Public Land Florida Alligator Hunting

100% Success | 9 - 12 Foot Gators

The Hunt

The Great thing about alligator hunting is the diversity. In Florida, you can hunt day or night with a variety of weapons. If you chose to use a rifle, crossbow, harpoon, or archery, these prehistoric monsters always make it a challenge! whether you hunt day or night and regardless of your weapon choice you will enjoy an adventure of a lifetime!

“We had an absolutely amazing alligator hunting experience with this crew! We started with a delicious home cooked dinner with Charles and his family & friends. Our nieces stayed at the lodge (which is a hunter’s paradise) with the family while my wife, brother, and I went out for a gator hunt on Lake George. My wife harvested her first gator within 30 minutes of being on the water. Within four hours, we had her tags filled with a 9’ and an 11’6’ dinosaur! I’m not sure who was more excited when we locked into the 11 footer, our captain/guide R.T. or us! We have hunted gators for years but, nothing compared to this experience. The custom gator boat is awesome, the guides are awesome, the lodge is awesome & the hunt was awesome! We left the next morning after a delicious breakfast with an amazing story and lifelong friendships. Thank you! You are truly top notch!” - Matthew T.

Hunt Day or Night!

Day Hunts

If you are a first-time alligator hunter a day hunt may be a good option. The thrill of seeing alligators in the light of day is something all first-time hunters should experience. Day hunts are a little less intense as well. You will scan the Florida swamps by boat and when a gator is spotted we will attempt to snag it – that’s when the fight begins. Once the gator is snagged you will have the opportunity to harvest it with your weapon of choice. Rifle hunts allow for longer shots, 25 to 30 yards, and archery, spear or other methods require getting a little closer.

Rifle Hunts

Rifle gator hunts are only available on private land day hunts. This is a great option as rifles allow the hunter the opportunity for longer kill shots. Many hunters will choose to bring multiple weapons on the hunt, the way a hunt unfolds may dictate which weapon is used in the kill shot on the alligator. When you contact us about planning your hunt we will answer questions and give the advice to help you choose the best weapon options to make your Florida gator hunt exciting and successful!

Bow Hunting Alligators

As with any hunt, an archery hunt is much more challenging for Florida alligators than some of the other weapon options. Bowhunters will need to be experienced to be successful with this hunt. Shot distances are usually pretty short with archery hunts but a clean shot is necessary whether it’s a night or day alligator hunt. A 60 lb. draw is sufficient and you will need a fishing rig attachment. We recommend practicing precise short shots prior to your hunt.

Multi-Night Hunt Includes:

• 1 Person 2-Days/2-Nights
• Meals & Lodging
• All Equipment & Tag
• Average size 8-10 ft
• Additoinal “Giant” or “Monster” Fee for gators up to 11’7”

Not Included:

• Meat Processing
• Taxidermy

Base Price is per hunter for a 2-Day/2-Night Alligator hunt for up to 9’11” Gator. Add on a Non-Hunter for an additional fee. Add on a Giant Gator (10’-10’11”) a Monster Gator (11’-11’11”), or Even Larger (12”+) for an additional fee. Add on a meat hog hunt for an additional fee per hog.

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR FACTS

Florida Alligator Size

Although male alligators in Florida can become quite large, female alligators rarely exceed 10 feet in length. The Florida state record for a gator is a 14 foot 3-1/2 inch male alligator from Lake Washington and the Florida weight record for an alligator is 1,043 pounds. Our alligator hunts will probably not produce trophy gators of this size, but you never know!

Gator EYE-SHINE

The most exciting gator hunts we offer are night hunts, which is partially due to what is known as alligator eye shine. The distinctive eye shine of an alligator is caused by a layer of cells called the tapetum lucidum. The layer is situated behind the photoreceptor cells in the retina and reflects light back, which increases the amount of light the alligator eye can detect. This dramatically improves an alligator's vision in low-light conditions, which is why gators are more active at night. There’s nothing like spotting the ghostly eye-shine from a gator in the moonlight – that’s when the hunt begins!

THERMOREGULATION

Alligators are cold-blooded and they need external sources, heat & cold, to regulate their body temperature. Florida alligators may maintain their body temperature by moving to warm or cool water areas or basking in the sun on a clear day. In Florida, Alligators become more active at times when temps are 82° to 92°F. Florida alligators often stop eating when temperatures drop below 70° F and they become somewhat sluggish when temps drop below 55° F. During the winter months in Florida, alligators are mostly dormant and can be found in dens or “alligator holes” but they will emerge at times to bask in the sun.