In all seriousness though, my experience is that it's not the gator that you can see that's the problem, it's the one you can't see. The other thing is it's not uncommon for them to be drawn to gun fire.

My recent gator encounter during youth season. From my blog:

"Listen Oliver, let's just wait till duck season is over before we tell Mom about the alligator. Ok?"

"Sure dad," he replied. Yet, somewhere during the 20 minute drive home this hush-hush agreement got lost in his little memory bank because as soon as we opened the kitchen door at home Oliver loudly announced "Dad almost got eaten by an enormous alligator!"

This is what happened: Oliver and Braden knocked down a couple birds in the rice canal. I sent Fiona, my lab, to get the birds. She brought the first one, but dropped it somewhere before getting to me. I sent her back to get the one she dropped, but instead she grabbed dead bird number 2. I then step down into the canal, thinking she dropped the first in the grass at the edge. With my back to the canal, and up to my waist in water, my son exclaims "Alligator!" I startle and scold him as a look over my shoulder "Oliver, don't joke about...." I then set a personal record for high jumping with waders, and scrambled out of the canal. I did not see it's head, only its tail , which looked about 6-8 inches wide.

This is what I think happened: splashing from half dead birds and the dog brought a large, hungry alligator to chomp down on something juicy. By the time the beast gets there, I'm in the water. The monster, (looking back I figure its at least 14-16 feet long, twice as big as the initial estimate by my friend Brent), started to eat me, but realized I wasn't bird or dog and left without attacking.

I'm not sending my dog into a rice canal until temperatures are below 65. Shudder.

I have one in the pond in my back yard. I'm scared to death about my little Yorkie.

If a dog gets bit by water moc...benadryl and rest...I carry benadryl in my blind bag just for that situation. I hope I never have to use it but a water moc shouldn't kill a dog unless it's airway gets swollen...in that case get it to the vet asap.

Put a bounty on him Bill.

Have you asked TP&W to remove him? There are also pros available to remove and relocate him. Or, go rent a backhoe and I'll bring my suppressed 22lr. SSS

Actually, it should be SSSE, cause gator tail is pretty dang good Eating.

Judd what's the dose for benadryl in that situation?

http://www.veterinaryplace.com/dog-medicine/benadryl/

http://www.petmd.com/dog/care/can-i-give-my-dog-benadryl-and-if-so-how-much

1mg/lb and I normally use the generic but look for the same dosage of active ingredient. Those are two great reads for things to use it for. I've used it as the 2nd link states for ant bites/spider bites/hives. Yes, my dog got hives once...she's allergic to some antibiotics, dayum near killed her little over a year ago before we figured out what was going on. Emergency vet in Mesquite/Garland figured it out and had her back to normal in almost 24 hours.

Great info Judd, thanks..
Hope all is well with you and yours.

https://www.facebook.com/richard.ray.334...e=3&theater


Looks like they are still active

I'd be patching up a few shotgun holes in my blind after that.

I am originally from FL and guided and hunted the Glades and Lake Okeechobee. Gators are active the majority of the time, used dogs everyday. Always, had some buckshot shells handy and a couple taped to motor handle or airboat stick.

Didn't allow retrieves into thick cover ever.

If you see four alligators that means there are at least 12. My rule of thumb is WATER temperature needs to be 50 or below not air temperature.