BigCountry, Actually you just need a regular hunting license, resident or non-resident, and no tag as you call in the date and sex and you get mailed a post-harvest tag for the taxidermist or for any gator part. No separate fee.
Our gators have a very good sense of smell and obviously the water transmits vibrations from people walking or voices as well as vehicles. I was taught that you can call them up by sneaking in and hiding behind a bush near the waters edge and tapping the water with a long stick every 5 seconds or so in a repetitive fashion which gets their curiosity and very often makes them pop up. Usually a long wait once you locate one. Some people snare them with a chicken and shark hook but I've not seen a big one fall for it and am not a fisherman as well as not a hunt, kind of like snares on coyotes is not predator hunting.
Better yet get a raccoon, coyote or rabbit and split it up the abdomen and the rumen smell will help by throwing the carcass near the waters edge and they will get there quick, obviously using the wind to carry the scent. A shot behind the head at the base of the skull as their brain does extend backward is a kill shot but if in the water the animal will sink and I have no plans to feel for it with my feet. We have cut rebar and made a treble hook with a strong rope to rake the bottom but of course it will snag just about everything as well so good if you can tie off to a ATV or machine. I like a lung shot for starters so they cannot sit on the bottom as they are drowning with a hole through their lung and finish them outside on the waters edge.
Our gators have a very good sense of smell and obviously the water transmits vibrations from people walking or voices as well as vehicles. I was taught that you can call them up by sneaking in and hiding behind a bush near the waters edge and tapping the water with a long stick every 5 seconds or so in a repetitive fashion which gets their curiosity and very often makes them pop up. Usually a long wait once you locate one. Some people snare them with a chicken and shark hook but I've not seen a big one fall for it and am not a fisherman as well as not a hunt, kind of like snares on coyotes is not predator hunting.
Better yet get a raccoon, coyote or rabbit and split it up the abdomen and the rumen smell will help by throwing the carcass near the waters edge and they will get there quick, obviously using the wind to carry the scent. A shot behind the head at the base of the skull as their brain does extend backward is a kill shot but if in the water the animal will sink and I have no plans to feel for it with my feet. We have cut rebar and made a treble hook with a strong rope to rake the bottom but of course it will snag just about everything as well so good if you can tie off to a ATV or machine. I like a lung shot for starters so they cannot sit on the bottom as they are drowning with a hole through their lung and finish them outside on the waters edge.