New hunter

[Chase]

Im a new hunter I got two tags for st.johns county and two for Nassau. I was going to use my bow or a snatch hook but I noticed alot of people use a harpoon.I would also appreciate it if any one knows any decent spots in these counties.

[admin]

Before you kill the gator you need to have it securely fastened to a line that will allow you to recover the gator after it is dead. A snatch hook is a good way of getting a gator close enough use a bow and/or harpoon but is not secure enough to use by itself. Some people use a harpoon or snare to fasten a second line just to make sure it does not pull loose before using the bang stick. But everyone has their own methods and they vary somewhat depending on how big the gator is. We always have two harpoon poles a couple rods with snatch hooks and a large 14/0 snatch hook with a rope with us regardless of what else we carry to use such as a bow, cross bow or spear gun.

[Chase]

Ok thanks,can I get the darts at a local dive shop or would I need to order them.

[admin]

Most dive shops will not have tips that are well suited to harpooning an alligator. They will have tips that go on the end of a speargun. The problem is that if you do not use a detatchable tip is that you will get your shaft bent. If you are going to use a bow look for the detachable tip also. I have seen alligators splinter fiberglass shafts when they are thrashing around. Both Muzzy and AMS make arrows suited to use on alligators. When you shoot them with a bow the line you will be using will be a thin line for the arrow and that is hard on the hands when you are trying to fight it. Most of the times you will take what ever shoot the gator gives you when you hit it the first time. This shot is not alway going to give you a lot of control over the gator when it comes to killing it. That is where a second line that is a heavier line will make the next steps easier. Bring the gator up and try to put a dart into the neck of the gator. That way when you pull it up again you will be pulling it up head first and it will be easier to position the gator to use the bang stick.

[Chase]

If anyone in Nassau would like to go and split costs let me know