Florida Gator Hunt

[520 Road Sow]

Ok guys, i'm shooting from the hip a little on this one. With minimal research I am finding some mixed reviews on Florida gator hunting in the greater Orlando area. I found out I am going to a conference the end of January and wondering if this is something I can partake in while i'm there. So my questions are.

1. Is the season open or are gators open year round.
2. Should I need an outfitter, I obviously don't know many or any locals so that's probably a yeah.
3. Meat and hide
4. Do I really need 2 or 3 days guided to get it done
4. I'll take all the knowledge and schooling I can get on this.

Apologize for the shooting from the hip but I am a little excited.

Thanks, jonas

 

[406LIFE]

1. Depredation hunts are common and year round, last I knew.
2. I don't have a recommendation for Orlando, but could find one from my guy in Panama City.
3. I got mine tanned down there, in a rug, and shipped back. Plan on $100/ft.
4. Depends on what you want. Just a gator, prob not. Want something over 9ft, may take a few days.
5. I had a great time, guided on mine. Did it with a bowfishing rig. For a Montana boy, was a awesome experience. I kept all the meat I could, loved it. Be prepared to spend some cash.

 

[520 Road Sow]

Thank you kindly @406LIFE for the info it's much appreciated and gives me some things to consider. I do agree with you on the meat it is very good I thought as well thanks again.

 

[KipCarson]

My brother and a friend went a few years ago, I don’t know all the details but I do know that they were allowed to kill a couple each. I thing the regular season is something like August through Nov or Dec so hopefully 406life is right about the depredation tags being available year round. Good luck!

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

I looked into it a little when I went to Florida this summer. The cost for a nonresident permit stopped me from looking seriously. But I am not use to paying nonresident fees for hunting. Or would it be fishing?

 

[LopeHunter]

I applied for the public land alligator tag (you get two harvest permits, if drawn). You may be limited to a private land hunt that time of year.

The public dates ran through the summer for a couple of weeks each. If you do not fill your tags then there is a month or so at end of summer where you can hunt again. I hired a guide with crossbow and gear plus he had the boat with the fan on the back and filled both tags the first night I hunted. Was Labor Day weekend. Never saw so many bugs. Millions of bugs swarming any light. In your ears, eyes, nose. Every time hit the spotlights the bugs swarmed. We could see hundreds of alligator eyes within 1/4 miles of the boat in any direction. Was stagnant water so the smell was of decaying plants. The gators smelled like rotten fish. Once was enough hunting those dinosaurs. Memorable but no desire to go again.

 

[Stay Sharp]

I went in Feb. Of this year. I used Central Florida Trophy hunts. (Year round)

Central Florida Trophy Hunts - Central Florida Trophy Hunts

Alligator Hunts We offer year round private land trophy hunts and seasonal public water hunts with your tags or ours. Wild Boar Hunts Captain Padrick's ...

www.gatorhuntingequipment.com

I got an 11 footer.

I was very pleased with them. Top shelf operation. He works with farmers and their DNR (or whatever they call it in Florida) and he is licensed to go after gator overpopulations for the ag farmers. I never stepped foot on a boat. It was all free range, fair chase, no fence, wild gators on foot, spot and stalk in irrigation canals. I only hunt with a bow but he offer firearms hunts too. You have to buy a trappers agent tag.

The meat is great (Im still enjoying it) Euro mount for the skull and a garment tanned hide.

If using a gun, one day is enough, if using a bow, 2 is enough.

I can share the hunt video with you via pm as I cant post it here due to the rules since my YouTube channel is my bowhunting business channel. Im happy to answer any questions you have.

From my field notes/journal

"I hunted with Grayson, late February, 2019. After I use an outfitter/guide, I ask myself 2 questions, 1. Would I return and hunt with them again and 2. Would I recommend them to family and friends. The answer to both questions is absolutely YES! Every aspect of the experience was top shelf. Central Florida Trophy Hunts is a full service guide/outfitter that also carries all the needed gear to outfit your hunt if you don’t already have everything you need. They offer more than just alligator hunts (both private land free range and water hunts with your tags or theirs) They also offer Wild Boar and turkey hunts as well as other adventures.

Aside from the hunt, they take care of processing the animal so you can take the meat (He is a licensed gator processor for the state) as well as taking care of all the taxidermy, mounts, tanning, etc. It’s a full service, friendly and expert service that exceeded my expectations."

 

[KayakMacGyver]

Our Public opportunity season runs from the 2nd week in August until the first of November, typically. 2 tags for a NR are gonna run you $1,022. Now, you can party hunt gators in Florida so all someone else needs to participate in the hunt is a $60 trapping agent permit. So, you could effectively split those 2 tags with someone else.

Given your timing, guided depredation permit will be the way to go. I've never hunted with CFTH, as I get my own tags as a resident each year, but have purchased plenty of equipment from grayson. He is a good dude and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to him. In short, I think that's going to be your most cost effective solution and allow you to get it done pretty quick.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions about the process.

 

[midwesthunter]

I have only hunted public land, never done the private land tag, different rules for weapons. I have talked to a ton of guys who have guided on private and weren't happy with the experience. Make sure you do a lot of research on the outfitter you chose to go with, some aren't even your outfitter, they are more of a broker.

Good luck with the hunt.

 

[Stay Sharp]

Just today I got a call from Central Florida Trophy hunts that they are shipping my tanned gator hide.

 

[bushman13]

Another recommendation for my buddy Seth. I've never used them but I have known them since HS. They are out of Orlando. Florida crackers, good folks.

Switchgrass Outfitters & Airboat tours | (321) 900-2494

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