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

[Arianne Prevost]

Hey everybody! It has been over 3 years and I finally decided to read the comments on one of the many websites. Since it has been so long, I'm not even sure you will see this but, I just have to say... Wow! Haha. Thank you to all the ones who congratulated me, had my back, or even proposed to me! To the ones who are against hunting, I would LOVE to give you a little education and also tell you a little about myself because I have to admit being compared to a terrorist... Well, Damn! Hahaha.. really? It's a good thing I have a good sense of humor.. hah! First off Florida has the most strict alligator hunting rules, which is nuts because we have soooo many. Anyways, we apply to hunt where they then draw names. It's a lottery. With the lucky names that were drawn, they are assigned a designated week and section to hunt. This only goes on for 3 months out of the year. So that's that. Next.. Every single plant, animal, person, insect.. whatever God put here for a purpose. As it states in Genesis 9:3,"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything." Lord knows I am big on everyone needing their fruits and veggies. Actually, its my job! I'm a Juice Plus rep.. which is all about getting your daily dose of fruits and veggies. And us meat eaters NEED this.. got to balance that cholesterol ;) ! I am very very cautious of anything I feed my body. I would much rather eat meat or fish that I, or someone I know, harvested ourselves. And for multiple reasons. One, because I know that nothing is added to it, no hormones, No nothing!!!! Two, yes I enjoy to hunt. No I don't sit here and parade over it and get a thrill out of watching die. I would much rather it die fast, obviously. Thirdly, I didn't grow up with the money nor do we have much means now. So the fact that I could provide for my family, if and when the time comes makes me feel a little more at ease. Oh.. and for the comment about the crossbow.. yep you're right anyone could probably shoot a bow but incase you didn't know there's only a quarter size spot on top of his head that you have to shoot for the "kill shot". Let your grandma try to shoot that.. that would be freakin awesome if she could too! Think I covered most of the comments.. hope I set it all straight! Thanks!

[Jamie Lynn]

DAMN DATS A BIG GATOR!!!!!!

[Shadow]

So, my mother lives in Florida where the gators live. To all of you that say its not right to kill gators, try telling that to someone who has found them at their door step or in their house. And to the people that have lost pets to them. I say that if they do this, then do something about it. I'm not saying to haul off and kill every one of them, just the ones that look like they would pose a threat at the time. To me, anything over the five foot mark is something that needs to be dealt with.

[Skydivers]

Fantastic video clips.The two year experience is the Unmatched Thrill And Excitement!Thanks for sharing is a great information....

[Vickie]

Wow, that woman has a disturbing blood lust. She sure looks gratified to have made such a big kill. Sad.

[Hunter]

People who live in LA are delusional.
They pretend that they do not live in, and personally perpetuate one of the largest environmental holocausts in the history of the planet; the City of Los Angeles itself.
The LA Basin was teeming with animals that were all killed to make way for concrete and blacktop.
Even every time an LA resident flushes the toilet, TWO fish die, one upstream in the Delta, and one in the ocean at the Outfall.
Every backyard swimming pool is its own little killing field.
Recycling bottles and being a PETA member does not make up for it.
And to the LA resident who has lived there 19 incident-free years, you must be blind or a shut-in. I lived there for many years.
You probably believe that the meat at Ralph's dives under the plastic all by itself.

[BRITTANY]

U ARE A CRSZY GIRL BUT COOL

[rob]

At 10 - 15 feet how can you miss. Where is the "sport"?
This is also not news. Just pathetic.

[Mike]

First off great job on the gator! and for all you tree hugging hippies who are sucking on PETA's teet get over it hunting will never be banned or animal populations will grow out of control and gators will be eating kids left and right deer will be destoying millions more cars on the roads and for you un-educated closed minded people from LA the mountain lions out there will be hunting and killing more people much more often. why is it ok that when someone there kills a mountain lion its ok but when she kills a gator its terrible and satan himself is coming to take her soul? you people make no sense and saying shes a terrorist your the dumbest human on earth. worry about your #1 crime rated city first. end the countless gang wars there then worry about problems that have no effect on you what so ever. like what one other already said if not for hunting you wouldnt exist. you think their were all these tree huggers when columbus discovered the states or when they were starving to death? or the native people who have lived here much longer than the rest of us? yeah your all retarded for saying this is bad. its population control.

[Tony]

I love hunting. No I don't get a rush from killing things. Matter of fact, when I shoot an animal, squirrel, rabbit, dove, deer, I always make sure the animal is dispatched quickly and in as painless a way as possible. God put the creatures on the earth for us. They were used for clothing and food, their bones used as tools. The gal used the gator for food, and displayed the head proving her prowess. Good hunting lady.

[Jammermom]

"I would feel better if she shot a child molester. For a human to kill a defenseless animal is no great feat. My grandmother can shoot a crossbow.People are stupid."

Indeed they are; I suggest going up to your nearest alligator and giving it a hug. I'm sure you will then learn just how "defenseless" these animals are.

Being able to pull the trigger on a crossbow is not the same as being able to hit something with one.

[princesshong]

in these times, there is no need for such foolish acts. i do not like people like these we are talking about.

such a waste of breath and time. good riddance.

[Weston]

That is AWESOME!!! Will u marry me??? And for you tree huggers that think that killing with a bow or crossbow in this case "maims more than kills", they are more deadly that a gun! Wanna test it???? Shoot a gun into sand bags, bullet doesnt come out, shoot an arrow, comes out the other side! And dont bring God into this! If you think killing Gods creatures is bad.... READ THE BIBLE! IT SAYS RIGHT THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE TO DO IT!!!!!!!!

[Dave]

Physically attractive, but mentally repellant.

[Josh from Nebraska]

Wow, you anti-hunting people really need to spend some time away from the home comforts of a refrigorator, 24 hour fast food restraunts, and just go camping for like a week. See how anti-hunting you will be when you are freaking hungry. Secondly, if you are all so uptight about 1 animal; I imagine you are having a fit over the MASS MURDERING OF MILLIONS OF COWS, PIGS, CHICKENS, AND FISH. No??? Hmmm, maybe McDonalds just makes it a little more convenient to ignore. Lastly, about over population it's true. In fact I think they ought to make certain hunting licenses drop in price. Here we have a huge population of deer. Whole herds are crossing the roads keeping traffic backed up for about 25 minutesON AN INTERSTATE. If a lake has too many fish in it, none of them will grow big, but will stay small and fight over all the food, causing problems for fisherman...solution?? Fish the lake out till there are alot less of them. Same thing for aligators...get rid of enough of them and there won't be any problems about them eating pets, or finding them in your swimming pools

[noplayinfla]

hmnnnnnnnnnn fried gator tail nuggets......... and for all you pansies crying about it: that's why we're on the top of the food chain & this is exactly why florida girls are the best in the country!

GOD BLESS

[karl]

this really fun -- killing animals for no reasons. especially alligators who have been around for thousands and thousands of years. people are evil.

[Harry]

Well, many of these posts have reinforced my impression that LA is populated with airheads. On the other hand, a young woman who has the courage to hunt alligators is impressive. One thing is certain. She will not be marrying any of you wimps out in LA. My guess is she dates real men. I will, on the other hand, celebrate her victory by throwing another fat, juicy steak on the barbecue. I will probably cook it just until the blood bubbles up to the top. I love a juicy steak.

[Marc]

I love it when someone gets offended and the only recourse they have is to attack the person who made the comment they disliked. Dearest Erin, I applaud the fact that you have been able to survive in LA for 19 years. Is it because you were born there and are only 19, or are you just an actress? I am happy also that you have managed to make it all these years without seeing a gang war or seeing someone gunned down, but the fact remains, is that it does happen, and it happens everyday. You must not live in Compton or Watts. Another fact that stands true is that the majority liberal population that live in LA do not bat an eye at the senseless taking of human life that occurs in their fair city everyday, choosing instead to believe that the fault lies with the victim and not the offender, but will cry out for justice when an animals life is taken legally. There is a serious lack of common sense that permeates throughout LA. So Erin, no, I will not shut my trap, because I do know what I am talking about. Of course, the real world may not reach into the "The Hills."

Marc
Ocala, FL

[John]

I've never been hunting, but what's more stupid? Killing an aligator that is in its natural habitat, or killing a cow that has been raised for slaughter? Well the aligator has a chance and the cow doesn't. I probably wouldn't kill a aligator because I don't hunt, but that doesn't mean I am against the people that hunt them. If there is a over population of them and he are attacking people, kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Save lives, and Feed ppl too! If they were shooting them and burning the carcasses then I might get mad because of hunting for sport. But they are using the meat for foot. Shut up all you Animal Activist's!

[billo]

Oh, my God. She killed Bambi. This poor little creature probably has little babies at home crying for their mother. We should be ashamed. It is not necessary to kill animals or eat meat -- for any creature, for that matter. No animal has the right to kill and eat another. Oh sure, some people say that Nature created meat-eating, but mother Gaia would never *really* do that. We as humans have transcended the evil part of nature and we can help more of mother Gaia's creatures do so as well. I have trained my dogs to live on blueberries and yoghurt. They don't live very long, mind you, but they die knowing that they are not evil carnivores.

[miss 359]

Alligator hunting is necessary to insure a steady supply of reptile skins for Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills shops that sell Ladies alligator skin purses, shoes, and boots.

[Moose Man]

All Hail the Beast Slayer! - Good Job Arianne

Cross Bow Hunting is an ancient tradition dating back to the dawn of time.

Early Bow Hunters were the Heroes (Heroin in this case) for bringing home the bacon and feeding their family and friends.

Our first hunter were honored and appreciated by all.

As true champions of the people these Hunters brought the foundation of civilization to all mankind.

Hunters, would you like to Extend Your Season and Discover Productive Places to Hunt?

If Yes, then you are invited to stop by the
Hunting Resource Center at http://www.BearMountainQuest.com

[Kurt]

"When did this become a racist crossbowing swingers board?"

Flat out hilarious how things quickly morph into something else, lol

[Erin]

Can no one remember we are ANIMALS, carnivorous animals. We kill weaker or less intelligent animals for food it is how the world works. No one gets pissed off at that alligator for eating a fish or a rabbit. Also Marc, I have lived in LA for 19 years. I have never seen a gang war or a shooting so why don't you shut your trap till you know what you are talking about.