Alligator-hunting bill gets House OKStaff and wire reports
Friday, February 1, 2008
Folks could be gator hunting by this fall if the state Senate goes along with legislation approved Thursday by the House. The bill, first introduced by Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, was amended by the House to allow property owners to hunt the alligators on their land if they own more than 100 acres. The Senate would have to agree to that change or the two groups would have to battle it out in conference committee. Private property owners would be able to shoot the alligators before securing them on a line while those with hunting permits would be required to tie off the alligator with a line before it is killed. A limited number of public permits would be issued by lottery. The legislation follows an alligator attack in September that took a Summerville man's arm while he snorkeled in Lake Moultrie. In recent years, the alligator population has grown to more than 100,000. Alligator attacks on humans are rare, with only about a dozen — none of them fatal — reported in the past 30 years, S.C. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Brett Witt said. Grooms, who pre-filed the bill in December 2006, said alligators are more of a problem for dogs. People living by ponds near the Cooper River report alligators attacking and killing their pets, he said. The bill will get a perfunctory third reading in the House today and be sent to the Senate. |
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Comments
This article has 11 comment(s)
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on February 1, 2008 at 7:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Alligator-hunting bill gets House OK"
OF COURSE IT DOES! We live in the South.
Posted by highclass on February 1, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The alligators were there first. The boat ramp was in the gators living room. If you don't like the gators you are more than welcome to move up North!!!
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on February 1, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't understand how we take over the NATURAL habitats of these creatures, and then kill them for being on "OUR" land. We should start killing deer, rabbits, quail, ducks, and turkeys, too. Oh wait...
There is an over abundance of squirrels. Lots of people think they are nuisances. Get out the rifle. They carry rabies. They may not maul people, but if you get bitten by one that is infected, you're as good as dead if you don't seek IMMEDIATE treatment.
I declare this SQUIRREL season. Have fun boys.
Posted by Early on February 1, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey U, I plan on going the first day of the season, want to go with me? I love squirrel, all types,,,,,,lol Taste like,,,,well squirrel. Rabbit hunting last weekend, deer hunting all season long. But some prefer the steroid injected, antibiotic filled, inhumane killings of their favorite grocery store. The reason you see 12 year old girls looking like their 16 due to the massive amount of hormones injected into the meat you eat. higher cancer rates in children than ever before,,,starting to get the connection? It's all about the mighty dollar, the faster you grow em the more money you make.
To the article, this is worthless and not even a patch. Private land owners HAVE been taking out gators for decades and everybody knows that, even DNR. The problem lies on public lands. If you own you own land you know where gator tend to hang out, go to a lake for a swim, you have no idea. The law is azz backwards
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on February 1, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
According to: http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/wild...
"Eight alligator attacks have been recorded in South Carolina during the last 30 years, fortunately none of them fatal. More than half were provoked, so attempting to catch one is asking for trouble, not to mention illegal. Only DNR-permitted trappers may catch alligators, and this is only for animals needing removal."
"Perhaps more myths and outright nonsense have been repeated about alligators than all other species combined," Rhodes said. "Alligators do not overturn boats nor do they snatch people out of them. They do not knock people into the air with their tails and then catch hapless victims in midair. Alligators cannot run as fast as horses, and they do not chase people by galloping across yards and fairways."
While some people regard alligators as a nuisance, DNR biologists and conservation officers view them as a valuable resource. Rhodes urges that "all of our citizens should understand, appreciate, and respect the plants and animals with which we share the earth. Here in South Carolina, these elements combine to provide one of the richest and most diverse environments anywhere." When the DNR receives a call from the public regarding an alligator complaint, the information is used to place the situation in one of three categories: emergency, nuisance or no action.
An emergency is typically defined as an alligator out of and away from water or in an area where they are not normally found, such as under a vehicle, in a swimming pool, lying in a roadway or parking lot, or on a public beach.
A nuisance situation is one where the alligator is found in alligator habitat, such as a pond, marsh, or river, is greater than six feet and has potential to cause a threat to nearby humans or pets. Contract agents are dispatched to handle these nuisance situations.
For "no action" situations involving gators less than six feet and located in gator habitat, it is the DNR's responsibility to provide a conservation message to the complainant. These animals typically represent no threat to humans or pets and will not negatively impact the ecology of the system where they are found. Basic feeding habits and biological information are provided to the caller.
Posted by Early on February 1, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll even carry your gun for you.
Hey U, don't get mad at me, we just have different views. What did you think about my section on adding hormones and antibiotics to the "grocery store" meats?
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on February 1, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Early: I'm not mad. People have different views.
The hormones and antibiotics they inject animals with is disgusting. That is why we hardly eat any meat in our home. If we eat chicken it is the "un-tainted" kind. Along with turkey sausage and bacon. We really like the Morningstar soy products. The only time we eat red meat is the occasional hamburger. Which is like once a month. I don't dare give my two year old that crap. That's for sure. His day care doesn't serve red meat at all. They also use turkey bacon and sausage instead of pork. Atleast his daycare doesn't have their heads up their a$$. Thank goodness the three of us are lactose intolerant. I would drink Soy milk even if I could tolerate cow's milk. YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Early on February 1, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, My family has been shopping at Publix lately and they carry a "greenwise" brand that guarantees no hormones or antibiotics but I pay more for it. Wonder why I have to pay more for something they don't add? You remind me of my sister, she feed her kids so much “naturally grown” yellow vegetables and no meat, that their skin was actually yellowish from the skins. LOL!!!
But your right, the family member who does the shopping and cooking (that’s me) has to be very careful to choose the foods that your family eats. Not an easy task!
But anyway, I have no problem feeding my family the bounties I hunt providing the game is not too close to an agriculture field,,,pesticides
Posted by Girleygirl on February 1, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can see it now another report about an "attack"
The sad part someone will be videotaping it and it might look like the scene on "Reno 911."
I just hope the drunks, wrestlers, and so called wranglers are careful.
Once someone has a license to do something, the fools come out and may endanger themselves and then more laws for hunting alligators will be on the book.
I'm not against it and I'm not for it...I just think its going to be more accidents once this start.
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on February 1, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Early: Publix is the only place we shop for food. The greenwise meats are delicious, but a tad pricey. You have to pay to be healthy.
Now, don't get me wrong. I've said this plenty of times before. I don't have a problem with hunting if you use the meat and/or skins. I am really against "thrill hunting". It makes me sick. If people hunt as a source of food, by all means, hunt. I have had alligator tail and it is DELICIOUS! I just think it's funny how there is now an official alligator season. Sounds so funny.
Posted by Early on February 1, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Me too, a cardnial sin not to eat what you hunt.