184 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



Alligator Hunting 



'Gator hunting is carried on in this state from the first 

 of March to the first of October. Two methods are in vogue : 

 "shining" at night with a carbide lamp, or by "poling" in 

 the day time. In shining, the hunter or hunters paddle 

 along some bayou or other stream, throwing the beam of 

 their powerful light from one bank to the other until the 

 eyes of an unsuspecting 'gator reflect the rays. A shotgun, 

 at short close range, kills the reptile, which is seized before 

 it can sink out of sight in the water and is either dragged 

 on board or on the nearby bank to be skinned by morning. 



Poling is pursued in the daylight hours. Anyone can 

 shoot a 'gator at night, but it is not every one who can pole 

 one. A pole, about seven or eight feet in length, of two- 

 inch dressed pine with an iron hook at one end is used. An 

 alligator hole is found and the hunter proceeds to "feel" 

 for the 'gator by sounding the ground around the hole to 

 locate the cave. If "felt" the hunter leaves the hole a 

 short distance and calls the reptile by imitating its sucking 

 cry of "umph, umph, umph." As a rule, the 'gator re- 

 sponds and crawls out of the hole ; if it is the size wanted, 

 the hunter, with a well-aimed throw of his hand axe, stuns 

 the 'gator and with additional licks finishes it. If the first 

 blow fails, and the gator retreats to his cave, it cannot be 

 coaxed out again, so the hunter must dig into the cave 

 from the back and vigorously prod the 'gator until it seizes 

 the hook in its mouth and the 'gator is pulled out by main 

 strength, which is usually considerable of an undertaking 

 if the reptile is at all large. 



It is sr.id by experienced alligator hunters that the pole 

 method is the only proper method, as commercialized 

 alligators can be secured in this manner, while in shoot- 

 ing at night all sizes, particularly small ones, of not much 

 commercial value, are killed. Skins from 4 to 8 feet are 

 considered best by the hide buyers and smaller or larger 

 ones were not wanted a few years ago, but today the de- 

 mand appears to be for any size skin a dealer can get. 



