Florida woman bags 11-foot alligator with a crossbow

Florida's public alligator hunt is underway, and the nighttime pursuit of trophy-sized specimens in the muggy marshlands is challenging and often unproductive.

But Arianne Prevost of Satellite Beach was in the right place at the right time, and with the right people on Tuesday night during her first-ever gator hunt, as she used a crossbow to bag an 11-footer weighing perhaps 450 pounds.

Her company during the Central Florida adventure included Peter Deeks and Robert Rohmann, who run Native Sons Outfitters. Deeks said in an interview that they'd previously scouted the St. Johns River marshlands and, while camouflaged, had staked out an area where they figured the big reptile would swim by.

At about 9 p.m., Prevost placed two perfect shots from 10 to 15 feet and dispatched the alligator with a broadhead shot at close range.

Deeks said they assumed, based on the size of the gator's head, it would measure 14 feet. But he still labeled the prize a trophy.

Prevost, who is dating Rohmann, said she will harvest the meat and have the head mounted.  

An archery hunter with two years experience, Prevost told Florida Today: "I can't seem to kill a deer, but I can kill an 11-foot alligator."

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Arianne Prevost poses with 11-foot alligator she bagged with a crossbow during Florida's public alligator hunt. Credit:  Peter Deeks

 

Comments

[Pamela]

I just saw Ms. Provost talking about the hour-long "tug of war" she had with this gator after she first shot it in the back ("it thrashed around like crazy!", and then the neck ("we thought it was dead but I guess it wasn't!" before finally putting it out of its misery -- her story told with such a broad smile on her face. She then said that she "wouldn't settle for anything less than a ten footer" to kill that day. Doesn't anyone else see how very sad this is?

Hunting with crossbows -- especially by people who aren't very good at it -- cause more pain, suffering and agony to God's creatures than any other weapon. They maim more than kill.

I understand that the gator hunt is necessary, but why must killing them be turned into a game? It's wrong -- and you all know it.

[Joe W.]

Boy, isn't it awesome fun to shoot and kill animals and mount them as a trophy?

[Brian]

Will you marry me?

[Jason]

As a slightly left leaning guy with a more left leaning, almost tree hugging GF I speak for both of us when I say there are about 8,456,239 worse things that happened yesterday than a hot girl killing an alligator. Not missing LA that much right now. I also speak for both us when I also extend the offer of marriage.

[Crash Burn]

When did this become a crossbowing swingers board?

[Joel]

I'd let her "death roll" me.

[Jess]

Is she topless??

[James]

Hey Pamela,
Looks like she was pretty good at it to me. There is a reason its called 'big game hunting'. No, we all dont know it. You believe it and thats fine. Dont bow hunt. Leave the rest of us alone. It's not 'very sad'. It's awesome, hot (in her case), and in little while mmmmmmm tasty!

[evan]

The desire for people to kill is beyond me. Did you not receive enough hugs as a child? I feel sorry for the people who smile from achievement as an animal dies like this "it thrashed around like crazy" and then you say we put it out of its misery (definition - great mental or emotional distress; extreme unhappiness). An absolute joke, talk about a god complex, it takes some people so long to grow up. One day people everywhere will get a different past time. I'm sorry your life is so boring you have to get your kicks by putting animals threw "misery". Hope one day an animal reciprocates the feelings you had with killing the alligator back onto you. Isn't it enough that animals live in constant in retreat from human expansion enough and shouldn't pain and suffering be minimized as much as possible. "no, i want a cheeseburger". Oh, great.

[freshwater lures]

What a kick ass girl, hate to catch her on a bad day!

[John G]

Kill Kill Kill..Fun Fun Fun...Hot girls....

[bill]

I've been taught how to properly kill a gator, therefore I can attest to the fact that this woman looks hot in a string bikini....wait, what does one have to do with the other?

[Brian]

Joe, I think it's illegal to mount an animal in most states...

[Marc]

I am sorry that this article had to be reported on in the LA Times, but since it is a liberal newspaper, then I can see why it made more news than the multiple murders that occurred in your city the same day that Ms. Prevost legally hunted her alligator. You see, here in Florida, we have a problem sometimes with this prehistoric reptile called an alligator. They have been known to show up unexpectedly in people's front yards and eat their dogs, or attack the unsuspecting golfer who is trying to retrieve his ball. Alligator hunting is legal here in Florida for a short time once a year, the rest of the year the alligators are free to roam the swamps and marshes for the peaceful fisherman or camper who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. To quote an earlier post by Evan: "The desire for people to kill is beyond me. Did you not receive enough hugs as a child?" Could not this statement be directed at the thousands of gang members you have there in The City of the Angels? Of course, their behavior is most likely condoned there on the other side of the country because of poverty, racial discrimination, and not getting a "fair shake." Which is more reprehensible, the legal, licensed hunter decreasing the population of an aggressive predator with a legal means of taking said animal; or the illegal, convicted felon who was released on a technicality because he is black and the officer was white, who then proceeds to sell crack to your 12 year old niece, and shoots your little brother in the head as he defends himself against a drive-by shooting in Compton? If there is any common sense left in Los Angeles, then please, judge for yourself. The rest can go to Starbucks and drink their latte' and complain about how bad of shape the country is in, but have no real solution on how to fix the problem, while those of us with common sense proceed to clean up your mess.

Marc
Ocala, FL

[Tommy]

I saw this woman's picture and the word "HOT" immediately came to mind for this reader as well. Sadly, I read the story and all of her "HOTNESS" vanished quickly upon reading the story. What on earth is "HOT" about killing this poor living creature. Particularly when you are better armed and lying in wait to ambush the poor animal. What on earth posesses anyone to feel the need to kill animals that are simply living on a day to day basis is beyond me. When American troops are ambushed and killed by preditors in Iraq, we brand those preditors as "terrorists" and rightfully so. Notwithstanding, just what makes this "HOT" killing babe any better than one of the "terrorists" that are lying in wait to kill American troops in Iraq or Afganistan?

[JR]

If it was'nt for wild game we would'nt be here living today. Animal rights people need to be thankful the are here alive living in our great country.Our for fathers keep the human race alive by hunting wild game think about it before your mouth over runs your butt

[Gator]

As someone who has lived in Florida all my life, I like the wildlife here more than some of the people. It is almost comical to me to some of these opinionated comments left by people who know nothing about Florida, gators or hunting. I also commend the people who have the patience and taken the time to make an intelligent and almost undeserved reponse to the misinformed (and sometimes unintelligent) antihunting group. What they don't know (or want to admit) is that most hunters very ethical (there are bad people in any group you want to talk about) and that hunter's money from licences, etc. does FAR more for wildlife conservation than any other group, INCLUDING animal protection groups. if you don't believe that, I challenge you to do some research and prove me wrong. When you're done with that, find someone that hunts and see if they'll take you along. If you go with an open mind, maybe you can truely do something good for wildlife and community and get someone else into hunting. Or just continue leaving ignorant comments.

[Kasey]

Sooo an 11 ft. gator is the same thing as U.S troops? And hunters = terrorrists? Wow! It scares me that people like you exist.

[Dee]

I love animals, but this is not an animal. It is a dinosaur/reptile that is as dangerous as a man-eating shark. I too feel for any living thing that suffers and dies because of hunters, but when this same living thing not only will snatch your beloved family pet, kid, or you, then I say go for it. These reptiles not only get their victims when they are close to the water but will chase them on land and are usually faster then their quarry. It doesn't matter to me if the hunter is "hot" or "not" if you can legally kill them, I am all for it!

[Jess Carpenter]

For all these people against hunting animal's or in their case killing animal's. I wonder if they eat meat or all vegetarians (yeah right). Well for all those people where do you think the meat in the grocery store come from. That's right, KILLING ANIMAL'S SUCH AS COW'S,PIG'S,CHICKEN'S,FISH,ETC... But i bet you are not against that. If it wasn't for us hunter's you would be hitting more deer, Have alligators all over your yard/maybe in your house,etc... So you ought to appreciate your fellow hunter's and farmer's!!!!!!!!

[raymond]

i think we huters should hunt the anti hunter so they will quit crying and complaining good job on that gator girl

[Brian]

Everyone should read Marc's (Ocala, Fl) post. Well thought out. Good ideas. For those who are so against hunting, I assume you have always lived in a city. If so, you really can't understand the need for hunting. In reality, I don't expect you to. Hunting is an essential part of animal and environment conservation. Ask anyone where an over population of animals leads to overcrowding, a lack of food, disease, and environmental destruction. We also need to realize that they are hunting WILD ANIMALS not humans. They should never be given the same worth or value.

I also assume that Pamela (the first writer) has extensive experience about the physical responses to being shot with a crossbow. Let's not make wild assumptions. A misplaced shot with a gun can cause just as much pain. Just ask some who has been shot.

I am getting to go bow hunting this weeken in NJ and I plan of taking a few deer cleanly, then take the meat home and grill it up. Happy Hunting.

[Timmy]

What if she was black?

[Crash Burn]

When did this become a racist crossbowing swingers board?

[Jeff K.]

One about that size tore the arm off of an 11 year old boy earlier this year here in Slidell, LA. It's not like she was trolling the neigborhood for "Little FiFi" the Pomeranian to skewer, stuff, and mount. And all these yahoos that cry about hunting for a trophy, I guess they conveniently missed the part of the sentence where she stated she was going to harvest the meat (Alligator sausage is very, very...YUUMMMMYYYYYY!, but you can't eat the head, so what else would you do but decorate your house with it?). Good for her, and remember...

There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures...right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy!

Meat is Murder...Tasty, tasty murder.