Gator hunting in florida
Hunting season for the Florida Alligator runs from August 15th through November 1st. These hunts are public. Our hunts are conducted in some of the most remote places that “Old Florida” has to offer. Florida is the gator hunting capital of the world! One of the best things about gator hunting is the variety of options you have. You can hunt day or night with weapons of your choice. Weapon choices include: crossbows, bows, fishing rods, snatch hooks, and harpoons. Alligators can live to be over 60 years old, and they have seen every trick in the book, which can make these precarious predators tricky to hunt. Regardless of what you choose to conduct your hunt, it will be an extremely thrilling and adventurous experience!
THE HUNT
On the boat, clients will be taken into the swamps, lakes rivers, and estuaries. We hunt the natural waterways of Old Florida for true wild American alligators, not fenced lakes stocked with farm-raised gators. At night, using flashlights you will scan the waters for reflecting orange glowing eyes. After that you’ll cast out a fishing rod with a large hook to snag the gator to get it close to the boat so you can get a secure harpoon line in the gator. During the day you will try to get in range to use a crossbow, bow or cast a fishing line. Other methods to hone in on gators are following bubble trails or baited lines. Once you have hooked a gator it can take up 2-3 hours of rod bending, tails lashing, boat biting, basically an adrenaline junkie’s dream! The final step being the harvest, I use a Bang Stick to strike the back of the gator’s head. I do not do rifle hunts because it takes away from the true hunting and harvesting experience.
Safety is our priority, and we want to make sure you have an enjoyable hunt. Before we set out on the boat, we will go over all equipment and procedures so you will feel comfortable and confident during the hunt. Our gator hunting trips are appropriate for everyone looking to have a memorable hunt, regardless of age or experience level.
What should I bring on a gator hunt?
-
CITES tags (if you are a tag holder)
-
If you are not a tag holder, you must obtain an Alligator Trapping Agent License. Click below for more info about alligator permits and to purchase your license online.
FL Alligator Hunt Info
Purchase License
-
Lightweight black or camouflage long sleeve shirt and pants
-
Overnight bag with spare clothing and hygiene products
-
There is emergency first aid/injury supplies on the boat, but you will need to bring any required medical supplies (epi pen, meds, etc) because we will be hunting in remote areas.
-
Binoculars for daytime hunts
-
We provide all harvesting equipment, boat, tags (if you are not a tag holder), transport of gator to the processor, two guides/PH’s (professional hunters). For premium hunts we also provide lodging, food, transportation, and GoPro video of hunt
Gator Hunting Prices
PREMIUM GATOR HUNTS
Premium hunts include: two hunters, three hunt days (arriving afternoon, full day, and departing morning) and two nights, lodging and essentials arranged, three meals per day, all necessary equipment (licenses, tags) provided. If needed pick-up and drop-off from either Tampa International Airport or Orlando International Airport. Operated by two professional hunting guides. Full HD videos of hunts recorded (drone and GoPro footage). After hunt, harvests will be sent to processors, taxidermists, and packaged to be sent out to client. If gator harvest tags are filled early (before three days are up) clients will be taken on other accommodated trips or additional gator hunt at discounted price. Options are: Flats Fishing, Bowfishing, Swimming with Manatees, or a Scalloping Trip. For more information on substitute trips follow other links. To view info on lodging/accommodations click here.
Cost for premium hunt package (up to 11 ft gator) two hunters - $4,200.00
Additional Trophy Fees for gators larger than 11 ft:
-
11ft+ - additional $500.00
-
12ft+ - additional $1,500.00
-
13ft+ - additional $5,000.00
PRIORITY GATOR HUNTS
Priority hunts: $700.00 per 12 hour hunting day plus trophy fee depending on size of gator. Includes all equipment, tags and licenses. After hunt harvests will be sent to processors, taxidermists, and handled to be sent to client. If you are looking to harvest a dinosaur, it is recommended to have multiple nights available.
Trophy fees in addition to nightly fee:
-
5’ to 5’11’’ - $800.00
-
6’ to 6’11’’ - $1,300.00
-
7’ to 7’11’’ - $1,500.00
-
8’ to 8’11’’ - $1,800.00
-
9’ to 10’11’’ - $2,800.00
-
11’ to 11’6’’ - $3,700.00
-
11’7’’ to 12’6’’ - $5,000.00
-
12’7’’ to 12’11’’ - $6,500.00
-
13’ – $10,000.00
Above prices include: the alligator tag, the harvest of the alligator, and all equipment needed to tag out.
Does not include processing fees for your alligator meat, hide, or head.
Although they are rewarding, alligator hunts can be very time consuming and expensive. We want to make sure you are aware of any additional costs associated with harvesting your alligator and have included information below for processing and trophy fees.
PROCESSING INFO
Processing fees are not required if you are only keeping the alligator head and not keeping the meat or hide. We will provide transportation of your gator to the processor. We can recommend a processor depending on which area of Florida we will be hunting in. The average price for processing, cubing, and packing of alligator meat in 2019 is $2-$3 per pound of meat (varies depending on location). Processing price does not include shipping of gator meat but can be packed/shipped on dry ice for additional fee.
The following list shows the average amount of meat yield based on the size of the gator:
7' gator yields about 18 to 22 lbs. of meat
8' gator yields about 24 to 34 lbs. of meat
9' gator yields about 40 to 55 lbs. of meat
10' gator yields about 55 to 100 lbs. of meat
11' gator yields about 65 to 110 lbs. of meat
12' gator yields about 80 to 140 lbs. of meat
If you want to keep the head and meat of your gator but not the hide, there will be a $75* skinning fee in addition to the cost of meat processing. If you wish to have your alligator hide trophy skinned or hornback, the skinning fee is about $12 per foot*. We recommend using Sebring Custom Tanning for alligator hide tanning. They have tanned several of my own alligator hides, and they charge $20 per foot for alligator belly tanning and $35 per foot for alligator hornback (pictured above) tanning.
For taxidermy of your alligator mount, we recommend the following:
Suntrophy Taxidermy
