One of my friends had a gator encounter recently at a wading spot we fish. No incident but the gator was definitely interested in what they were doing and didn’t seem afraid at all. The gator was 6+ ft.
If the situation escalated a bit and they had to shoot the gator what should they do? Call DNR? Let nature take it’s course? Hide the carcass? Drag it home?
We’re talking a self-defense situation, not hunting.
I would avoid shooting the gator at all costs. However in a self defense situation your best bet is to report it and tell the truth.
A 6 footer is typically not a danger to an adult, but they can be very curious at that size. Best solution is to tow along a floating push pole and if it gets close- jab it. You really don’t need to worry about being attacked, unless you’re a yankee transplant- in that case, death is imminent and you better move back north.
DNR will not respond nicely about you shooting a 6 footer in self defense. If it doesn’t go away after being jabbed, someone has probably been feeding it and it needs killing.
Leave it be, I’m sure it was there first. If a 6ft gator scares you, just find a new place to fish or just move away from the coast.
What do you carry while wading?
quote:
Originally posted by ReelescapeWhat do you carry while wading?
Usually a fishing pole and maybe pliers. I’ll probably bring a good whacking… I mean walking stick next time.
I wasn’t there but I fish the spot often. I get your question though, I have a glock 36 that can withstand the elements a bit. I don’t carry it fishing and prob won’t. It would really hurt my feelings if it got dunked or sandy/muddy.
I was curious bc it reminded me of another friend of mine that guides hunting trips in North Dakota. Bears can be a real issue out there and if you kill one outside of the season you better be able to defend yourself and actions as if you shot a person.
If everyone shot a gator because it was in their fishing spot, there wouldn’t be any left. They are everywhere in the lowcountry. It’s their habitat. They are absolutely something I have always considered when finding places to fish. But I have never felt the need to carry a gun so I can fish there. I’m not trying to be rude, but really if it bothers you that much just go somewhere else. I promise you can find other places to fish that don’t have gators to deal with every time you go.
Is this saltwater or freshwater?
Last encounter I had was with the kids at Jason’s lake at Botany Plantation - BIG ole guy was aggressive as hell and every fish we caught he wanted…badly. We left to avoid the situation which is the best answer here. If you get to your spot and the gator becomes excitable, leave.
But above they are right, avoid shooting it at all costs.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
In the words of swamp people choot m
quote:
Originally posted by Dockman unless you're a yankee transplant- in that case, death is imminent and you better move back north.
BOOM
That’s for Ohio’s ^
Pez, are you taking this a little too personally? Nothing happened, this is completely hypothetical, sorry if your feelings were hurt. I have a leather belt and wallet, I can’t afford gator skin and it wouldn’t fit my style anyway.
Leadenwahboy, it’s saltwater right next to an inlet. This is usually the time we hear about a gator in the surf somewhere anyway.
I won’t trust any gator. Just last week had a two footer come after a worker and chomped his boot. Some are just plain stupid while others are curious to movements. As to calling dnr I don’t think you’d convince them that you couldn’t have retreated, but I doubt you’d get ticketed if done in self defense. One more dead gator would probably not rank high on dnrs priority list unless it was in a populated area or… reported.
All that said, if I where in a situation that I feared my safety I’d have no issues shooting a gator. In 52 years of being around them I’ve never “had” to shoot a gator.
Carry a gun, shoot it if you feel like you are going to die. Gators have more rights than humans, so be prepared to pay the price for saving your own skin. Your best bet is to avoid the conflict, go somewhere else or find some other way to fish without teasing the local fish eating predators. There are plenty of fishing spots where the gator risk is nil.
Capt. Garry Coats
Folly Beach & CHS
@DolphinChartersSC