Just another day in Polk County.
Texas Game Warden, David Johnson deals with a stubborn massive gator... - YouTube (https://youtu.be/PqvTiRG4_n0)
Hitch him up, I got him rode down.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10007/gater.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1556887744)
Where is Jr. Edwards when you need him? He loads them bigger than that by himself on swamp people every Thursday night. And that looks like the kind of help I get - 50 people standing around watching one guy try to pull a 500 lb gator on a strap. You can't tell me if 2-3 others had joined in they could not have dragged that critter off the road in 20 seconds or less.
I watched Swamp People last night and was impressed with Frenchy's set of rollers he built to drag gators into his boat. I may have to build one like that as catfishing season is just around the corner and I may need one for these big old WV flathead catfish.
Thanks for posting.
We get a few good sized gators in Polk County, Fl. as well. Some cooperate and some do not. I caught one that was in my garage several years ago.
From a few years ago.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22883/image~92.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1465400482)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22883/image~313.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1491919521)
That wildlife officer had a lot of potential helpers but at least they provided a good audience. Those gators do get around this time of year. My neighbors had a 13' in their front yard a few years ago in late spring. When I have time, I like to walk through the swamp near my house looking for baby gators in the flag ponds.
Years ago I went to DisneyWorld with my mother and daughter. I was hoping to see some gators traveling around town, to/from the parks. I was watching the *many* stormwater ponds like a hawk, but didn't see a single one while I was there. The many armadillos helped make up for it though. Kinda cool seeing those. We don't have 'em up here.
I came across a huge one many years ago in Sabine Pass Texas. His head was about two foot over the side of the road and his tail about two foot over the yellow stripe in the middle of the road. Since I was almost to the rig we had stacked just up the road I figured I'd lasso him and drag him to the rig so we could eat it. Got out of my truck and got a chain from the back. When I got up close it opened its mouth and hissed. There was about 40 acres of teeth. I decided then it was his road and I would wait until he was ready to move over. :D
@LeeB (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=46) ,
You don't have a lot of Cajun ancestors do you? :D
Lots of cajun friends but no kin. My maternal grandmother did tell off coming to Texas from Louisiana in a covered wagon but I believe they came via North Louisiana.