2012-2013 Hunting Season

[Mike70560]

With the 2012-2013 hunting and fishing season winding down I reflected on the wonderful year we enjoyed.

Snapper fishing was great even though the season was too short and the limit too low.

One of many nice snapper we caught.

We did a little crabbing at a dam on Marsh Island. Boiled crabs are so good to eat.

My lovely wife enjoying the day.

My hunting season starts in September with alligators. We had a good year, made a little money, and caught some pretty good alligators. Our average length was the best in years.

Eleven and a half foot long gator.

Next we began to get ready for dear season. I built a new deer stand and with the help of friends installed it.

Building the stand in my home workshop, that is my airboat in the background.

Bringing the stand to the lease

Installed in the marsh.

Next was teal season. I was able to hunt Max even though he was only five months old.

Max, Raven, and Speck working together. Raven is the dam to Max and Speck.

Our deer season is very early. A buddy killed a nice 7 point in the new stand and my wife shot a doe for some meat.

We enjoyed a good duck season even though it was hit and miss. We were in Africa for most of the first split but enjoyed hunting the second split of the season.

 

[Mike70560]

Muddy Day

Max

Napping in the camp.

Then we started our Nutria control Program.

As a kid and young man I trapped with my father and brother. We primarily sought nutria, but also caught many raccoons, mink, and otters. An average year would yield 2000 nutria.

Dad died in 1985 when I was 22. I trapped by myself for two more seasons but there was no money in nutria by then. I was a 4th generation Louisiana trapper.

Louisiana now offers a program that pays $5.00 for a nutria tail. I also found a buyer for the green hides they are only paying $2.25 per hide. With the total sell at $7.75 and not having to flesh, nail, or dry the hides I decided to trap again.

My nephew (sister's son) is helping me and is fifth generation. His father and grandfather were also trappers.

Video
http://i135.photobucket.com/al...00067EB46D8467-1.mp4

We also did a little frogging and fishing during some warm spells.

What's next? A new houseboat for this alligator season. I am buiding the frame myself.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Wow Mike, when you decide to make a deer stand you don't mess around. As far as the transport of said stand.....pure country boy engineering at it's finest! With the gators, do you keep any of the tail meat? Love it properly cooked up Cajun style.

If you decide to have Raven bred again, I'd sure like to know about it. I put my last Lab down a couple years ago, found it very difficult to even think about getting another after losing her. But the itch has returned.

Good to have you posting here again.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Knew I liked you for a reason. Dog People!
Love getting the pups out. That competitive retrieve is known the world over when you have a new pup.

Good all around balance to chasing Buffalo.

You have to be a fast skinner to make those Nutria pay.
Do you use them for Alligator bait?


Now you have me thinking I should get out for the Black Bear opener tomorrow........ just to stay balanced.

 

[Mike70560]

Wow Mike, when you decide to make a deer stand you don't mess around. As far as the transport of said stand.....pure country boy engineering at it's finest! With the gators, do you keep any of the tail meat? Love it properly cooked up Cajun style.

If you decide to have Raven bred again, I'd sure like to know about it. I put my last Lab down a couple years ago, found it very difficult to even think about getting another after losing her. But the itch has returned.

Good to have you posting here again.

Raven whelped twelve pups a year ago. Unfortunately we had to spay her due to some complications after the birth. All the puppies were healthy and Raven is fine, just will not be able to breed her again. It is tough to lose a dog, our live in the house and they nearly become family members.

We eat some alligator and even eat the nutria. We sell the alligators whole, so we do not skin them. Years ago we skinned aeverything but now the buyers want the whole alligator.

This was the final leg of moving the deerstand.

That is my buddy's airboat under the stand.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Well that's too bad she won't be having more pups, but glad she's okay. Looks like you made the stand out of aluminum which certainly helped keep the weight down. But I bet it was still a bit of a bear to get it to it's final spot.

 

[PaulT]

Mike,
congrats to both Katherine and yourself on a wonderful season enjoyed pursuing varied outdoor sports, hunting and fishing.

I really enjoy seeing pics of various rural U.S locations.

Your area looks like our buffalo area does directly after a big Wet season, water everywhere !

I'd sure like to see your Gator catching methods used on our local crocks !!!!
Feel free to come down anytime.... I have a camp billabong full of the buggers.

Great stuff, thanks for sharing.

Paul.

 

[Bobpuckett]

Mike looks like you and the little lady had an outstanding season. I'd like to come down just for the Frog legs and Gator tail man thats some good eaton. Thanks for the great pics.

 

[Mike70560]

Knew I liked you for a reason. Dog People!
Love getting the pups out. That competitive retrieve is known the world over when you have a new pup.

Good all around balance to chasing Buffalo.

You have to be a fast skinner to make those Nutria pay.
Do you use them for Alligator bait?


Now you have me thinking I should get out for the Black Bear opener tomorrow........ just to stay balanced.

I would not hunt ducks without my dogs. they are fun. We do not keep the nutria for bait, they would work well, too long in between the two seasons to store them. we do eat some nutria.

Black bear sounds good. We have some decent turkey hunting and I may try that next year so I can hunt in March/April.

Skin a nutria fast? Did you see the video? And I was out of shape during the filming.

[video]http://s135.photobucket.com/user/Mike70560/media/6418452B-C583-4714-B4F9-477950A30BC9-7592-0000067EB46D8467-1.mp4.html[/video]

 

[enysse]

Great stories Mike, the nutria would make great black bear bait.
Nice to see you back!

 

[BRICKBURN]

I would not hunt ducks without my dogs. they are fun. We do not keep the nutria for bait, they would work well, too long in between the two seasons to store them. we do eat some nutria.

Black bear sounds good. We have some decent turkey hunting and I may try that next year so I can hunt in March/April.

Skin a nutria fast? Did you see the video? And I was out of shape during the filming.

[video]http://s135.photobucket.com/user/Mike70560/media/6418452B-C583-4714-B4F9-477950A30BC9-7592-0000067EB46D8467-1.mp4.html[/video]

Mike, I missed the video on the first go round. thanks for pointing that out.
I guess when you know what you are up to, skinning is simple.
That is the closest thing to skinning a grouse I have ever seen.

I am not certain you'll be able to get it across to me but what do they taste like?

Pheasants and Black Bears this week. Not quite the same as Nutria and Gators.

 

[Nyati]

Well, Mike nice to see that you do keep busy and enjoy yourself :beer:

 

[Mike70560]

I am not certain you'll be able to get it across to me but what do they taste like?

Similar to rabbit, especially when if the nutria are young, but the taste is slightly different. We do not eat a lot of it, but it is not bad.



How is this for a meal. clockwise from top left: Frogs, Nutria, Deer Backstrap, Bass.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Looks good to me.

 

[gatortrapper]

Mike 70560

We sell the alligators whole, so we do not skin them. Years ago we skinned aeverything but now the buyers want the whole alligator.

what are gators bringing a ft whole if it has a good hide ?

Its a lot of work to hunt them and skin them too. We had girls skin them at the processors they were quick. and i had to have meat processed at a state approved facility in order to sell it.




I was getting a lot of small ones doing the nuisance trapping but on occasion i would get 12 plus footers

 

[Bobpuckett]

Mike 70560

We sell the alligators whole, so we do not skin them. Years ago we skinned aeverything but now the buyers want the whole alligator.

what are gators bringing a ft whole if it has a good hide ?

Its a lot of work to hunt them and skin them too. We had girls skin them at the processors they were quick. and i had to have meat processed at a state approved facility in order to sell it.

View attachment 22604 View attachment 22605


I was getting a lot of small ones doing the nuisance trapping but on occasion i would get 12 plus footers

Wow that second one is a Monster.

 

[gatortrapper]

Wow that second one is a Monster.

Thanks, it wore me out caught it on a fishing rod it took about 45 min and my arms were like jello
It was 12 ft 4in and about 650 lbs

I either use a weighted treble hook to catch them or use a bait line. 99 percent of the time I use a bangstick because Im in a populated area

here is a short video

 

[Buff-Buster]

That boats WAY to small to be going after 12'-4" gators.....LOL

 

[BRICKBURN]

That boats WAY to small to be going after 12'-4" gators.....LOL

He's acting as both live bait and a float for the guy fishing for gators from shore (videographer).