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Gators and Dogs #6010892 11/04/15 08:37 PM
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Never thought I'd have this issue in North Texas, but unfortunately I do.

I got easy access (via private land) to a pretty promising spot on a public lake back during teal season. At first noticed two gators in this cove - one about 10' and the other probably around 6' - of course didn't hunt the dogs during all of teal because of it. Went back to the spot this past Saturday to scout and now there are not 2, but at least 4 gators...looks like the 10' is still around and the 3 others are around 6'.

I know you guys down South deal with this a lot more - at what water temperature do you feel comfortable running your dogs or if you know there are gators around do you even run them at all?

Honestly, I've already pretty much decided the dogs won't be hunting this spot this year - my dogs are like my kids and I don't want to put them in that kind of danger. I've got a few private land spots to take them, but odds are I won't get to put them on too many birds there. I was looking forward to the number of retrieves they were going to be able to put under their belts, but the risk just doesn't seem worth it. Never hunted dogs around gators before, so for all I know they may shut down once the water temps get in the 50s.

This public water spot was loaded with birds this past Saturday and looks extremely promising for the season since it's a very very long run across big water from the nearest ramp and there is no public walk in access, not to mention the landowner owns more or less all of the land surrounding this cove...just sucks it's infested with gators (by north texas standards).

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6010919 11/04/15 08:58 PM
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Well not sure why you think this is a "new" issue in North Texas because just about every lake in NTX has gators even though you may not see them often. We have always run our dogs all year even during teal season and have never had an encounter of heard of it happening. I would not worry about it they are not really social creatures.

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6010924 11/04/15 09:00 PM
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Yeah... I'd find somewhere else to hunt personally.

I hunt a few places that I know have gators and it keeps me puckered when its warmer out. By late season you should be ok I would think.. It's been in the 70s this week though.

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6010926 11/04/15 09:01 PM
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Also, I bet that spot you found will be hunted this weekend also, lot of places that have not had water for years do now and people will know about them.

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: mohunter] #6010965 11/04/15 09:19 PM
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I would be very hesitant to hunt a dog if I knew a 10' alligator frequented the area. If it is running water you would probably be ok but if it is swimming water then I would definitely not do it.

I'd say once it gets under 60 degrees as a high for week or so you'd be good to go.


Originally Posted by garrett
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6010972 11/04/15 09:23 PM
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Just about all Tx creeks, rivers, lakes have gators from north to south from Central to east Tx... and even further west or south west... some more than other but they are there either way.. they stop feeding when a constant temp gets below the 70s and then go dormant when you have a constant temp of 55.

You hear plenty say they see them in winter and are worried and yes its possible to see them if the weather is right they will bask but that about the extent of it.

Only time id be worried with dogs is if we have a warm spell for a week or so and the sun comes out enough to warm the water temp and they can bask... and that's only right now when the temps are on the edge.. still though if its cloudy and windy they wont be active..

My main hunting spot is infested with them.. im not being funny or stretching the truth.. while fishing during the summer and fall I see anywere from 10-30 in the late afternoon before dark.. teal season is a different story but still once it gets this time of year we are wading in and our blind is half submerged in water.. once it gets to be around a constant 50-60 during the day the dogs can join..

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6010981 11/04/15 09:29 PM
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I don't like them bastages around a dog. No freakin way no how! I have been witness to that lousy SOBs getting in on a dog. Let's just say it got dealt with seconds before disaster.

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: wal1809] #6010983 11/04/15 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted By: wal1809
I don't like them bastages around a dog. No freakin way no how! I have been witness to that lousy SOBs getting in on a dog. Let's just say it got dealt with seconds before disaster.


You should see them at the jump eek2

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6010989 11/04/15 09:32 PM
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id take the dog, I'd rather he get the duck than me...on top of that dogs are replaceable


Attention rickym, this is not a troll post, just a good hearted fun type of post
Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Navasot] #6011073 11/04/15 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted By: Navasot
Originally Posted By: wal1809
I don't like them bastages around a dog. No freakin way no how! I have been witness to that lousy SOBs getting in on a dog. Let's just say it got dealt with seconds before disaster.


You should see them at the jump eek2


I have. Yall keep your gators downstream. One of them made its way up cross the FM road, rather under it, and found it way to us. Aggravatin sombreros!

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: garrett] #6011093 11/04/15 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: garrett
id take the dog, I'd rather he get the duck than me...on top of that dogs are replaceable


If I had a brillo pad feeling dog...I'd feel the same way.


Originally Posted by Phil Robertson
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: wal1809] #6011101 11/04/15 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted By: wal1809
Originally Posted By: Navasot
Originally Posted By: wal1809
I don't like them bastages around a dog. No freakin way no how! I have been witness to that lousy SOBs getting in on a dog. Let's just say it got dealt with seconds before disaster.


You should see them at the jump eek2


I have. Yall keep your gators downstream. One of them made its way up cross the FM road, rather under it, and found it way to us. Aggravatin sombreros!


I don't doubt it one bit.. really not that far coming up the creek

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: garrett] #6011158 11/04/15 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted By: garrett
id take the dog, I'd rather he get the duck than me...on top of that dogs are replaceable


You have an open invite to come hunt with me next teal season, I'll find a good spot with a couple 10' gators and you can bring your dog!! up


Originally Posted by garrett
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6011167 11/04/15 11:10 PM
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I'll shoot any gator that approaches me or my dogs. SSS


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Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cast] #6011295 11/05/15 12:14 AM
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Originally Posted By: Cast
I'll shoot any gator that approaches me or my dogs. SSS


Ageed!
I've got a CHL and one of my family was being threatened with death...


"Duck hunter's minds are like concrete. All mixed up and permanently set."
Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6011336 11/05/15 12:36 AM
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I've had personal "encounters" with some gators and I'll hunt somewhere else.


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Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6011350 11/05/15 12:42 AM
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My Gator Dog Dash Rip Rock from south Louisiana eats gators for lunch. Y'all know Dash. Nephew to Blaze the Wonder Dog. Know how he earns a livin' from me. He'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad Lizard. Not like going down the pond retreivin' Woodies and Coots. This Gator, swallow you whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', an' down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that'll get you out huntin, put all your hunts into limits. But it's not gonna be pleasant. Dash values his neck a lot more than that neck you gots, chief. He'll find him for a hundred, but he'll catch him, and I'll kill him. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then speak up. If you want to play it cheap, be hunting with all the Barnies the whole winter. Dash don't want no volunteers, He don't want no Labs around, there's just too many dogs on that island already. 100 Dog Biscuits for Dash by himself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.


Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6011384 11/05/15 12:59 AM
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No way I'm taking my dogs when it's even warm. Couldn't tell you how many gators I saw down in Port Arthur this last weekend.

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6011499 11/05/15 01:56 AM
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so are you say all the Big lakes around Dallas all have gators?
I've only heard about the one at Lewisville last summer.
I've never see a gator up here personally.
I'll be on th lookout. duel


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Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Fowl Language] #6011504 11/05/15 02:01 AM
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Originally Posted By: Fowl Language
so are you say all the Big lakes around Dallas all have gators?
I've only heard about the one at Lewisville last summer.
I've never see a gator up here personally.
I'll be on th lookout. duel

Yes, all of them including the really close one like Ray Hubbard and most of the other ones east of that.

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Fowl Language] #6011659 11/05/15 03:04 AM
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Originally Posted By: Fowl Language
so are you say all the Big lakes around Dallas all have gators?
I've only heard about the one at Lewisville last summer.
I've never see a gator up here personally.
I'll be on th lookout. duel


During the floods this spring, a gator migrated out if the nature preserve in Fort Worth and was caught downtown. I was fishing the Trinity and saw wardens that were looking for it and they told me what was going on. Saw it on the news that night when they pulled a 10 footer out a few hundred yards from one of the banks I fished from before I moved.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
I just turned it on . I was looking bird dogs in the butt this morning.


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Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6011696 11/05/15 03:14 AM
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They are there. Lake Worth. Eagle Mountain. Arlington. Joe Poole. Plenty of them.


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Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Sniper John] #6011781 11/05/15 03:58 AM
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Originally Posted By: Sniper John
My Gator Dog Dash Rip Rock from south Louisiana eats gators for lunch. Y'all know Dash. Nephew to Blaze the Wonder Dog. Know how he earns a livin' from me. He'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad Lizard. Not like going down the pond retreivin' Woodies and Coots. This Gator, swallow you whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', an' down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that'll get you out huntin, put all your hunts into limits. But it's not gonna be pleasant. Dash values his neck a lot more than that neck you gots, chief. He'll find him for a hundred, but he'll catch him, and I'll kill him. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then speak up. If you want to play it cheap, be hunting with all the Barnies the whole winter. Dash don't want no volunteers, He don't want no Labs around, there's just too many dogs on that island already. 100 Dog Biscuits for Dash by himself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.



That's a big [censored] gator

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6012033 11/05/15 01:21 PM
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Thanks for the input guys. I've hunted around gators quite a bit - just never with a dog. They don't bother me, but I've also never really paid them much attention as far as their habits go when it gets colder.

I'll probably take the dog once it gets colder like Nav said.

Re: Gators and Dogs [Re: Cochise] #6012105 11/05/15 02:01 PM
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What about water moccasins? Had one in my blind Sunday...

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