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Gator Bites
Took a little buddy of mine and his dad hunting last night and JR got his first ever Gator, 6' 4" and I got a 10' 4" my personal best. The big gator was a group effort and took about an hour and a half to get him in.
Now to keep it on topic tomorrow KayNOcook and I will be grinding the meat into Italian, Breakfast Sausage and some small pieces for the grill.
Thanks for looking,
Jupiter Jim
I'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
Comments
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Really looking forward to some of that Jim. Nice snag on the big one, airboat?
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That's awesome. I've put in for a gator tag for a few years in Georgia but never seem to be lucky enough to get drawn.
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Morning Jim:
Good hunting...looking forward to sausage in a couple weeks!Have a GREAT day!
Jay
Brandon, FL
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Ah, I've been waiting for this post!! Great hunting!!Molly
Colorado Springs
"Loney Queen"
"Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it."
Bill Bradley; American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, former U.S. Senator from New Jersey
LBGE, MBGE, SBGE , MiniBGE and a Mini Mini BGE -
No airboat, hook and line 150# braid. Before it was all over we had two lines and one harpoon in him before the old bang stick and Mr. 44 mag gave hime a kiss. A real nice catch. I'm very proud of JR he is 14 and did a great job catching his.
JJI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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If you want to come to FL I can get you connected with my guide he still has 4 tags to fill and he is very reasonable to hire. Probably only charge you the cost of the tag and for cleaning the Gator.
He’s my nephew.
JJI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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Hi Jay,
It will not be Hot Sausage.
JJI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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And if you plan it right you can hit the mini fest :woohoo:
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Molly,
Glad ya enjoyed the pictures, I will post some of the sausage making tomorrow.
JJI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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Gosh Jim.....what a piece.....your little buddy looks happy.... :ohmy: :laugh:
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How long is the season down there? My September and October are pretty full right now, but November is pretty open.
If it doesn't work out I will do it next year for sure. That's one of the beasts on my hunting bucket list. I was planning to go for pronghorn next year, but if I have a good shot at a gator tag I'd jump all over it.
I have a hunting buddy that would likely join me, so we could fill 2 tags if he'd let us. -
Congrats on the hunt JJ, I'm going to sleep a whole lot better knowing there are two fewer gators out there.
I may have to try gator again. I have had it once and it didn't impress me any more then frogs legs which convinced me that chicken was a lot easier and cheaper.
Blair
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Jim - Nice hunt!! Have you ever tried gator ceviche?? Totally amazing!! I will make some for you if you would like at mini fest. Just save (and wording this carefully...lol) a piece of the tail and freeze, don't grind. Just making the offer, and looking forward to some of your wonderful gator products at the fest!!
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Well done!! That is a nice pair of boots you bagged!! :laugh: You said this was your personal best. How many have you bagged in the past? Also wondered do gators get tough as they get biger?
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Awesome catch there Jim, looking forward for some sasauge. That is great for JR, his first, he will remember that the rest of his life. Just the begining for him.
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Really great pics and story - thanks for sharing! Do you have "alligator crossing" signs down there? We were just talking about "moose crossing" signs up here yesterday! :laugh:
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Hi Beli,
J R was very happy and he got both skulls to make into a skull mount. We take the heads and bury them in the ground for about 4 to 5 months dig them up, rinse with water, soak in bleach and then let them dry in the sun for a few days. He helped us clean them as well and did a great job with that too. The only parts of the gator we don't use are the bones, the hides get tanned into leather, and we eat the meat.
Jupiter JimI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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Blair,
You should sleep better; last weekend my nephew (Brian) cleaned 20 gators and yesterday another 10. The biggest this year 10' 8' and Brian helped his boss get that one.
Brian is a part time Guide and then cleans gators for other hunters, every year I spend a day helping him clean them as well.
Jupiter JimI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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LC you made a funny!
I know what part of the tail is for eating. :laugh:
I will keep a nice piece of the tail and YES let's do that at the FEST.
Thanks, Jupiter JimI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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Wow Jim!! very nice!! We can not wait for samples
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Hi JL,
I have taken 6 Gators, but have helped my nephew for the last 6 years and we have taken dozens over the years. My last personal best was 10' 0" and that one I got on Lake Okeechobee in an air boat and 45 minutes later Brian got a 12' monster, made mine look like 6' gator. I was very happy for him but a little bummed about mine.
Jupiter JimI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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I will check with Brian and get back to you.
Jupiter JimI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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It's amazing how the gators have come back from the low numbers like some of the birds have. Most of the other reptiles and amphibians are in short supply around here if you don't count the Brown Anole's, they are every where. Tree frog populations are way down, even the Cuban Tree frogs are pretty scarce. After a heavy rain I hear a Fowler's Toad, a few Eastern Narrowmouthed Toads and maybe a Greenhouse Frog but thats about it. I can only wonder if our efficiency at controlling the Mosquitoes has something to do with it, we don't see the great numbers of them either.
Blair
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Hi Mike,
Yes he will, funny thing is we did not get him an agents licensee because he is 14 and we thought that you had to be 16 before you need a licensee. So when the fish and Game officer stopped and asked how we were doing J R with all the excitement of a happy and proud young hunter said GREAT I got my first Gator!! the officers reply was where is your paper work?, OOPS so on his first hunt he go at warning ticket. No big deal just a warning but we did tease him about being a criminal.
I also fell out of the john boat with a Gator on the hook, I think I got back in faster then I fell out, what a great hunt.
JJI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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Julia,
Glad you enjoyed the pictures, no we don't but should have some signs on the way out hunting Friday night I saw a dead one on the road it was only about 3' long.
JJI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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Hi Julie,
Yes we will have plenty for all, I will end up with 75-100 # of meat. Kay and I are looking forward to seeing you and Neil at the Mini Fest. Where is the counter? :ohmy:
JJI'm only hungry when I'm awake!
Okeechobee FL. Winter
West Jefferson NC Summer
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Pretty cool JJ. Could make a bunch of gator sauce picaunt with that bruiser.
Do you do anything with the skin? -
LC - I've been wanting to make ceviche for a while, but am a bit timid. Can you post a recipe for how you prepare it please (not necessarily for gator, more traditional)?
Thanks! -
Jim,
Great Pics! Congrats!!!
I applied for the first season Florida opened the gator population back up to hunting (what was that, 1991?), but never got a tag (lived in Tampa at the time).
So, my question, is what will you do with the hide? I am assuming the processor will sell it for you, but interested if you are going to cure or do somethign with it yourself.
Great Pics!!!!
Dave in Keller, Texas
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