EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

I just got invited bring my dogs and hunt the Bay City area. Problem is the land owner keeps warning us about the alligators, and I know nothing about there habits or nature. I would like to know if anyone hunts around them and if they frequently spoil hunts . I know it wouldn't be good to encounter one, but what do I do if it happens, and how do the dogs normally act when they're around. I hunt the North Texas area and my dogs aren't trash broke off of gators!

Chad, we hunt on over 20,000 acres down around Bay City. Every river, lake, pond, canal, ditch and mud hole has gators in it. Best time to hunt it is in the winter. We've been very lucky and have not had any problems... yet.

Don't know what to tell except to be careful. Try and hunt in areas as far from the water as possible. Even better, try and go down there when its cold.

Thanks Mike. I think I'll wait until it cools off. What month do you normally start hunting around them with less concern?

January and February are the best and coldest. ;D

Chad

I will not hunt areas with alot of gators unless its cold. Big gators will eat a dog if they get hold of it. Man I hunt with lost a awesome dog to a gator a couple of years ago. Dog was bayed up in the edge of a pond off of the Neches river and the gator swam up behind him and pulled him under before anyone could do anything. Wait until its cold or avoid areas that the gators will be. They will eat hogs to.

James Browning

Yea better wait till it cools off Chad, that way I can bring my junk up there too! ;D

Well holler whenever y'all get down that way. We've got a nice duck hunting lodge that sleeps 26 to stay in.

We'll be sure and let you know when we're coming down Mike. Looks like Justin(NTHoghunter) wants to come down with me. My father-in-law and brother-in-law both work at the Nuke plant down there, and they don't  exactly have alot of room. The landowner down there gave them a lesson in gator catching this weekend on the place we're supposed to hunt. Kind of gives me the chills, but you guys might can help us if we can get together for a hunt. Bet you guys prefer dayhunting in that country when it's hot.

yeah, one morning we were hunting one of our places down in Bay city and we saw a gator in a pond there. not real big, probably still big enough to snatch a dog up though. all we could do was call the dogs away from there and move away from that area quick as possible. still, i did get one of my best movie clips ever that morning later by the river. glad it didn't involve any gators though.lol. :o

Beware of gators.  While hunting this past spring out in the salt marsh, dogs got on a hog out in the grass, ran it to a small creek.  We were playing catchup expecting them to catch or bay it on the waters edge. when we got close two of the dogs were on their way back (3 were on the pig) knowing these two didnt quit a hog that easily we knew something was wrong. broke out the tracking box and sure enough the missing dog had been snatched by a gator and stuffed under the bank. It was still pretty cool out then and the water was cold to say the least and we thought we were ok but apparently it was just warm enough for them to start feeding. 

wow, that sucks Jim. and we hunt more than a few places with gators here, so it's a constant worry for us sometimes. >:(

Every place i hunt has gators so i cant worry about it or id never hunt.

Here ya go, this is right up the road from me.

Pictures are kinda graphic.

http://www.charleston.net/news/2007/sep/17/mans_arm_salvaged_alligators_belly/?print

I have also caught a 3 legged hog out there, its whole front leg and a good portion of its shoulder was missing but had healed and looked to be in good health. Have seen a few more that had bad wounds that I assume were from gators.

 :o