I am looking at some possible new spots for next year and one of them is known for having large alligators. How cold would the water need to be before you would feel comfortable using a dog?

I would skip that spot. Use to hunt around Surfside Tx and during a late season hunt had one go after my dog. Water temperatures were probably in the mid 50's. Did not get him but I was short some shells when I hunted the next time.

I hunt around them. I used to think when the temps got down in the 40’s for a few days it was safe to take my dog into the marsh. Last weekend I took this cell phone pic of a sizable gator on a levee chewing on an otter. It gave me the willies.

I hunt around gators all the time. Just don’t be a dumbass and your dog will be fine.

I just use John Paul’s dogs when I don’t wanna fetch my own birds out of gator infested waters.

I guess I like my dogs too much to chance it.

No kidding! And I thought rattlesnake avoidance was an issue.

X3

So if I hunt around gators chomping on otters I’ll find ducks...got it

Well, no. Just that there are no guarantees if you hunt around alligators and an otter is a lot more elusive in the water than a dog.

Gator's fear my dog!

BTW if you hunt at Engeling, this is a sample of what lurks in that little creek.

I'm out.