Leverguns Spring Alligator and Hog Hunt Day One

[86er]

This year's trip had two 'gator hunters and two hog hunters at our Florida location. Unfortunately, my Uncle Frank died so I had to leave after the first day to attend the services. I took Dewey out for a 'gator. He wanted a medium sized 'gator that would provide a taste of meat, a skin for a desktop display and a skull and claws for his kids. After looking over many irrigation ditches and over-run pools we spotted two or three alligators that I estimated to be around 5 footers (about 100 pounds). My favorite way to get a 'gator is to wait until they go to the bottom and the bubbles start coming up. We then cast a one pound treble hook attached with commercial "Gator Wire" line past the critter and reel in until the hook stops. At that point, a heaving tug on the line snags the dinosaur and a fight is on. On this occassion Dewey spent a while hooking trees, grass and lilly pads. After some instruction and finally figuring out the casting method Dewey was ready. We saw a distinct head poking through the weeds and Dewey made a cast. After delicate reeling Dewey snagged his 'gator. After about 10 minutes of wrestling with the pole and reel handle to get the 'gator to surface and turn its head towards us we were ready. In a calculated, orchestrated move Dewey passed the pole to me and picked up the Ruger leveraction 22 Magnum. I tugged the pole to to get the 'gators head to break the surface and turn towards us. When it did, Dewey fired. Definitely anti-climatic, the alligator floated motionless on the end of our line. I through another hook on a line and pulled the 'gator out onto the bank. Another close range brain shot was fired, as is customary to make sure we take the bite out of the 'gator. The critter ended up being a 5' 9" male with very nice coloration. Congratulations Dewey! We then tagged along on a hog hunt for other clients. The dogs did a quick job of tracking one and bringing it to bay. A young man of 12 years old made a close range shot with his Marlin 60 .22RF and the hog flopped down and did a spectacular fish out of water imitation. I missed the next 'gator hunt and today the hog hunt commenced.

[Lobo]

Was that a Marlin lever-action fishing pole he was using?? Couldn't tell from the photo.

[Griff]

Or maybe it'd been used to catch Marlins!

Congrats Dewey! That'll do!

Joe, condolences on yer family's loss. Prayers up.

[J Miller]

Joe,
Sorry to hear about your uncle, my sincerest condolences.

Dewey,
Congrats on the gator, but you shoulda picked a smaller one. That one made you break out in a sweat

Joe,
Could you post a complete pic of the vehicle in these pics. It looks really interesting.

Joe

[madman4570]

Joe,
Sorry to hear about your uncle, my sincerest condolences.

+1

[86er]

The swamp buggy has 6 foot tires and is all wheel drive. Under the carriage hangs two dog boxes. The dogs sound off from underneath when they strike a trail. A handle on top releases the dogs. The boxes are seperate. If a hog is to be speared a pit-bull will be on board. That dog is released only when the hog is bayed. There are additional dog boxes on top. It seats 6-8 in bucket seats. There is a flotation system on the undercarriage in the event that the whole unit gets in water too deep. Stairs are built in to get up to the top. There is a retractable cover to provide shade.

[Skeeziks]

Just a little heads-up for those not aware:
"Many wild hogs in FL carry swine brucellosis - a bacterial disease that also is infectious to people. People handling wild hog carcasses or raw hog meat should avoid eating, drinking or using tobacco when field-dressing or handling carcasses; use rubber or latex gloves when handling the carcass or raw meat; avoid contact with blood, reproductive organs and fecal matter."

That's not the whole warning in the Florida Hunting Regs, but for more info go to MyFWC.com/wildlifedisease

[86er]

A veterinarian comes by to check on the goats that are for market sale at one of the ranches we hunt in Central Florida. He occassionally takes brain tissue sample and a small amount of blood from the hogs that are killed for testing. When he submits a report, the State pays him as a contractor. He's never found anything that was out of the ordinary or infectious to humans in the past 3 years. I think the warning is a general liability statement from the State and something to keep in mind, not fret over. Generically, the statements apply to all swine. Thanks for the warning though - it is interesting that Florida feels compelled to put that in the regulations guide.

[Skeeziks]

- it is interesting that Florida feels compelled to put that in the regulations guide.

Yeah...you're right. That is interesting. I just went back and read it again and it starts right off with "Many wild hogs in FL carry swine...."
Many ??

I guess they're just covering their butts. Take care & good hunting to all.

[kimwcook]

Sorry to hear about your uncle, Joe.

Sounds like a good time for all.

[hatman]

Just a note to thank Joe for putting me in contact with this hunt. I was unable to go on the 16th but did go on Saturday the 17th. Went out on the swamp buggy and located a boar hog at about 300 yards and after a short stalk to within 80 to 100 yards was able to put him down with one shot. Literaly bang, flop. Marlin .375 Win. with 235 gr. cast bullet.
Hog was over 250 lbs and had tusks of 1.8 inches. A little bigger and I would have been paying fo a trophy hog instead of a meat hog.

Great hunt..great people. You should give it a try.

Thanks again Joe.

Gene

[rjohns94]

sorry for your loss Joe. prayers up for sure

congrats Dewey.