2006 Bowhunt For Florida Alligator
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Lets Look At That Gator...

This is the Gator Grapple-3 head that I hit the gator with on the first shot. This head is part of the Innerloc H2O Bowfishing series. I put an Innerloc 3-blade on the Gator Grapple-3 to see if it would get deeper penetration. In retrospect I won't put the broadhead on the head when I hunt gators again. They fight and thrash around so much that they might cut the line on the broadhead if it got complete penetration.

My first arrow entered the alligator's shoulder and came out by his foot. If you're thinking that doesn't sound like a lethal hit you're right.

But the Gator Grapple head held, and the 640 pound test AMS Bowfishing line held, and believe me, this 12 foot 500  pound bad boy pulled and yanked on both with sledge hammer force. 

At 2:36am the gator was finally in our airboat. 

We drove around and Kevin Sullivan stayed at the ready. We continued to see and approach alligators but Kevin didn't get any shot opportunities. We docked the airboat and at 5:57am we took pictures of the gator.

Below, left to right, are Brad Gibson, David Mills, Mike Edwards, Kevin Sullivan and Robert Hoague and my first gator.

Kevin Sullivan, designer of the Innerloc H2O Bowfishing arrows and points, the gator and me. 

When we arrived at the motel it was daylight. Five hours later we had what sleep we were going to get. We were changing lakes today.

EQUIPMENT:
INNERLOC Gator Grapple 3 - My first shot went in the shoulder and out through the lower leg. It was not a lethal shot. The gator put up a powerful and furious fight; first to to get away from us, and then to get to us. The line held and put maximum pressure on the this 3 barbed head. It held together, no problem. My other shots were better hits and the last penetrated through the gator's rock tough top hide and dug into its spine and partially immobilized it. Cutting power and extreme strength are what the Gator Grapple is all about.
AMS 640 pound test Bowfishing Line - Our gator hunting guides originally wanted us to use a wire leader on our line. We didn't, because the AMS Bowfishing folks assured us we didn't need it. They were right. This line held and believe me it got a violent thrashing. Twice the gator bit the line and had it in its mouth as it fought us. But the line did not get cut, nor was it broken. This line is the ticket for alligator bowhunting.
AMS Slotted Retriever by AMS Bowfishing - Simply put, a big league product. Outstanding. The line reels into the retriever easily and quickly. And the line can not get tangled or have a backlash. The design of the AMS Retriever allows for zero-drag and shot arrows are not affected by the line, it flows freely with no drag.
AMS Trophy Float System - This is the largest of the floats from AMS Bowfishing. It measures 5.5" x 13" and is inflatable. The bright yellow color was easy to see and took us right to the gator. It is rugged and buoyant enough for this type of rough stuff hunting. It comes with an adapter to go in the bow's stabilizer hole or it can be set on floor. I put the float on the adapter and it worked fine. 
BowTech Liberty - Kevin Sullivan set up my BowTEch bow with the Slotted Retriever and 640 pound test AMS line. The fish arrows are three times a heavy as my regular arrows and I wondered if I would get good penetration and arrow flight. But at 62 pounds the  bow shot flat and delivered the raw power it took to get the job done.
Glass Max Arrows by INNERLOC - The arrows were 5/16 diameter and were much heavier than normal arrows, but that's what it takes to get down into the water and deliver penetration of big fish or gators. This gator put a whipping on the arrows and they were up to the task.
CUBE Archery Target - I had to resight my bow for the heavier bowfishing arrows and used the smallest Cube broadhead target from American Whitetail Targets. I've used this or larger versions for several years and really like them. They stop arrows and last a long, long time.
WOLVERINE Vail Boots - This is no place for footwear that does not have good traction. You have to react fast and being sure footed in the cramped quarters of the airboat is a must. And being waterproof and breathable is also a plus. The gore tex Vail boots were all of these. The more I use them the more I am impressed with them.

NEXT: our 2nd Gator Hunt
 

We are bowhunting alligators with David Mills of Zolfo Springs, Florida in south Central Florida's big alligator country and the Osceola wild turkey. To contact David Mills about Alligator hunts, phone 1-863-990-9087.

 
 

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