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Kasey Cauthen
09-27-2011
09:25 AM ET (US)
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Well, looks like we did it again guys! I truly can't say enough about my friends at Smoke House Outfitters. This particular hunt was very unique as we got out of our usual comfort zone of the river, and tried our hand at some true "lake gator fishing". I went on this hunt thinking I had it all figured out, but after "TWO" misses, I started to reevaluate what i was doing and my confidence level fell to the bottom of the lake. Russ "in all his wisdom" told me to suck it up and keep after it. To make a long story short, the next shot opportunity was not wasted, and my prize PFA gator was in the boat! If you are looking for an adventure of a lifetime I highly recommend giving Russ and Teresa a call. I can assure that you will not be disappointed. I can only offer two pieces of advice, listen to your guide, and don't forget the tape and pistol!!!!......Kasey
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Wade H. Snyder
09-25-2011
10:04 PM ET (US)
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My name is Wade Snyder and we had a great time Gator Hunting with Russ and Bernie. We started out at Russes house and had a orientation and safety class. We were also told all of the details, were exactly to sit in the boat, when to shoot the cross bow, spotting the Gators and the 100 other questions that we had for Russ and Bernie. When we arrived at the boat dock later on that night we began to spot Gators immediately. I was really surprised to see a 8 to 9 footer within the first 10 minutes of the hunt. It was hard to believe that my friend and Hunting partner Harvey passed up on that shot, but we had just started the hunt. We were very, very fortunate to have just arrived on the outgoing tide, this draws the Gators out of the saw grass / reeds. We hunted until 4 a.m. our guides Russ and Bernie would not give up finding us a monster Gator. At 4 a.m. we landed a Monster 11 foot 2 inch Gator. It took all four of us to get it in the boat. The Gator dragged us around like rag dolls in Russes boat. I would highly recommend this hunt for anyone out there that wants to find a trophy gator. We both thought that Russ and Bernie were very, very polite and treated us with respect and honesty. We took the Gator back to Russes Shop and he took the extra time to make Harvey a really cool Gator Hide Rug with the full head attached. We had a blast and met some new friends. I am going to put in for a gator permit every year and I cannot wait to go out with Russ again. Awesome Hunt - 5 star. Edited 09-25-2011 10:07 PM
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Spam deleted by QuickTopic 09-03-2011 07:53 AM
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Aaron Brooks
07-10-2011
05:18 PM ET (US)
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My name is Aaron Brooks last year I was 15 years old when I was lucky enough for my dad to take me on an alligator hunt with Russ Carter. I was also lucky enough to be with my dad Boyd the year before who killed a 9 footer. His story is also on this page. I would love to tell my story on this webpage but I know it would be so long that most people would not read it even though this is the most exciting thing I have ever done. What I would like to say is that the gator that Russ and Teresa were able to put me on was a monster right at 12 foot and weighing over 600 pounds. Needless to say the excitement that went into shooting this monster at meerly feet from the end of our boat and the hours it took to get it into our boat are a memory with my father I will always have. I would like to say to anyone who is looking for information on an alligator hunt I would strongly recomend Smokehouse Outfitters. My father who has hunted game with outfitters in other states has always said how important enjoying the hunt is and not just the kill. Russ and Teresa both are good and honest people who truly worked hard staying up all night and most the next day making sure that we had an unforgetable and safe hunt. I don't just count them as people who will take me gator hunting next time I am drawn, but also friends.
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Ryan P. Walker
11-17-2010
08:47 PM ET (US)
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If your story is anything like mine, you’ve had to wait quite a while to get drawn for the Georgia Alligator hunt. I was rejected three years in a row and finally got drawn in year four. I had done quite a bit of research beforehand and was discouraged by the very low success rates of previous years’ hunts. I had made up my mind by year two that I wanted to use an outfitter. I searched around and had about three good prospects. By year three I had decided I wanted to use Smokehouse Outfitters when I finally got drawn. Within thirty minutes of the draw results getting posted online I called Russ about booking my hunt. Before the day was over I had booked Smokehouse Outfitters for the opening weekend of the 2010 hunt.
As the hunt date closed in Russ and Teresa kept in touch with me to make sure everything was in order for my hunt. I knew what I did and did not need to bring, where to be when, and, most importantly, how much cooler I would need to transport my prize home.
My friend/cameraman Sonny and I arrived in Baxley, GA, on Friday Night. The hunt didn’t officially open until midnight, so we had a few hours to kill. We checked into the hotel (I recommend the Budget Host Inn, not the Key West Inn) and got a bite to eat, then met up with Russ, Teresa, and Kevin to gas up and make the drive out to our first spot. They had scouted out a new spot for this year and didn’t expect there to be many other hunters, if any, at this location. They were right; I think we only saw one other boat out in this particular area.
We pushed off the dock just after midnight on opening day. We were careful to avoid sandbars because the tide was still going out, but we ended up getting stuck on one about an hour into the hunt. We hadn’t seen any alligators yet, but we weren’t about to get into the water to push off the sandbar, which was really more of a mud-bar. We used poles and an oar for about 30 minutes trying to get unstuck. Finally, Sonny had the great idea to just shift our weight in unison to slowly work the boat out of the mud/sand. After a few minutes of rocking we were on our way again. We could have gotten frustrated, but everyone kept a great attitude and chalked it up as another chapter in my hunt story (thanks for reading, by the way).
After we got out into the larger lake area of this location, we started making our way around the banks and spotting for alligators. We saw a few alligators in some inlets, but didn’t risk going in some because of the still-shallow water. One of the first alligators we spotted was a decent ten-footer, but it was tucked back into an area we couldn’t get to. We kept on moving.
My plan all along was to get a good size alligator to have a pair of boots made. From my research we were looking for somewhere from eight to eleven feet long. Anything over eleven feet is more likely to have a lot of scarring, which means less prime leather available for boots. So, when the first real shooter we came upon was judged to be about 9 feet I got really excited. This was just the right size for my plan.
As we were just getting into shooting range of this alligator it went under. We hung around the same spot a few minutes and the alligator surfaced again, about fifty yards away. Again, we slowly made our way over to the alligator, but it went under before we got into range. We repeated this one more time, but the alligator didn’t surface again – or it did so out of our sight.
We boated around for about another hour, going in and out of coves when we could. When coming out of one cove we spotted a big alligator toward the middle of this lake area we were hunting. As we moved in closer Russ got excited; saying this one had to be better than twelve feet. It was the largest alligator he recalled seeing on a hunt.
Everything was coming together. We were easing in very slowly and I had the alligator in my crosshairs. Everything was right. Russ was whispering instructions to me – telling me to take my time, aim, let a breath out, and take the shot. BAM! I took the shot -- and missed. My shot was just over the top of the alligator’s neck. Here this alligator was the biggest target Russ has ever put a client on, we were well within range and I missed the shot. I MISSED the shot. I was totally deflated, but hoping the alligator would come back up.
We circled a few times and finally the alligator did come back up about a hundred yards away. We slowly made our way over to it, but it wasn’t going to give us another opportunity. At fifty yards away the alligator dove down again, with quite a bit of splashing this time. We kept circling the area for about twenty minutes, but that alligator wasn’t coming back up with us around.
I felt horrible. Driving down I had thoughts about getting the perfect size alligator for boots, but also had ideas about going home with a state record alligator. (What hunter doesn’t dream of bringing home a record animal?) At this point in my hunt I started hoping I wouldn’t go home empty handed.
Russ was very encouraging this entire time, telling me to take my time, and that we would stay out all night if we needed to. I felt bad about the miss and it showed on my face. Russ kept assuring me that we would find some more alligators, maybe not that big, but we would find some more. And, of course, we did. Soon we saw several more alligators; some were smaller than I wanted and others went under before we could get in range.
To add to the adventure, we saw a pair of bobcats up on a hill while we were boating back and forth in this area. The bobcats were just as interested in what we were doing as we were in what they were doing. It was pretty cool to watch them for a while; it took my mind off the shot I missed.
About an hour later we followed the river out of the lake area and came across a respectable eight-footer. This alligator was just at the bank and we were coming up from behind it. I took my time, aimed just behind the alligator’s head, said a prayer I wouldn’t miss again, and pulled the trigger.
I missed again.
I don’t know if I had the wrong crosshairs on it or I moved or the boat moved, but my shot was a little too high. I actually skipped the arrow just off the end of his snout. Because we were coming in from behind the shot really wasn’t that far off. With the angle I was shooting from, if I had brought the shot down just a hair it would have been perfect. But it wasn’t, so I had now missed the first two alligators I took a shot at. Crud.
I didn’t have long to wallow in self-pity. As soon as we turned the boat around, we spotted another alligator about the same size. This one was about fifty yards in front of the boat. We reloaded and made our way over to it.
I knew from the two shots I had missed that I was aiming a little too high. As we came in closer to this alligator, I made sure to lower my aim a bit from my previous shots. I was right on it. Russ gave me the go ahead to take the shot, but the alligator went down a split second before I pulled the trigger. I had deliberately aimed lower this time, but my arrow was still too high. It was now three or four in the morning. We began making our way back toward the boat dock. I felt miserable and frustrated. I had not only missed three shots, but I had missed the biggest gator Russ had ever come up on. Through it all, Russ, Kevin and Teresa were very encouraging. As we approached the boat dock we didn’t stop as I expected, but kept going right on by. We headed up the other side of the river. Although we didn’t see any more gators that night, Russ wasn’t giving up. We stayed on the river until sunrise. As we got the boat loaded up and ready to go, Russ insisted that I come out to his house the next afternoon for target practice. It felt like an extremely long drive back to the hotel that night.
Sonny and I went back to the hotel and checked in with the front desk clerk, telling her that we would be staying another night. Good thing we checked in with her – she thought we had left and checked us out. No big deal. Our room was still available and our stuff was still there. We grabbed some of complimentary breakfast (not good, but we were hungry so it worked) and headed off to sleep.
We got up that afternoon and got some lunch, then met Russ at his house for a little target practice. He had a nice little pond out back where I was able to take a lot of target shots at some floating plastic bottles. I’m sure glad we had the target practice. We determined that the crossbow was sighted in for Russ, a left-hander. I’m right-handed, so my shots were pulling slightly to the left. It was something we had noticed the night before, but it was not as much of a problem as aiming too high. We corrected the left-right problem at the scope and corrected the too high problem with my aim. At 25 yards I could hit a plastic bottle every time. Those alligators were in trouble now.
After the target practice, my confidence was mostly restored. We went back to the hotel for a few hours, and then got some dinner. Heading back out to the river on Saturday night, I felt good that it was going to happen. Sonny and I joked on the drive out that we would have an alligator in the boat by midnight and be back at the hotel asleep by 3 am. (We were still tired from the night before and wanted some good rest before the long drive home.)
Russ had warned us that the place we were putting in the water the second night would be crowded with hunters, but he also said that we would see a lot more alligators. He was right on both counts. When we pulled into the boat launch there must have been a dozen empty boat trailers already there. We saw one boat spotting the area just around the boat launch. I was concerned the area would be too crowded with other hunters. Russ said not to worry-- he was gonna take us a good way away from the boat launch to an area where we probably wouldn’t see as many hunters. Again, he was right.
We got into the boat to leave the dock, and I knew from target practice that I could hit the mark. Still, I was nervous that I was going to blow my chance after waiting four years. My friends and family were checking facebook to see when I finally got my alligator. I didn’t want to let them down. I didn’t want to let myself down. We headed out into the night.
We set out from the boat launch and away from the other hunters in the area. It didn’t take long to spot some alligators in this area. We saw a few near the banks, but determined they were too small. We spotted a good sized one out toward the middle of the river and headed in that direction. This alligator was pretty big, over ten feet. It was swimming away from us so I had a broad backside shot. My heart was pounding as we pulled in closer. Thinking back to target practice that afternoon, I knew the scope was dead on. If I missed it would be my fault – not the equipment. I put the crosshairs on it and waited for Russ to give me the go ahead. He said okay and I took the shot. Well, I messed it up again. I was at the right height, but I was way left. I don’t know if the boat was moved by a wave or if I just moved my arm, but that shot was terrible. The alligator went under and didn’t come up again.
No matter; there were plenty of alligators in this area. We hadn’t been on the water an hour yet. I knew we had a long night ahead of us, if needed. We started heading up the river again, crossing from one side to the other, passing by alligators that were too small. Whenever we spotted a good one and made our way over, it would go under just as we got close. Then we would cross the river again because we spotted another. I didn’t have time to feel bad about the missed shot because we were too busy chasing down alligators.
Finally, we started closing in on one about seven feet long. Since I had missed four shots already I wasn’t too picky about the size of the alligator anymore. I was willing to take a shot on just about any of legal size. We moved in close to the bank where this was one sitting. I took aim and pulled the trigger. Nope. Again I was too high – but not as high as previous shots. Russ had explained everything to me the first night about how the alligators were sort of “hanging” in the water. I knew that I had to aim below the water to get a good meaty shot behind the head. I just misjudged how steep they were hanging in the water. This shot was right behind the head and my shot was below the water line, but it just went behind the head and missed the alligator’s neck/body. Oh well. I was ready to keep moving. There were a lot of alligators out there.
We crisscrossed the river a couple more times and came up on another, almost identical shot. The alligator, about eight feet long, was near the bank and hanging in the water like the previous one. I knew I needed to lower my aim a little. I aimed right on my mark as we eased in closer. We got within range and I fired. I can’t believe it. I missed AGAIN. Like my third miss, this alligator went under just as I was pulling the trigger and my shot ended up too high. I was on my mark; the alligator just wasn’t on my mark when the arrow got there.
(OK. Timeout. If you are keeping count, I have missed SIX shots at this point. You can forget that number now. No more missed shots in this story!)
By now it is closing in on 11:30 pm of night two and I had missed six shots. Kevin and Teresa, seeing me so discouraged, began kidding with me to cheer me up. I remember Teresa saying that the first six shots were free, but I needed to pay per shot after that. Her joking did help to calm me a little. We took a moment to allow me to regroup. I sat down, had a Coke and reflected on my shots. I knew from target practice that I could consistently hit a floating plastic bottle at 25 yards. I resolved it was not going to happen again.
We spotted an alligator on the other side of the river and went over to check it out, but before we could get anywhere near range it went under. We spotted again and saw an alligator at what I think was the same spot as my last shot. It might have been the exact same alligator. Instead of heading toward it at the same angle as before, we took our time and moved the boat around behind it a little more.
The alligator was close to the bank with its head just barely touching the reeds. We moved in as slowly as the motor would take us. At forty yards out I began getting the alligator in my sights. At thirty yards out Kevin cut the motor and we continued to drift toward the alligator. Russ told me to line up the shot. I was ready.
At 25 yards, Russ told me I could take the shot whenever I was ready. After all the previous missed shots, I wanted to make sure I had a good mark. I held back a little longer than I should have.
The boat kept drifting in toward the alligator. Because we had cut the motor, there was no slowing down; we were headed straight for it. At fifteen yards I still hadn’t pulled the trigger. I checked and double checked my aim. The alligator caught on to what was happening and went under. I didn’t care anymore. We were almost on top of the alligator so I just aimed the crossbow a foot lower than where the alligator had just been and pulled the trigger. I think I held my breath the entire time I had the alligator in my sights, and now that I had pulled the trigger I still didn’t want to breathe. I thought it was miss number seven as the arrow disappeared below the surface, but when I saw the splashing and thrashing in the water I knew that I had finally made the shot. We let the alligator do its thing for a while until it calmed down. After it had calmed a bit, we pulled it beside the boat and let it taste a bullet. I don’t think it liked it, but that was enough to stun the alligator so we could close those jaws and get it taped up. We pulled it into the boat and tied the legs back.
Wow. There it was. After all the state rejections, after all the missed shots, after all the frustration, there it was in the boat finally. I felt awesome. What time was it? Midnight.
We headed back to the boat dock with my roughly eight-foot alligator. I didn’t realize how far from the dock we had gone. Now that we had my alligator in the boat we seemed to see three times as many alligators around. We passed by what must have been a fresh nesting spot, with about thirty baby alligators out playing on a sandbar. As we passed one alligator we noticed it had something in its mouth. As we got closer we could see that the ‘something’ was actually another alligator of similar size. We started to turn the boat around to get some video of that scene, but before we got turned around completely the alligator let go. The other must have still been alive because as soon as the first let go they both disappeared from sight.
It took us nearly an hour to get back to the boat dock. The entire time we were hunting in this ‘crowded’ area, I think we only saw four other boats on the water. However, we knew from the number of boat trailers still at the launch that we were one of the first to return. We loaded up everything and headed back to the skinning shack. The drive back the first night had seemed extremely long, but this time our excitement made the time go by much faster. Our prediction of getting a gator by midnight had come true, but it didn’t look like we would get to bed by three a.m.
We got back to the skinning shack and Russ, Teresa and Kevin got to work processing the alligator. Russ made sure to confirm with me how I wanted the gator skinned to save as much of the hide as possible. They did an excellent job of keeping everything perfect. I netted out with about forty pounds of meat, the head, the feet, and the entire hide. The official measurement was eight feet, three inches. It was not a record-breaker, but just right for a pair of boots.
It took me four years to get drawn for a tag. It took me six missed shots before I finally took my alligator. It will take me over six months to get my tanned alligator hide back from the tannery and another year or more to have that leather turned into a custom pair of alligator boots. I’m a patient man. I can wait.
Would I recommend Smokehouse Outfitters for your alligator hunt? Whole-heartedly, YES. Russ, Teresa, and Kevin are professionals. They made my hunt memorable and successful by making sure I was informed and prepared, and they were willing to work overtime to make it happen.
Is it an expensive undertaking? Yes.
Would you like to wait years for a tag to go home empty handed? Probably not.
Do it right. Get an experienced outfitter like Smokehouse Outfitters and go home with a trophy!
Russ, Teresa, Kevin – thank you so much. I had an awesome experience and look forward to my next alligator hunt with you! (And maybe a hog hunt next year, too.)
Sincerely,
Ryan P. Walker
Successful Georgia Alligator Hunter – 2010
(This is not a paid endorsement. I am a real paying customer and would be happy to tell you more about my experience. You can contact me at ryan@rpwconsulting.net.)
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Larry Craig
04-25-2010
04:39 PM ET (US)
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Wow! What a rush. I never would have though that this hog hunt was going to be this exciting when we planned it. That was the best time I had ever had hunting anything. Can't beleive I had to take that hog with a knife but, now I couldnt imagine doing it any other way. I want to thank Russ,Teresa and all the other guy's that made this ole country boy have a hunt of a lifetime right here in Georgia. Can't wait till next year and maybe get one of them Big bad gators too......Larry
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Kasey Cauthen
03-19-2010
12:18 PM ET (US)
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I know that your motto is "if you aren't livin on the edge", and now that I have experienced smokehouse hog hunting I truly know what that means!!! I thought that my past alligator hunt with you was the thrill of a lifetime, but boy was I wrong. There is nothing like chasing down a "bad ass" boar hog through the thick brush, never knowing which way he is going to turn. I want to thank Nicholas for releasing Hammer, because if that hadn't of happened I may not have had such a thrilling story to tell my family and friends. It still would have been a great trip, but in my opinion, killing a hog with a knife (now that I have done it) is the ultimate in adventure and excitement. Thanks again to Russ, Teresa, and all the guys! I can't wait until next time.....Kasey
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Boyd Brooks
09-24-2009
10:04 PM ET (US)
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Like most people wanting to hunt Zone 7 it took us 3 years to get drawn to hunt. That is 3 years plus the 45 years before which took the time to get ready to take an alligator by reading the articles and watching the videos and dreaming the dreams. Even after all the prep work I still would have to say nothing could fully prepare you for what waits in the water.
Everything about out trip fell into place. Everything from the call to Russ to get the information to the room we stayed in. The hunt was on a cool night with just enough wind to keep most of the mosquitoes back in the woods. As we pulled away from the dock we had already spotted 4 sets of eyes. Everything we had done getting ready for this moment was about to pay off. As James pulled the boat into the shallow marsh everything Russ had gone over with me about the cross bow and what to do was about to happen. I was ready for everything except the excitement. I missed a very easy shot. No matter how good or how prepared your guide is if the man pulling the trigger chokes it's not going to happen. This same scenerio played out all night. As the sun was getting ready to come up it would have been real easy for the crew to be aggravated. But not Russ, Teresa, or James no matter what happened they just worked that much harder to make our trip a success. This is a very close group of people and it was a pleasure hunting with people who care and treat you as a friend. After a good day of sleep we headed out at dark the second night. The whole crew was cutting up with me about the night before and getting ready for a long night. At 10:00PM Russ had found a nice gator that was going to hold up in some grass. James worked the boat just right and put me right on top of him. When I shot the gator exploded faster than I ever had imagined. He took off accross the river with us right behind. After a good fight we had our gator a little under 9ft. in the boat.
Many thanks to Russ, Teresa, and James for giving my son Aaron, myself, and my hunting partner Steve a hunting trip we will always remember. I would recommend Smokehouse Outfitters to anybody. My son Aaron and Steve should get a permit next year and we will be back.
Thanks,
Boyd
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Kasey Cauthen
10-06-2008
01:30 PM ET (US)
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Russ, Teresa, Gene, & Bernie,
I just wanted to start out by saying thank you all for the experience of a lifetime. Smokehouse outfitters is truly a down home world class hunting operation. I started out this trip by thinking that it would be a once in a lifetime thing, but after the completion of this trip I can guarantee that I will return to Smokehouse any and every time I have the opportunity. You guys have shown my father, brother, and myself the true meaning of having a GOOD TIME!!!! The fact that you all treated us as friends and not just as customers made the experience the best it could possibly be. It's great that we all harvested nice gators, but I can guarantee you that it is the experience of the hunt,that will keep me coming back for many years to come. Thank you guys again and I look forward to chasing one of those big bad tuskers real soon.
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Kelly Cauthen
10-06-2008
11:42 AM ET (US)
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Let me see how do I start????? OH yea! I guess I can start off by thanking Smokehouse Outfitter for giving me an experience that will last a lifetime. It was a trip that me, my dad, and younger brother was looking forward to ever since we found out that we drew an alligator tag. I can tell you guys one thing. If there has ever been a group of close net friends that work together to go above and beyond the call of duty these guys at Smokehouse Outfitters fit the bill. We all three as Russ says SMOKED EM!!!!
I can guarantee that once I receive another conformation that I got drawn I will book with Smokehouse immediatly. These guys can spot the gators from distances that a normal guy can't. That's the kind of people you need with you especially at night when your in the gators home territory.
I guess i've made my point about my hunting trip but I want to add a few things to it. If you get drawn for a tag make sure you book with Smokehouse and let Bernie show you the amazing frogs that appear at night on the river. =) It's amazing the things you can see when your out there at night. Also, This trip won't be the last trip I also intend to hunt some of them Hogs they talk about. I can't even imagine what that trip would be like.
PS. Teresa, Russ, & Bernie.
If possible once I book again I want to make sure you let me utalize my under water hands on combat experience without signing the necessary paperwork to do so. =) Thank's again for the great hunt and I'll be seeing you again.
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S. McCoy
09-19-2008
11:46 PM ET (US)
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I was fortunate to draw a gator tag and after talking with several outfitters, booked with Smokehouse Outfitters for opening weekend of the 2008 season.
Alligator hunting was a new experience for me and I was not disappointed. The first night brought high tides but nonetheless we saw approximately 35 gators, none that we could get close to.
The second evening brought low tide and was "game on" from the start. We had close encounters with several gators, including a couple of misses with cross bow, however, as Bernie stated, "3rd time will be a charm". We connected on a nice 7 1/2 footer and I had my first alligator.
I approached alligator hunting as a "one time" adventure, however after going out with Russ, Teresa & Bernie I'll get back in the draw so I can hunt gators again with them at the earliest opportunity.
Anyone interested in a high quality "as advertised" hunt must book with Smokehouse Outfitters. I have hunted much of North America & Canada and have learned that many outfitters/guides are mostly "talk" - however, Russ & Teresa are absolutely honest and will work hard to help you get your alligator.
S. McCoy
Lilburn, GA
September 2008
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Eric Stewart
09-19-2008
01:09 AM ET (US)
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Recently my wife and I saw the movie, The Bucket List. After it was over we started discussing things that we would put on our list, things that we wanted to do before we passed. A few days later I started thinking about my list and decided to do one with an outdoor theme. So I sat down and thought about all the adventures that I’d like to get in on before I was no longer able to do so. Sitting very high on the top of my Outdoorsman’s Bucket List was an alligator hunt with a bow and arrow. Earlier this year I received word from the Georgia DNR that I had drawn an alligator tag for zone 8. An e-mail was sent out to the Smoke House crew with Teresa contacting me at home. A hunt was booked and my Gator archery hunting supplies were ordered. A few days later my supplies arrived as did an envelope containing my tag and paperwork. Anticipation set in as I was actually going on a gator hunt. I stripped the deer hunting stuff off my bow and set it up with the gator gear and started practicing for my hunt. By day at first then progressing to only practicing at night shooting by a flashlight at cardboard silhouettes of an alligators head fastened to a styrofoam block while standing on top of my ATV.
The night before my hunt Teresa again called the house and confirmed my hunt with Russ and Bernie for the next day. She reminded me not to forget my gator tag and again went over the license requirements for the hunt before wishing me luck. The next day we meet up with Russ and Bernie and the rest of the crew and got a quick run down on Gator Hunting 101. The first thing that impressed me was their dedication to their sport. Before the night was over they would show over and over again how dedicated and serious they were to their sport from putting on a safe hunt to catering to their client’s needs and requests. (I had requested to use my bow and equipment and have my father-in-law accompany us)
Conditions weren’t very favorable; we faced bad weather, high tides, wind, a full moon, at times lightning and storms were in the distance not to mention the uncooperative gators. At times I surely expected one of them to suggest calling the hunt for the night and giving it another try the next night when conditions would be better. It never happened and the thought of doing so was never entertained by any of them. If you think these guys are going to go out for an hour or two, ride you around the river a bit while shining a light around you’re wrong. If that’s what you’re looking for then you’d probably be better off booking with someone else. When you go out with the Smoke House Crew you had better be prepared to be up all night if need be because they are. These folks leave the ramp at sunset and won’t be back until daybreak unless you get your gator or there’s a chance of someone being struck by lightening.
They stayed with it and we kept seeing gators, good gators too, just none that would allow us to get close enough for a shot. Finally we found a gator that held and allowed us to get within range.
Portions of that hunt will always stay with me; the sight of that gator illuminated in the spot light lying there stretched out thinking it was safe and hid. The sight and sound of the arrow impacting it and the splash of water it made as it took off pulling line out of my bow mounted reel as it dove for the deeper water. Bernie reaching over and feeling the tension on the line and announcing, “Boys, we got ourselves a gator!” Feeling the weight of the animal on the line as we eased it up off the bottom and seeing the rush of air bubbles just before it broke surface and gave a toothy grin before the catch pole was slipped over its head and neck while Bernie delivered the finishing shot with a 240gr Corbon to the gator’s “sweet spot” then taping its mouth shut with the electricians tape and hauling the gator onto the boat so the tag could be placed in its tail and Russ shaking my hand complimenting the bow shot and congratulating me on my first gator. Lots of things I remember, you guys skinning and boning out the gator and packing it on ice for us, the drive home while my father-in-law excitedly called his friends and our family, sending texts and pics, telling each of where we had been, what we had done, and our success at doing it and once home the folks that stopped by just to see the gator. All of the meat has been vacuum sealed and the gator is now in the freezer. Some of it has been cooked and eaten. Eventually all of the meat will be eaten and there won’t be anything left but the skull, a tanned hide and the memories. I’m betting that those memories will outlast the skull and the hide.
As long as you guys are guiding we’ll keep applying for the permits.
Next time I’ll bring the long bow… just kidding.
Thanks again Smoke House Outfitters!!
Eric Stewart
Burns, TN
September-2008
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larry weeks
06-05-2008
04:47 PM ET (US)
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let me start by saying I had the time of my life. I have only been hog hunting for about a year. I have have hunted several places buy these guys really know what they are doing and know how to show you a good time.I hadmy whole family with me they made us feel like we had been freinds for years. thanks for everything . look foward to my next hunt. larry weeks and family . Edited 06-05-2008 07:14 PM
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Rodney Middlebrooks
01-06-2008
12:07 PM ET (US)
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Let me start by saying WOW what a day. Me and a couple of buddies decided to go to smokehouse after talking to a couple of people who said it was the time of there lives. I spoke with Russ and Wade on the phone several times before we decided this was the place. A decision I will never regret!!! Russ, Wade, Kevin, Teresa, And 3 yr old Nickolas made us feel more than welcome and were there to make sure we got our trophys, but more than that they made us feel like we were there as friends and not customers. These guys are not here just to get into your pocket they are here to help you harvest a trophy. I killed 2 hogs on this trip and Todd and Robert each killed a trophy. I killed a trophy and what on most other hunts would have been a trophy but Russ and Wade classified it as a meat hog. I was shocked that this was not a trophy at smokehouse when at any other preserve it would have been. This hog had to be close to haveing 2 inch cutters and weighed approx. 150 -175lbs. If you are looking for a place to hunt a trophy and want to have an adrenaline filled hunt you should not only consider these guys but you should call them right now and book this hunt. I will never forget this experience and I hope to get back down real soon to take a couple more meat hogs. I would be more than happy to be a reference for these guys any time. Thanks again to Russ,Wade,Kevin,Teresa, and my little buddy Nickolas and also to molly and ann these 2 dogs love to hate a hog.
Thanks,
Rodney Middlebrooks
404-805-6749
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Mike White
12-25-2007
05:51 PM ET (US)
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This hog hunt has to be one of the most exciting hunting experiences I have ever had. Special thanks to Russ, Wade and Teresa. I have been hunting hogs in south Texas for years and this hunt with Smokehouse Outfitters was the best experience that hog hunting has to offer. I found these guys doing a web search for hog hunts and from the first email until the last hog was taken everything went perfectly and professionally. I will be coming back in just a few months and bringing more buddies to experience "the thrill of the hunt". I can't wait for my next hunt with smokehouse outfitters its all I talk about. If anyone needs a reference
call me
Mike White
Athens, Al
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Benjamin Bishop (acworth)
09-28-2007
09:52 AM ET (US)
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WOW WOW WOW, Thanks to Wade, Russ, Bernie, and Teresa.
We appreciate your patience and diligence with harvesting an 8 plus foot gator.
The excitement of chasing the gator down the river, exploding on top of the water wide mouth and the finishing blow of the gun will stay with me for a long time. My four kids, wife, mom, cousin and brother and his family all enjoyed a great meal within 12 hours of harvesting... And they loved it.
If anybody is interested is going on a gator hunt these guys will work with you on all skill levels and really care about harvesting and skinning and taking all available meat sources from the gator...
By the way my buddy Ron that came with me took the largest part of the tail. ha ha ha
Look forward to the next time, thanks for letting me "live on the edge".
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