Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Rob, in our parish we have an Alligator Control Officer. You call him and he has the authority to do what he wants, relocate them, chootem, or whatever. He receives no pay, but gets the gator. Most of the smaller ones are relocated, the larger ones are more dangerous for pets especially and most are trapped and disposed of. During the season, anyone with tags (closely controlled) can take him (or her). About 5 years ago, we had a gator in a pond next to my property. Someone saw it come out of the water and chase a dog. It was about 1000 lbs. It was shot, and while winching it to the truck, the officer heard another splash. He hung a piece of chicken on a stick, and said he would be back in 3 days. Seems it takes 3 days to get really right for a gator. And like clockwork, in 3 days he came got another big one. About 600 lbs. An easy way to tell if there is a gotor in the pond is that the ducks stay on the land. Most are small, 6 to 8 feet. Lots of coyotes down here, as it seems everywhere else. Open season. The back of my property is against a small drainage canal which runs into very deep swamp about 2 miles down. Thus the gators. We get them all the time, usually small ones and they disappear. This one wants to move in I think. Had a little one named Lefty for quite a while. Had no right arm. He was released from an aligator farm. By law they release 13% back to the wild at 3 ft or larger. Used to release 17%, but too many now. Jerry Savoie, the pro stock bike rider, is one of the largest alligator people in the business. His main customer is Guchi (mispelled I'm sure).

Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Very informative Mr Jeff....lol

Small is 6-8 feet?.....

Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Jeff hold on to him, makes one hell of an intimidating buglar alarm, feed him rotten chickens or the occasional trespasser. Under Louisiana Tort Law "any person commiting the act of trespassing on a property without the permission of the owner cannot hold said owner reponsible from bites incured by it's pets" Voila! now just warn your friends and don't get him mad. Claude

Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Check the bumps on the toe of those beautiful boots (probably $700 to $1000) and check the bumps on the nose of the gator. I think they use a smaller gator for the toe which is the bumps. The really old and big ones are the least valuable and are used only for luggage and brief cases because the skin is full of scratches etc from fighting etc. I understand the price this year averaged about $31 per foot on the hoof, which for RJ and J. Paul with 500 tags X 8 ft average = 4000 ft of gators X $31 is $124,000. Not bad for a month.

Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Thanks as was said before very good info. Jerry Savoie was on a Discovery Channel show called "Dirty Jobs" two different times. I saw him there before I ever knew he raced. The whole time I was watching those shows I was thinking these guys are CRAZY. There is no way in hell I am messing with a gator unless I am a long ways away and doing it with a rifle. I have done some crazy stuff in my past but grabbing a hold of a gator or doing 200 on a motorcyle are not going to be one of them LOL.

Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Anybody remember that old Country & Western song "Thank God and Greyhound You're Gone". Agent went to the house, and well you can imagine the rest. He hissed one time too many. My dogs feel better now.

Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Jeff, they also make some nice alligator belts, wallets, jackets, as well as ladies & mens boots too...just go to ebay and type in 'real alligator' boots or other item...but make sure you type in the 'real' first because you will get thousands of fake sheepskin copies offered for sale on that site...maybe you can make a custom alligator helmet. :D

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Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Jeff, You ought to talk to Dan Dvorak, he had this dog named Max if I remember right, and he had a huge pond behind his shop, which had a pretty good sized Gator ! Max and the Gator didn't geat along real well , Max lost the battle !..........John

Re: My new driver and AHFS rep.
 

Hey, Mr Jeff, maybe you need some drivers like this.