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I worry about my dog...
#6946772
11/05/17 12:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 84
Fowl Language
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 84 |
Are there really Gators in the big lakes of North Texas?. I mud motor into many of the back areas scouting and looking, but never see any? I spoke to a GW once who said yes, but I have never come across any on my trips out. Are we talking big ones or the little guys who shy away? Or are they just not that active and I don't see them.?
Thoughts?
2014 Texas State Duck Calling Champion Fowl Language Game Calls
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6946905
11/05/17 03:00 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,221
jnd59
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,221 |
The only place I've seen or heard gators is at lake worth. I'm sure they are around but I haven't heard of any dog losses due to them. When i was young I used to hunt the swamps in Florida. Gators would usually clear out when we started setting up. Unless they've grown used to humans they didn't like being around us. But back then it was strickly shoot on site so...I can't say for certain you wouldn't have a problem but you would most likely see them far off. I don't know how far they can swim under water but my experience is they at least get within 50-75 yards or so before diving.
No matter how high a duck flies a hammer still breaks a window.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6946933
11/05/17 03:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,729
Exbellicus
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,729 |
Maybe a territorial momma around...but probably more scared of you then you are of them. Is it worth risking a two thousand dollar hunt trial dog in warm weather? Up to you...
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6947071
11/05/17 07:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,203
Blake E.
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,203 |
Seen them in the Red river.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6947134
11/05/17 08:19 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,626
Erichugh22
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,626 |
They're just about everywhere. They usually find one or two a year here in bastrop in the Colorado river. They had a 12 footer poached a couple years ago.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6947325
11/05/17 11:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 332
claypool
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 332 |
Yes, at any given time a lake up here can have gators. Saw one eat a beaver once while duck hunting a lake near Dallas.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6947349
11/05/17 11:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,548
JCB
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,548 |
I have seen two in my life on Lake Ray Hubbard. They are around but not in large enough numbers to worry about in my opinion. I would be more worried about Cottonmouths.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6947634
11/06/17 02:58 AM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 108
KingHunter17
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 108 |
I have seen a few while bow fishing at night on lake lavon.
If the trigger is gold, the birds will fold.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6947782
11/06/17 09:06 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 922
TrackQuack
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 922 |
They are in the rivers, lakes, ponds sometimes of which are pretty far from lakes/rivers. Just like most things use common sense, just like our own fears it is pretty irrational. Your dog is at a much higher risk to get diseases, soft tissue tears, broken bones, snake bit, bacterial infections, lost/stolen while hunting than eaten by an alligator.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6948466
11/06/17 06:40 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 107
TXCrossTimbers
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 107 |
If it is part of the Sabine or Trinity river system, they have gators in them.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6948509
11/06/17 07:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,237
Judd
#1 Creedmoor Fan
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#1 Creedmoor Fan
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,237 |
Just use some common sense...they are there...I've seen them on Fork, Hubbard, Lavon, Lewisville and Cedar Creek.
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
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6949040
11/07/17 01:06 AM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,850
Merican Duck Hunter
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,850 |
I'm far more scared of ice/hypothermia up here than gators.... I've hunted down in south Louisiana where they peppered the gators to keep them from getting the teal before the dog could get to them.
Arise.Kill.Eat -Acts 10:13 I have read a bunch of stuff on the internet about Star Wars but that does not mean I can skin a deer with a light saber.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6950289
11/07/17 08:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,398
bentman
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,398 |
Its duck hunting get after it
If it bleeds I can KILL IT
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6950325
11/07/17 08:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 447
woodduckhunter
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 447 |
shine everything good before daylight, and don't send him until you can see good. could there still be one there? yes, but with the weather that we have had the last 3 or 4 years, you wouldn't ever get to hunt your dog if you were that worried about it. I know guys down south and in LA that hunt their dogs during early teal and don't even think about not hunting them during big duck. there are years that alligators eith come back out in dec and jan or never really den up, not sure which one.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6950376
11/07/17 09:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
I have one in the pond behind my house.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6951277
11/08/17 02:26 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,091
Wacm
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,091 |
I grew up hunting ducks in Lake Okeechobee in FL. That lake is covered in gators....big ones too. So the good ole boys I hunted with would pull into our hunting spot and fire a few shots into the water and then watch...it either ran em off or called em in. Then they were run off more aggressively after that. Seemed to work well. We never had any problems.
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Re: I worry about my dog...
[Re: Fowl Language]
#6951398
11/08/17 03:42 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 629
Astater
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 629 |
Saw one south of Dallas on a Trinity slough a few years back. It was NOT one of these smaller ones...it was quite large. 7-8ftish...
The things we do for ducks... NRA Life Member Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Lifetime License/Member
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