As fall approaches, hunting season is on many people’s minds. Whether they are breaking out their duck decoys or cleaning out their deer blinds, hunters are making their fall plans.
However, for one group of hunters, the season has come and gone.
Anahuac held its annual Gatorfest, Sept. 13-15. The festival featured carnival rides, food and merchandise booths, a petting zoo, live music and air-boat rides. It also featured prizes for hunting alligators.
Alligator hunting season only lasts one week in Texas, so people come from all over to take part in the three-day competition. There is a payout every hour for the person who brings in the biggest alligator.
At the alligator stage, people showed off their best trophies. Some hunters brought in as many as seven corpses, but the true eye-catchers were the prize winners.
“The biggest one this morning was 11-feet 3-inches,” a worker told the assembled crowd, pointing to an alligator hanging by its neck from a rope. “This one right here is 11-feet 5-inches.”
Adults and children posed with dead alligators on ice, although most of the little kids didn’t grasp what was happening to the carnivores.
“Daddy, why isn’t he moving?” one child asked, before turning to the gator. “You’re not moving, so I’m going to leave. Bye Mr. Gator.”
The booths featured local vendors and traditional carnival food. The petting zoo contained exotic animals including a camel and kangaroo. Some booths allowed visitors to hold newborn alligators.
The air-boat rides were popular with the wait for the rides exceeding two hours. The boat took passengers around the Anahuac Channel, going over water and grass alike. The highlight of the ride was when the driver put the air boat into a full spin and used the power of the fan to wet people watching in the stands. One kid was even knocked over by the force of the wind.
Gatorfest is held every year during alligator hunting season. It is not just fun for all ages, but also educates people about wildlife conservation.
