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You Missed It

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No idea who these guys are. Found the photo here.

Mississippi gator season ended yesterday. Various sites are reporting over 400 were snagged– many many over 10′ long!

Some snippets from the 2012 Mississippi Alligator Hunting Guide:

Shotgun
After the alligator has been properly restrained, remove the shotgun from the case, place all persons in a safe location, and safely load the shotgun. While gentle pressure is kept on the restraining line to hold the head and neck above the surface of the water, place the end of the barrel of the shotgun a maximum of 3 to 4 inches from the alligator, directly above the neck . Aim for the very center of the neck (directly between the two center rows of scutes) at an angle slightly towards the base of the head. After properly firing the shotgun, the alligator will immediately relax and begin to sink. Follow directions located in the section “Transporting from the Field.” 


Securing
Once the alligator has been properly dispatched the mouth should be secured with tape or inner tube bands.
Note: Improperly dispatched alligators may appear dead or stunned. Never handle or load an alligator without securing the mouth shut.  
An alligator that has not been properly dis-patched may cause serious injury or even death. Use extreme measuresto secure any alligator that is transported in a boat. A thrashing alligator could knock occupants overboard. Always wear a life jacket while transporting alligators in a boat. It may be difficult to sufficiently lift extremely large alligators to the boat gunnel. In this case, use the restraining noose to slowly tow the carcass to a firm bank, then use the restraining noose to pull the alligator onto the bank in order to secure the mouth and legs. 

Transporting
If the alligator is too large to load into the boat, it may be secured to the bow of the boat, head first, and slowly towed. Use extreme caution in this case as the boat will handle much differently and may be difficult to navigate. Otherwise, load the alligator into the boat being careful not to shift too much weight to one side of the boat. This could cause it to capsize. For this reason, as well as others, a wide bottomed, sturdy boat is recommended.

 [My emphases]