty good.

I don't know about SC, but around here the meat is used quite a bit.

Mike

[bassrique]

Considering that it gets pretty cold in S.C. in the Winter, I've always been curious how they survive.