5 year-old Goodrich boy bags 800lb alligator (Houston, Bowie: taxi, legal, metropolitan)

[Zhang Fei]

Yet another Texas-sized news story:

There are hunters who go a lifetime dreaming of that big kill. Then there's Simon Hughes, who helped nab a beast of an animal on an East Texas hunt — while still in the first grade. The 5-year-old boy from Goodrich was part of a hunting crew that recently killed an 800-pound, 12-foot-6-inch alligator that has wildlife experts shaking their heads.

The reptile, whose size is at a state record level, is now at the taxidermist waiting to be mounted. Simon's family, meanwhile, is fielding calls from CNN and Good Morning America to feature his exploits.

How many Houston forum participants have gone hunting? What have been your experiences?

[Oildog]

I have not hunted gator...as I've heard its really kind of a cow shoot. Hang rotten chicken from grappling hooks, then the gator bites and gets hooked. When you come back, you shoot it. Ho Hum.

[DrLizardo]

Originally Posted by Oildog

I have not hunted gator...as I've heard its really kind of a cow shoot. Hang rotten chicken from grappling hooks, then the gator bites and gets hooked. When you come back, you shoot it. Ho Hum.

There are more exciting ways to hunt gators, although probably not legal in Texas. A former co-worker was a deputy sheriff in South Georgia and his boss, the high sheriff, used to take him alligator hunting. It was at night, and they would go out into the swamp in a small boat looking for nests. The sheriff would jump out of the boat and wade off up a trail towards the nest to catch the gator at home.

I asked my friend what his role was and he said, "Well, mostly I helped get the gator in the boat when he came back and then skin and process the meat later." When I asked him what he would do if his boss ever got into trouble he said. "I reckon I'd take that boat back and go find his wife and tell her she was a widow. 'Cause I wasn't crazy enough to jump out of the boat in a swamp in the middle of the night. Especially not going up against a gator that had already won the first fight."

[EasilyAmused]

I see no point in gator hunting. I agree, It's like shooting a cow...or catching a Bass...... <running>

[gaduchman]

Gator, much like pig hunts, are basically canned. Most gators are killed with .22 rifles. For a real hunt you wanna go after a gator with a Bowie knife - and I guarantee that will be a challenge!

[Thaskateguy]

darn, I thought is was going to be a story about using the Kid for bait. Oh well, maybe next time. ---I got a couple of gator stories, but my eyes are gettin tired, and they'll have to wait.

[Zhang Fei]

Originally Posted by Thaskateguy

darn, I thought is was going to be a story about using the Kid for bait. Oh well, maybe next time. ---I got a couple of gator stories, but my eyes are gettin tired, and they'll have to wait.

Do tell...

[Thaskateguy]

I'll make it quick. Three of us from work are Goose huntin on Oyster creek, near the bay. We got this little John Boat. We have this guy from buffalo NY with us, so are giving him the works about Big gators. "Man we got gators eight feet long" ---when around the bend, and up on a rise on the bank, we see one that had to be 10 to 12 feet at least. Man, the joke was on us. Be beat tracks right on out of there.