Ever run into alligators when hunting? I’m a northeastener and but am not fond of the darn things. Had to ask.
Thanks.
I haven’t hunted there, but I have heard and read that yes, they do encounter alligators.
I don’t hunt but do trail ride. Yes anytime you pass a lake there are usually gators lying on the banks.
There are normally timid (normally) so you just go your way and they go theirs.
Been hunting in North Florida for 25 years…never seen one on a bank. To my knowledge our hunt has never lost a hound to one…have seen a few in the lakes swimming, but trying not to be seen.
Oh Yes
I’m a fieldmaster with Misty Morning Hounds, and yes we have encountered gators while hunting.
We got the hounds out of there fast!
Have jumped one on a trail,near the St. Mary’s river years ago.
Galloping on a trail ,no way to stop,neither horse nor gator seemed the least bit concerned.
We trail ride in quite a few state parks,yes there are many gators near the swampy river areas.They tend to just slid down into the river as you come up on them.
Never heard of any problems hunting though.
I have lived in FL my entire life, and although I have no “real” experience hunting (just a couple of hunter paces) I will note that we have found gators in our barn ponds from time to time! They really are pretty shy and generally will not harm you unless you come upon a big momma gator on her nest.
I’m in south GA not too far from FL. We have gators in the ponds and swampy areas around the farm. We see them fairly often when out riding, but they do generally head for water when we get near. I suspect a lone (quiet) hound might be at risk if it happened on a large gator, but doubt several hounds together would - especially if they were making any noise.
We have one on our property, pretty much keeps to himself. Have seen them out trailriding very rarely, never had one be aggressive. Biggest concern is keeping the JRT away. They scare me much more when you run into one on a golf course, much rather be on a horse than walking down a fairway and run into one which happens a lot since most golf courses have lots of water.
I hunted many years with South Creek (formerly Two Rivers) and although we would see a gator on occasion, there were never any run ins that I could recall that related directly to the hunt. Most just keep to themselves.
There was a gator in a pond in the field where we parked the trailers for the hunts and it did get one lady’s jack russell but a lone jack russell is a lot more “gator snack sized” than a pack of full sized hounds.
From what I’ve heard, there are lots of alligators that you may run into on a hunt down south, especially in Florida.
gators
Gators at one time were extensively hunted and had a healthy fear of people. Now they are no longer hunted, the population of gators has grown along with the huge increase in the human population in Florida. They are no longer so shy and even in the old days a favorite meal was a dog or cat. They love dogs and can leap out of the water and quickly grab your pet. A gator can run as fast as a horse for a short distance up to 40MPH.
So be careful with your dogs, keep them away from any water either ponds or rivers. Gators will sun themselves on the banks of ponds and rivers or even in on a nice dirt road. They love to sun bathe.
I 'll never forget coming downstairs to investigate the source of the load banging on my door. A large male gator was standing and throwing himself against the sliding glass doors on the patio. I think he saw his reflection in the glass and thought it was a rival. He was at least 10 feet long, huge, angry and beautiful. Luckily when I drew the drapes he lost interest and left. The house was 500-feet from a small lake. I used to lay on the bank and sun bathe but never again after meeting my large neighbor!
that kind of behavior was due a lot more people in neighborhoods with lakes (you know, all of them) thinking that it was OK to feed the gators. Never really a good idea to feed gators or bears, you know? (Duh). Back in the early 80’s (before they reinstated gator hunting permits IIRC) we used to always run into gators sunning along the canals banks that we all rode alongside and they were not at all interested in something as large as a horse/rider (of course we also used to see manatees in the big canals - things have changed).
I lived in Tampa and though I didn’t hunt, I’d see gators occasionally while out on my hacks. I don’t think my horse even knew they were there b/c they’d quietly slide into the water or I’d see them swimming in the ponds or rivers minding their own business.
I’d often take my dog with me when I’d hack and I was adamant that she stay close to me and not venture into the water, as I was paranoid about her getting snatched.
