As much as I enjoy the frequent bear posts that pop up here and elsewhere, being a kayaker in the southeast makes me worry more about alligators than bears.
I've never run into an alligator, only pretty small sharks, which never caused much worry.
Maybe this belongs more on the shotgun page or the bazooka page, but does anyone have any tips for self defense from alligators while kayaking or canoeing? A shotgun seems unwieldy in a kayak. Is any firearm worthwhile, or is a Bible preferred?
Below hopefully is a link for your entertainment of an alligator meeting in NC. Listen to the guy breathing hard...
Thanks for any thoughts or experience.

https://nypost.com/2020/07/15/...tack-while-kayaking/

My quintessential gator handgun is the 357 mag with 180 grain hardcast loads.

Short story, I was canoeing with the wife, MS, decades ago. We round a bend & there’s a gator in the water. She asked & kinda wanted me to plug it, had a handgun with. I said it was no bother to us, somewhat protected, & no reason to shoot it, passed.

Just like bear talk, just cuz you see one, don’t necessarily need to throw lead at it.

Many years ago, the family and I boated up the St. Johns river to Lake Monroe, pulled over in the little canal just on the south side, tied off to a tree branch and ate our picnic lunch.

I really had to urinate, so stood in waist deep water and let 'er rip.

Within a minute about 6 small-medium gators surfaced and slowly swam away.

I heard the closest one murmuring something about "trailer park trash."

Brain on alligators is very small, sometimes described as "walnut sized." To kill one of these pre-historic critters bullet in the brain is the trick.

During my Florida adventures, I toted a 4 inch S&W 29. Lots of Gators in the Ding Darling NWR.
I think the folks on the Swamp TV shows plink them with .22s.
Gator war story:
On one trip, I crossed a bridge over a large creek and saw some Gators swimming around. I got out of the car and went to the bridge railing to take some photos. After watching the Gators awhile, I turned to get back in the car, only to find about an 8 foot long Gator standing a short distance from me. I yanked out the 29 but the Gator had no interest in me so I did not shoot. This episode scared the crap out of me, primarily due to Mr. Gators ability to silently walk up on me.

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:


I heard the closest one murmuring something about "trailer park trash."

Hah! The only thing worse than an ugly terrifying prehistoric creature is a condescending ugly terrifying prehistoric creature.

Sounds like a great paddle though.

quote:

This episode scared the crap out of me, primarily due to Mr. Gators ability to silently walk up on me.

He was probably taking pictures of you.

When I kayak in NC, I carry my snake stick (a triple shafted steel golf club shaft with a stainless steel hook on it). It's useful for all sorts of things. Pulling me in close to things, hooking snakes, and possibly bopping an alligator on the head if it gets too close - which has never happened to me. I can scarcely get close to them when I'm out looking for them. I've carried a handgun in a kayak, but usually don't. I can't imagine when you'd be able to use one effectively if you do come under unwelcome scrutiny from a gator. Rocking in a kayak, shooting at a sliver of a head coming at you. Nah. I'd rather just have my stick or paddle. I imagine that by the time you notice a gator closing in on you, it's too close to do anything about with a gun.

If I were to pick the perfect gator gun for self defense, it's be a relatively cheap .22 LR revolver that if it fell in the water and I couldn't retrieve it, I wouldn't be out much.

Sounds like a good use for a pistol lanyard.

Oh... For further reference:
www.howtokillthings.com
They have an Alligator page.
When in doubt, google it!

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For your research on this question, may I suggest...

Swamp People



They are using a diverse variety of calibers, but the smallest seems to be .22

Because you are in a small boat, I would consider using a .410 caliber Taurus Judge that can also fire a .45 Colt.

Please keep in mind that I have no experience in alligator hunting.

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Your paddle is going to be your best deterrent. But a bang stick with a 12 gauge shell with 00 buck would be a good choice if in a kayak. A shotgun would be too hard to wield while sitting in a kayak IMO. Alligator hunters generally kill them with a .22 or in the head, but obviously your shot has to be pretty precise.

I’m no expert, but I’ve known a couple.

Takes a mite bit of effort to get eaten by a gator.

Closest I’ve ever came to thinking I was about to be eaten was about 20’ underwater from 2 8-9 footers in a spring in central Florida. They swam on.

Used to swim in black tannic acid central Florida rivers all the time as a kid. Saw lots of gators. Went out several times with one of my mom’s friends who had a nuisance license. She’d go hunt with him.

How often to people actually get attacked? I know I read about it every once in a while, but unless they are picking up golf balls from lakes in Florida or wrestling Fido from one, it’s pretty rare, no?

I’d aim for the eyes with a sharp stick.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chongosuerte,

I’m good friends with a state of Florida alligator trapper and he has killed thousands with nothing more than a .22LR to the head. Most get relocated but the ones that can’t get killed and sold to a meat and hide processor.

I spent many summers swimming the St. John’s river with alligators 10-20 feet away and they left us kids alone. Gators are not instant death, contrary to popular opinion ... one of the dads usually posted up a watch and made sure no big gators got too close to the kids but we never had any scares that I remember.

How would a 45 ACP fare with a gator?

I believe the most practical solution is to care a bang stick. From 22WMR to 12G, they do not have the same recoil issues. Of course you’ve only got one shot, but the round doesn’t fire if you don’t make contact. Actually designed for gator harvesting in 357. I take two when in gator country.

If one gets hold of you IN, or darn close to, the water...your gun won't help. They begin to whirl you around like the Tazmanian Devil when he gets frustrated with Bugs. They try to drown you, and and at the very best, you'd be so disoriented you'd have little chance. Better you'd have a knife to be able to slash or poke at the snout, or preferably, the underside of the jaw to encourage it to release you.

Killing a gator is all shot placement. A .22 is fine and the bang stick is a good idea to help with shot placement. You can also give them a hard wack on top of the head with a wooden paddle and knock them out...hit them basically between the eyes, but a few inches back...goodnight gator.

Couldn't pay me enough to get anywhere near a swamp like that, I did'nt even like driving on the highway going to cape Canaveral.

Depth charges.