Steven Mullins Gives Kiwanis Program on Alligator Hunting
The Hope Kiwanis Club recently heard from one of their own, Steven Mullins, on alligator hunting. He noted that alligators have been in Arkansas almost forever and from 1860 to 1960 alligators were killed and run out from their habitat. At that point, the state passed legislation in 1961 to protect alligators and they were protected by federal legislation in 1967. In 1977 they went from endangered to threatened and removed from the threatened in 1987; however, they still are attached to that list due to their resemblance to crocodiles which are endangered.
Arkansas had their first sanctioned alligator hunt in 2007. In the last couple of years the permits are issued on a quota basis. The number for this quota is 60.
Mullins said when alligator numbers were thinning, southwest Arkansas was where populations stayed strong. Grassy Lake, a private lake in western Hempstead County, has the largest concentration of alligators in Arkansas. The state record is from eastern Arkansas. The record is 13 feet, 11.5 inches. This was bagged near Pendleton. The runner-up was bagged by Mike Cottingham in Prescott who got a 13 foot,9.24 inch alligator below Millwood Dam in Hempstead County.
The season for alligator hunting starts the third week in September and runs two weekend for a total of six nights (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Once the quota is met, the hunt ends. Mullins says the Arkansas Game & Fish maintains a phone number hunters can call to determine if the quota has been met.
Hunting hours are 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. Mullins says there are two parts to the hunt, capturing a gator and then dispatching it. He said you can use a harpoon and a snare. The harpoon is on the end of a pole and Mullins says harpooning the gator requires a lot of effort. Mullins also demonstrated a snare for the club. The hunter has to get the snare around the gator’s neck. Mullins says when you harpoon or snare a gator, it will fight fiercely for at least five or ten minutes. The gator crew usually consists of four people, one running the trolling motor, one holding the spotlight, one person harpooning or snaring, and one person on the rope. And the rope person has to wear gloves because the gator will swim and roll. The person on the rope has to apply pressure to wear down the gator. Once you get the gator to the boat, you shoot him with a shotgun or a “bang stick” which Mullins says he’s never seen. Gator hunters can’t use shells any larger than #4 shot. Mullins says the trolling motor is a necessity to not spook the gators.
After you bag a gator, the hunter has to immediately report it to the Game & Fish including the length, time of harvest, and the hunter’s info. Mullins says gator hunters have to attend a class sponsored by the Game & Fish beforehand.
Mullins says cleaning the gator can be quite a job. He noted he shot a gator about midnight and didn’t get into bed until 4:30am because they had to clean the gator. Mullins noted he had had a hide tanned and had a head mounted (which he is pictured with). Mullins says some people have their hide made into purses, wallets, or other leather items. As far as the meat goes, Mullins says it’s ok but requires some tenderizing. He noted alligator meat in a restaurant comes from a small, young gator as opposed to the gator Mullins showed which was over ten feet long. Mullins says he gives most of his alligator meat away.
The club really enjoyed the program…but we’re not sure any are planning to try for an alligator permit during the next hunt!