Baited hooks are legal in only two states. The verified 2026 rundown of where baiting alligators is legal and illegal, with each state agency source, plus how legal baited sets work.
The hunt ends at the boat ramp — the work starts there. An alligator is one of the most valuable animals a Southern hunter will ever put a tag on: 8–10 feet of meat, a hide worth preserving, and a skull worth keeping. It’s also one of the easiest animals to ruin with slow field…
Whether you’re running an airboat or a jon boat, the boat itself is only half the equation. The accessories you bolt onto it decide how quiet you approach, how well you see at night, and how much you can carry without things going overboard. If you’re still deciding between an airboat and a jon boat,…
Every regulated state limits legal alligator take to a specific short list of methods, and all of them share one requirement: whatever first makes contact with the gator has to be attached to a restraining line before you use it. Here are the four methods hunters actually use, compared side by side, so you can…
Alligator hunting rules in every regulated state require you to attach a restraining line to whatever first makes contact with the gator, whether that’s a harpoon, a bang stick, or an arrow. That last option, done right, is called bowfishing for gators, and it’s a completely different setup from what you’d use to shoot carp…
Ask five hunters what an alligator hunt costs and you’ll get five different answers, because there isn’t one number. A guided hunt can run anywhere from $600 to well over $8,000 depending on the size of the gator, and a DIY setup can cost as little as a few hundred dollars in reusable gear. Here’s…
Complete guide to processing and cooking alligator meat after your Florida harvest — field dressing steps, understanding gator cuts, gamey flavor fixes, and recipes that actually work.
Everything you need to know about spotlighting alligators at night — reading eye shine, making the silent approach, boat setup, weather conditions, and safety rules for Florida’s nighttime gator season.
The complete Florida alligator hunting gear list — from high-powered spotlights and harpoon setups to bangsticks, snare poles, and safety equipment. Built from real swamp experience.
Everything you need to know about Florida’s alligator hunting season — application dates, the FWC lottery process, permit costs, CITES tags, management units, and what to do if you don’t draw.