[NDNRoger]

Originally Posted by artisticwildlife

Everyone that I mounted bigger than that one were caught on hook and line. As a matter of fact, it is the only legal means of harvesting a gator in Texas...

Well I would not know how the records are kept. That is why there was a "?" at the end of my statement. However, you are mistaken about the means and methods of taking gators:

Means and Methods:

• Hook and line (line set). Line sets must be secured on private property. Hook-bearing lines may not be set prior to the open season and shall be removed no later than sunset on the last day of the season. Each baited line shall be labeled with a plainly visible, permanent, and legibly marked gear tag that contains the full name and current address of the person who set the line and the hunting license number of the person who set the line. Line sets shall be inspected daily and alligators shall be killed, documented, and removed IMMEDIATELY upon discovery.
• Alligator gig
• Han-held snare with integral locking mechanism
• Lawful archery equipment (with barbed arrow)
• Lawful firearms. IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIREARMS MAY BE USED TO TAKE ALLIGATORS ONLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TAKE AN ALLIGATOR BY MEANS OF FIREARMS FROM, IN, ON, ACROSS OR OVER PUBLIC WATER. Centerfire ONLY; rimfire UNLAWFUL, except for dispatch.
• An alligator captured on a taking device (line set, lawful archery equipment, gig, or snare) must be killed immediately. An alligator, in public water, caught on a taking device lawfully attached to private property, may be dispatched with a firearm.
• No person may employ more than ONE taking device at any time.
• A line of at least 300-lb. test must be securely attached to all taking devices other than firearms.
• Hook-bearing lines must be attached to a stationary object, on private property, capable of maintaining a portion of the line above water when an alligator is caught on the line.
• Using natural vegetation on crops to conceal a blind, provided that if crops are used, no grain or other feed is exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered in the process.
• A line attached to an arrow, snare, or gig must have a float attached to the line. The float shall be no less than 6" x 6" x 8" or, if the float is spherical, no less than 8" in diameter.