Fellas,
Lance called bout 4 pm. Him 'n some of hiz boys 'n Burch went down ta the Pearl River north of Jackson. Seems they won a spot in the gator lottery. They showed up in our work boat. Sez he felt like the high dollar boat fellas with a big roll bar fulla spotlites 'n such wuz laughin' at the rednecks.
An ole game 'n fish law tole 'em ta hold back 'n let the others skeedaddle.....he figgered there wuz a big ole gator jest across frum where they put in....bout 300-400 yards. They waited 'n got their lites turnt on. Sho nuff, it took Jeff bout 15 minutes ta spot a big gator tryin' ta cross the water. [I seen Jeff shoot a cottonmouth in the eye with a .22 whilst standin' in the workboat crossin' the Big Muddy when that cottonmouth come up on a swell made by a big upriver tow. Jeff haz a keen eye.]
Jeff threw the 100 pound line 'n hooked that gator. They rassled a while, til Greg hooked him too. The gator went ta the bottom. By 'n by he come up 'n Lance put the wire noose on hiz neck, but he had ta turn it over ta one of the young fellas. By 'n by Lance shot that gator in the head.
They didnt know how ta hunt gators. The game law wuz everwhere....tellin' how ta do this 'n how ta do that. When they come out with a 12' 250 pound gator, this woman come up 'n sez "I wish ya'll would come back ever week 'n clean them gators out". I reckon the gators been eatin' poodles. Lance sez the woman wuz worried bout the little pardners.
I knew the gators been comin' north.....like folks frum Florida. :wink: However, I didnt know how thick they had got north of Jackson. Lance sez the fellas in the boat behind them come in with a 14 footer which went over 400 pounds.
Next thing ya know gators will be in Memphis....then St. Louie...then Michigan. Reckon they got a cravin' fer muslims? :wink:
regards
bearridge
ps Lance sez they wuz dressin' that gator. I tole him ta bring me some smoked gator, some gator jerky 'n some fried gator. I caint tell ya what he sez.....little pardners mite be readin'.
Of a Jamaica gentleman, then lately dead -- 'He will not, whither he is now gone (said Johnson), find much difference, I believe, either in the climate or the company.' Dr. Samuel Johnson