Rob Tattoo will be here in about 6 hrs. We will enjoy some curry and adult beverages this evening then off to the Kissimmee river in central Florida in the am. We will be picking Charles, the auction winner, up in Orlando on tuesday morning. Should be a week of airboatin`, gator sticking, fellowship and maybe a pig or two will get unlucky.
Wish us luck. We`ll need it.
As an aside since we`ve started doing these hunts my Dad and I have been honored to be part of raising over 20K. I also think we have been the longest running hunt having only missed 1 year in 10. I don`t say this to get pats on the back but I believe it to be a testament to the folk that yearly dig in their pockets and bid on the auctions. We`ve met some great people and be come friends with more than a few.
THIS ONES FOR YOU AND THE BASSARD, LARRY
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :campfire:
Good Luck to ya and take lots of pictures
This trip with you and your Dad is one of my fondest memories and a great St Jude hunt. Adding Rob and hogs is frosting on an already very sweet cake. This one will be good!
Good luck!
Good luck Chris! My daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and buddy's son Daniel all got nice gators this year in the area. We also hunted the Kissimmee a little and had some nice gators up close. Take lots of pictures! I'd post some of the 4 gators we got, but haven't had any luck with Photobucket for a year now.
Good luck, Chris and Rob!
←chopped liver, Christopher?
Any luck?
Rob needs to come tell his story I believe.
Got back last night, brought this home with me, umm, umm gator fritters (http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/Gator2013stjudes135.jpg) (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/charles_10/media/Gator2013stjudes135.jpg.html)
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/Gator2013stjudes069.jpg) (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/charles_10/media/Gator2013stjudes069.jpg.html)
Here's Chris and Rob discussing the evening hog hunt at Starvation Slough.
Words and pictures could not express the excitement of hunting gators with people like Rob, Josh,Shane,Chris and Peter Horsman. I told Chris I felt like I was bowhunting on the nose of a roller coaster. I had never been gator hunting nor had I ever ridden on an airboat and within a minute after launch red eyes were spotted and Chris had laid the hammer down,my first thoughts were I need a helmet and a seat belt!
Good stuff Charles!
Looking forward to more!
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/Gator2013stjudes022.jpg) (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/charles_10/media/Gator2013stjudes022.jpg.html)
When we had time to eat we just followed Chris and seemed we almost always ended up at the Golden Corral. Chris had planned to hunt the lower river near Okichobee but made a last minute change at the dinner table and said the river was too high and fast, that we were heading north to kissemee lake. Rob and Josh headed out for an evening of hog hunting which almost turned into a night of hog hunting, Rob said something about not being good with directions but they had made it back to the motel when we got there around 2:30 AM.
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/Gator2013stjudes008.jpg) (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/charles_10/media/Gator2013stjudes008.jpg.html)
When we got to the launch site at Lake Kissemee,Chris was backing the boat up to the ramp and I heard a big thug and the boat had fallen off the trailer and was sitting in the parking lot. Shane assured me that this was the way an airboat was launched. I'm learning fast!
Looks like that crew could have used a bigger boat.. :biglaugh:
What a pleasure to meet Mr Charles. A fine southern gentleman and a hoot to boot. We hunted hard all over Lake Kissimee before Charles gaffed a nice 7`er. He didn`t stomp around with Rob and Josh so we rode the river and sight saw. Florida is so much more than Disney and beach`s. But don`t tell anyone
Always enjoy these stories
Just uploading photos.......I'll be back with tales of derring-do, adventure, dragons & hogs a bit later.
Chris, I wish we could have hooked up for the swine. Sounds like you guys had a blast anyway.
Did you guys stop in at Cowboys in Okee? There's some interesting decor in there.
Nice. I tried real hard to win this auction. But I was severely out bid! Haha glad to see it come to life!
Well, I got Charles up from Orlando airport, bang on the dot of just-a-bit-after-11am on Tuesday.
We had a pleasant drive down to Okeechobee, getting to know each other along the way. I think my admission of being the tidy, clean-cut & polite member of the group gave him pause for thought, but he'd soon find out...
We met up with Chris, Josh, Pete & Shane at the motel on the outskirts of town & on the very edge of Lake Okeechobee. Introductions were made, hands shaken & business gotten down to.
Charles would go right out the first night with Pete, Chris & Shane & try to bag a gator, right off the bat. Things were a little more hurried than any of us would've liked but Shane, the guy providing the tags & who had to come along, had just had some major surgery due to a separated bicep & wasn't really fit for duty. He needed to be back home convalescing ASAP. Any jarring of his arm would result in total loss of use & possible amputation. Yep, THAT bad.
Whilst the guys were out on Lake Kissimmee, Josh & I would drive ourselves to Starvation Slough & try to track down one of Florida's numerous Sus Scrofas (Wild Hog, to you unedumacated types)
Unfortunately, navigation is absolutely NOT my strongest skill (Seriously, I can get lost in a glass shower cubicle) & Central Florida, in failing light is NOT the best place to try & learn.
We didn't find any hogs. We DID find a lot of mosquitos, banana spiders, Saw grass & a canal. Somehow in a 1 mile saunter, we managed to cover about 5 miles (65% was in knee-deep, stagnant water) the last 4 of which I had to do barefooted, due to having literally walked the boots off my feet. Yeah, it pretty much sucked all round. We got back into the motel at around midnight, 4½ hours after dark. Tired, extremely sore, sweaty & thankful for cellphone GPS!
Charles & the guys arrived back at around 2am (IIRC) toting a very nice 7 foot gator & grins that'd shame said reptile! To say Charles was excited would require the reclassification of the word 'Understatement!' Seemed that the ol' feller'd really, reeeally got a kick from hitting silly speeds in a 400hp airboat, gator or not!
The next day was spent lounging, relaxing & butchering Charlie's catch. That night would be my turn.....
:campfire:
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/Gator2013stjudes026.jpg) (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/charles_10/media/Gator2013stjudes026.jpg.html)
Here's Rob on the nose of the rocket at the start of his hunt
QuoteOriginally posted by robtattoo:
Whilst the guys were out on Lake Kissimmee, Josh & I would drive ourselves to Starvation Slough & try to track down one of Florida's numerous Sus Scrofas (Wild Hog, to you unedumacated types)
Unfortunately, navigation is absolutely NOT my strongest skill (Seriously, I can get lost in a glass shower cubicle) & Central Florida, in failing light is NOT the best place to try & learn.
We didn't find any hogs. We DID find a lot of mosquitos, banana spiders, Saw grass & a canal. Somehow in a 1 mile saunter, we managed to cover about 5 miles (65% was in knee-deep, stagnant water) the last 4 of which I had to do barefooted, due to having literally walked the boots off my feet. Yeah, it pretty much sucked all round. We got back into the motel at around midnight, 4½ hours after dark. Tired, extremely sore, sweaty & thankful for cellphone GPS!
It was actually a lovely stroll through my favorite bit of public land. While perhaps momentarily bewildered as to our exact location, due to the overwhelming excitement of being in Jurassic Park, I would not use the term "lost" so easily.
QuoteOriginally posted by beachbowhunter:
Looks like that crew could have used a bigger boat.. :biglaugh:
Surplus space is kept to a minimum so as to do the same for rude individuals.
Hi Josh! :wavey:
Alrighty.
Wednesday night was to be my turn at the 'gators.
We launched the boat & immediately started seeing eyes. Mostly smallish lizards around the 4-5 foot mark & I passed them all.
I aso passed on a number of 6-7 footers, convinced that we'd run up on something bigger as the night progressed.
Well, we did run into a lovely 9, but he dissappeared beneath the lilies as soon as we were withing range & I couldn't see well enough to get a sure shot. Alligators really need to be hit in the side or belly for the arrow to take hold. The skin along their backs & tails is pretty well arrow-proof!
Cursing my luck, we motored back out into open water only to spot a big, big gator off in the murk. Big enough that at our 200yd distance, we could determine the gap between it's eyes. Not something you can do with the tiddlers.
Well, they don't get big by accident & this 'un were no exception. 30yds off of the bow, down he dropped, lost forever more to the murky depths.
Getting frustrated now.
Round about 2am, we were all tired, battered (a 60mph airboat ride ain't exactly the QE II) & bleary eyed under the intense glare of headlights & reflections off the water. Seeing a 6 foot gator, not too far off to our starboard side, I motioned for Chris to gun it over.
A good, solid shot to the flank brought the gator to it's final conclusion & it was soon tagged & gently cooling in the bottom of the boat.
I was so happy to have finally got a gator (It's been an ongoing affair of me not getting a gator, for four years!) I could barely contain myself! Hands were shaken, backs were patted, fists were bumped & we headed back to dry(ish) land for a looooong night's rest.
Forgot to mention..... Hotel maids are a different breed in Central Florida. Charles' 7 foot gator spent all night on ice in the hotel bathtub. Maids didn't bat a damned eyelid. This is not an uncommon ocurrence for them, but we tipped them well for their forbearance!
Thursday was all about sunburn & reptile anatomy.
Unlike deer or hogs, Alligators really do not want to come out of their skins & it took me the better part of 2 hours to get the thing shucked, butchered & iced down! 97º weather, cloudless skies & lack of sleep helped put a lovely rosy glow on the top of my head, nose & ears, however I didn't feel a bit of it. Butchering & meat-prep are the highlight of any hunt for me. I love the processing process as much as the hunt & getting inside something as different as a 6 foot lizard really had me exited. Call me weird, everyone does.
The evening saw Charles & Chris on a sightseeing trip up & down the Kissimmee river & floodplains.
It is one of the most beautiful places on earth, in my opinion & the biodiversity of the area rivals anything that Africa or the Amazon could possibly offer. Wild flowers abound & the birdlife is just awesome.
Shane had lit out earlier in the day, leaving Pete (Chris' Father) Josh & myself to go mooch around & try to scare up a pig or three.
Pete & I were dropped by a pond (MY pond!) on Starvation Slough. Josh would be dropped a couple of miles upwind & would work his way through the palms to us, as night descended.
Well, to cut a long story a wee bit shorter, I had a sounder of eating size pigs break through the palmettos about 50 yds from my setup & started working away from me. I managed to side-step around them & get a shot in, but in the failing dusk-light I misjudged the distance & dropped a Zwickey-tipped arrow right below the heart & lungs of a pretty hundred pounder. Nothing but dirt, dammit.
Pete'd had no luck & Josh saw nothing but a couple of snakes (A Pygmy Rattler & a Cottonmouth)
The next night produced similar results for we three & more flora & fauna spotted, cataloged & photographed by Charlie.
Saturday morning signaled an end to our trip & Pete very kindly volunteered to run Charles back to the airport in Orlando. We said our goodbyes & parted as even better friends than we met. A finer gent I have never shared a camp with yet & I fervently hope that we can repeat our frolics next year!
For Josh, Chris & I, well, we had one last chance at a grand hoorah.
My Gator....
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/robtattoo/IMG_20131003_113630_639_zps24992553.jpg) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/robtattoo/media/IMG_20131003_113630_639_zps24992553.jpg.html)
The pond on Starvation.....
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/robtattoo/IMG_20131003_170201_729_zpsf9858f9b.jpg) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/robtattoo/media/IMG_20131003_170201_729_zpsf9858f9b.jpg.html)
Hog path, where I expected to see action.....
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/robtattoo/IMG_20131003_170216_378_zps6d84d498.jpg) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/robtattoo/media/IMG_20131003_170216_378_zps6d84d498.jpg.html)
Hog Pirate! (yaaaarrrr).....
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y110/robtattoo/IMG_20131003_163036_373_zpsa630db01.jpg) (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/robtattoo/media/IMG_20131003_163036_373_zpsa630db01.jpg.html)
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/Gator2013stjudes009.jpg) (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/charles_10/media/Gator2013stjudes009.jpg.html)
No alcohol was involved!!
Good story telling all the way around! Brings back some fond memories for me. Those lizards are perfect eating size :thumbsup:
Excellent Story telling Charles and Rob...
I spent time with Charles once in WI and he indeed is a gentleman and also a HOOT! A quicker wit is hard to find!
Sounds like a grand ole time!
Love that gator hunting!
The purple ribbon is a tip of the cap to a dear friend fighting cancer. He hunted with me a couple of years ago and we became fast friends. The bastad must die.
Awesome guys! Neet gator too. Thought the part about cooling the gator in the tub was the best! All very cool. Glad you all had a great time!
Oh and Rob. Are those a few grays I see poppin through that beard! Haha. Oh I can't poke fun as they have been worming their way out since I turned 40 last yr!
It was a fun night. Looking forward to doing it again soon. Hopefully the water won't be so high next time. We had had a lot of rain, some of the areas we were running around in are normally cow pasture!
Not being good for much else, I tried very hard to get some video, but because of the lighting virtually none of it was worth anything. The one video that is entertaining, pretty well sums up the event.
ME or CHRIS:"What is that, a tail?"
ROB: "Don't know, let's grab it and see if it moves" lol
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f213/shane2841/Hunting%20and%20Scouting/th_20131002_213404.jpg) (http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f213/shane2841/Hunting%20and%20Scouting/20131002_213404.mp4)
That looks like a heck of an adventure!
Congrats !
Bisch
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/Gator2013stjudes013.jpg) (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/charles_10/media/Gator2013stjudes013.jpg.html)
Just realized I hadn't posted a picture of my "St Judes Gator"
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/charles_10/Alligatormount.jpg) (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/charles_10/media/Alligatormount.jpg.html)
UPS brought this to me last Thurs. Peter, Chris Horsman's dad took the head home with him, bleached and mounted it on a beautiful oak frame with name plate and mailed it to me. Guys, it just can't get better than this. What wonderful people on TRADGANG!