I’ve been seeing a lot of stories recently about hunters taking huge alligators, especially in Alabama and Georgia, but this one, sent in by Christie Mulkey of Texas, seemed especially noteworthy. Peanut Trull of Leslie, Georgia (that’s just around the corner from Jimmy Carter’s hometown of Plains) captured a 12-foot alligator and, along with a hunting guide, tied the thing to a boat trailer, alive. Said the guide, “We tied him down what we thought was good enough. It wasn’t good enough. He would go to kicking and break everything that we tied him to. Break the tape. Pull the ropes loose. It took us two and a half hours to get him tied down.”
It is also worth noting that Peanut’s girlfriend was along for the hunt, which is one of the most romantic things I’ve ever heard. She also got an alligator tag in the DNR lottery, so the two feechie lovebirds will be going on another outing later this month. Below is the news report, which shows Peanut and the guide and the alligator (still alive, I think) but, alas, does not show Peanut’s girlfriend.
(If you prefer to read the story, here is the link. ).
Sally
Oh, that was a big boy. Those big, old, fat fingers.
There is so much to love about this story. Peanut’s name. The girlfriend hollering, “Don’t put that thing in the boat with me.”
What I don’t understand is why they keep the thing alive. Why not kill it first, then drag it back to the truck and tie it to the trailer. I can’t imagine anyone in Alaska tying up a moose and duct-taping its mouth shut or keeping a wolf alive all tied up. Why not just kill the animal and put it out of its misery?
Jonathan Rogers
I agree, Sally. It doesn’t seem especially humane, keeping it alive on the trailer. I do like the mental image of those two (and possibly Peanut’s girlfriend?) rassling the thing onto the trailer, though. But in my mental image, the alligator’s mouth isn’t taped shut, which would require considerably more physical courage on the part of anyone who might be rassling him.
Sally, since you and Peanut live in the same state, I’m deputizing you as reporter-on-the-ground. If you run into Peanut–or especially his girlfriend–please file a follow-up report. I’d be interested to know how he handles his new-found fame.
Loren Warnemuende
Sally, I think that’s the one thing that was niggling at me, too. Once the big lug is subdued and tied it seems almost vindictive to then kill it. But if it were in the midst of the hunt–well–that’s all part of the adventure! I’ll have to get my hunter-hubby’s take on that.