In a remarkable feat of sportsmanship, a team of seasoned hunters from Red Antler Processing, a renowned game processing and hunting store in Mississippi, have shattered state records with the capture of an imposing alligator. Stretching a remarkable 14 feet 3 inches and tipping the scales at just over 800 pounds, this reptile now holds the title of the longest alligator ever taken in Mississippi.
Tanner White, Don Woods, Will Thomas, and Joey Clark were the skilled hunters to bring down the gigantic beast. They announced their extraordinary achievement through a post on the company’s Facebook dated August 26.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks publicly authenticated this impressive record via their own social media platforms, confirming the reptile as the “longest alligator harvested” in state history.
The colossal capture occurred in the West Central Alligator Hunting Zone. The department’s measurements revealed the alligator’s impressive dimensions: the mammoth 802.5-pound beast possessed a belly girth of 66 inches and a tail circumference of 46.5 inches.
According to the Wildlife department’s website, alligators are spread across the whole of Mississippi. The state has regulated the hunting of these sizeable reptiles for sport since 2005, with distinct regulations stipulating the conditions for hunting in public and private waters.
In 2021 alone, the total number of alligators captured in Mississippi reached 776. However, the average length of these alligators was less than 8 feet – just over half the length of the trophy claimed by Red Antler Processing. This latest capture is, therefore, a record-smashing achievement undertaken by the hunters.
