The record catches came during the state’s annual alligator hunt, which closed yesterday and which the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks says is crucial for controlling the reptile numbers in areas where the population is abundant.
The lottery-style hunt sees some 923 people given permits to catch two ‘gators each.
As the hunt got underway last week Beth Trammell – aka ‘The Alligator Queen’ broke the state record with a 723.5lb beast. Then, on Sunday morning, rookie hunter Dalco Turner brought to boat a monstrous 741.5lb bull ‘gator from a backwater area of the Mississippi River.
She described how the hunting group had the animal subdued and despatched within an hour – but as he was too big to get into the boat, they could do nothing but drag him into shallow water until help arrived.
