Texas Man Takes Down One Of The State’s Largest Alligators

A Texas man has captured a giant alligator that may be one of the largest ever hunted in the state.

According to the Chron, the hunt, held in mid-September, was part of a program that selects participants through a random drawing, allowing five hunters to explore the vast 26,000-acre lake in search of giant alligators. Choke Canyon Reservoir, part of the James E. Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area (WMA), is home to a significant population of large, mature alligators that are often left undisturbed, resulting in a natural habitat where these reptiles thrive to an impressive size.

The standout catch of the hunt measured a staggering 13 feet and 8 inches in length and weighed an estimated 750 pounds. The alligator, caught by an unidentified man, was one of several “bull gators” taken during the event.

While the 750-pound alligator was an impressive feat, it still falls short of the Texas state record for the largest alligator, which was caught by a Fort Bend County teenager at the same reservoir in 2013. That record-setting alligator measured over 14 feet and 3 inches long and weighed approximately 800 pounds, with wildlife experts estimating it was between 30 to 50 years old.

The hunting rules in the James E. Daughtrey WMA are stricter compared to other areas of Texas. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), hunters are required to use a “hook and line” to catch the alligators and must then shoot them at close range with a shotgun to complete the hunt. These regulations help ensure the safety of the hunters while maintaining ethical practices during alligator hunting.