The Fed Ex truck just dropped off my Gator hide

[Stay Sharp]

I took this 11 footer with a bow in Feb of this year. The hornback tanned hide was just dropped off.

suede underside.

 

[BlakeA]

Was this by boat or off shore?

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

What do you do with top part of the head?

 

[Stay Sharp]

Was this by boat or off shore?

spot and stalk. I never stepped foot in a boat. I was on an crop farm (Potatoes and corn and beans) and the farmer had the authority to remove 80 gators from his irrigation canals. I booked with Central Florida Trophy hunts. I got a trappers agent permit and bowhunted with Grayson and the farm manager.

 

[Stay Sharp]

What do you do with top part of the head?

I dont understand the question. I have a euro mount of the skull.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

I dont understand the question. I have a euro mount of the skull.

It looks like the skin from the top part of the head/upper jaw is missing from the rest of the skin, unless I am just not seeing it? I see the skin from the bottom jaw.

 

[Stay Sharp]

Thats how it came to me. I dont know the answer.

 

[Stay Sharp]

The video of taking the gator.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Huh, still cool though!

 

[Pucky Freak]

Nice hide! Very cool

 

[sbhooper]

Boots, or get some leggings made to cover up those Wisconsin legs, for the next stalk!

 

[JFish]

Wow that photo of you next to it really puts into perspective how big that gator is. What do you plan to do with the hide? It will make a very cool decoration

 

[Stay Sharp]

Wow that photo of you next to it really puts into perspective how big that gator is. What do you plan to do with the hide? It will make a very cool decoration

Im thinking a portion of it goes in the plaque Im making for the skull/euro mount and some of it to make myself a pair of leather chopper mitts with the gator as the back of the hand and tanned elk for the thumb and palm. I might get around to making them this winter. The rest will be made into something I dont know that I need yet.

 

[JFish]

Those will be some great looking mits!

 

[BlakeA]

spot and stalk. I never stepped foot in a boat. I was on an crop farm (Potatoes and corn and beans) and the farmer had the authority to remove 80 gators from his irrigation canals. I booked with Central Florida Trophy hunts. I got a trappers agent permit and bowhunted with Grayson and the farm manager.

Spot and stalk? So do you wade through the water or do you shoot from shoreline?

 

[OzzyDave]

What do you do with top part of the head?

On crocodile or alligator, the top of head can’t be skinned like normal animals. The skin is very thin here and full or sensors. The cleaned skulls look cool on the top side, with thousands of pits in the bone.

Nice tanning job on that one Stay Sharp and double thumbs up for spot and stalk.

 

[Stay Sharp]

Spot and stalk? So do you wade through the water or do you shoot from shoreline?

From the shore. The only time I got my feet wet was during the 2nd arrow and using the bang stick.

 

[wytex]

Who did the tanning?
And congrats, I had some experiences with gators in college but hunting them wasn't an option back then. However, a small one may have ended up in the Ag pond at college.
Did you utilize any calling at all or just spots and stalk only? The red glowing eyes are a sight to see at night on the water.
Euros are really cool for the gators!

 

[thusby]

I got some hides done by American tanning and leather. No sure if that's who you used but they did a great job. I promised some leather goods to people but then I couldn't bring myself to cut up the hide. You might have the same problem.

 

[Stay Sharp]

Spot and stalk? So do you wade through the water or do you shoot from shoreline?

I’m not sure who did the tanning. I left it with the outfitter who had a tannery. Yes we did uses calling but mostly spot and stalk after glassing.