Swamp People — Troy Tells the Story of "One-Eye" — History.com Videos

Swamp People — Troy Tells the Story of "One-Eye" — History.com Videos

Defining a Cajun

Cajuns- Getting back to the Swamp People's roots.


(pronounced /ˈkeɪdʒən/; French: les Cadiens or les Acadiens, [le kadjɛ̃, le zakadjɛ̃]) are an ethnic group mainly living in Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles (French-speaking settlers from Acadia in what are now the maritime provinces of Canada - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island). Today, the Cajuns make up a significant portion of south Louisiana's population, and have exerted an enormous impact on the state's culture.
Acadia consisted mainly of present-day Nova Scotia, and included parts of eastern Quebec, the other Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. The origin of the designation Acadia is credited to the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who on his sixteenth century map applied the ancient Greek name "Arcadia" to the entire Atlantic coast north of Virginia. "Arcadia" derives from the Arcadia district in Greece which since Classical antiquity had the extended meanings of "refuge" or "idyllic place". The Dictionary of Canadian Biography says: "In the 17th century Champlain fixed its present orthography, with the 'r' omitted, and (the Canadian historian) W.F.Ganong has shown its gradual progress northwards, in a succession of maps, to its resting place in the Atlantic Provinces.^"


The Cajuns retain a unique dialect of the French language and numerous other cultural traits that distinguish them as an ethnic group. Cajuns were officially recognized by the U.S. government as a national ethnic group in 1980 per a discrimination lawsuit filed in federal district court. Presided over by Judge Edwin Hunter, the case, known as Roach v. Dresser Industries Valve and Instrument Division (494 F.Supp. 215, D.C. La., 1980), hinged on the issue of the Cajuns' ethnicity. Significantly, Judge Hunter held in his ruling that:

The Cajuns retain a unique dialect of the French language and numerous other cultural traits that distinguish them as an ethnic group. Cajuns were officially recognized by the U.S. government as a national ethnic group in 1980 per a discrimination lawsuit filed in federal district court. Presided over by Judge Edwin Hunter, the case, known as Roach v. Dresser Industries Valve and Instrument Division (494 F.Supp. 215, D.C. La., 1980), hinged on the issue of the Cajuns' ethnicity. Significantly, Judge Hunter held in his ruling that: “ We conclude that plaintiff is protected by Title VII's ban on national origin discrimination. The Louisiana Acadian (Cajun) is alive and well. He is 'up front' and 'main stream.' He is not asking for any special treatment. By affording coverage under the 'national origin' clause of Title VII he is afforded no special privilege. He is given only the same protection as those with English, Spanish, French, Iranian, Portuguese, Mexican, Italian, Irish, et al., ancestors. ” —- Judge Edwin Hunter 1980. History of Acadian ancestors The British Conquest of Acadia happened in 1710. Over the next forty-five years the Acadians refused to sign an unconditional oath of allegiance to Britian. During this time period Acadians participated in various militia operations against the British and maintained vital supply lines to the French Fortress of Louisbourg and Fort Beausejour. During the French and Indian War, the British sought to neutralize any military threat Acadians posed and to interrupt the vital supply lines Acadians provided to Louisbourg by deporting Acadians from Acadia. The British evicted the Acadians from Acadia (which has since been resettled and consists of parts of present-day Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, Canada) in the period 1755-1763. This has become known as the Great Upheaval or Le Grand Dérangement. At the time there was a war between France and Great Britain over the colony of New France. This war is known in the United States as the French and Indian War; it was one theater of the Seven Years' War that was fought chiefly in Europe. The Acadians' migration from Canada and the Thirteen Colonies was spurred by the Treaty of Paris (1763) which ended the war. The treaty terms provided 18 months for unrestrained emigration. Many Acadians moved to the region of the Atakapa, often travelling via the French Colony of Saint-Domingue (present day Haiti). Joseph Broussard led the first group of 200 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana on February 27, 1765 aboard the Santo Domingo. On April 8, 1765, he was appointed militia captain and commander of the "Acadians of the Atakapas" region in St. Martinville, La. Some of the settlers wrote poignant letters to their family scattered around the Atlantic to encourage them to join them at New Orleans. For example, Jean-Baptiste Semer, wrote to his father in France: “ My dear father (...) you can come here boldly with my dear mother and all the other Acadian families. They will always be better off than in France. There are neither duties nor taxes to pay and the more one works, the more one earns without doing harm to anyone ” —- Jean-Baptiste Semer 1766 Only after many of the Cajuns had moved to Louisiana, seeking to live under a French government, did they discover France had secretly ceded Louisiana to Spain in the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762). The formal announcement of the transfer was made in December 1764. The Cajuns took part in the Rebellion of 1768 in an attempt to prevent the transfer. The Spanish formally asserted control in 1769. The Acadians were scattered throughout the eastern seaboard. Families were split and put on ships with different destinations. Many ended up west of the Mississippi River in what was then French-colonized Louisiana, including territory as far north as Dakota territory. France had ceded the colony to Spain in 1762, prior to their defeat by Britain and two years before the first Acadians began settling in Louisiana. The interim French officials provided land and supplies to the new settlers. The Spanish governor, Bernardo de Gálvez, later proved to be hospitable, permitting the Acadians to continue to speak their language, practice their native religion, Roman Catholicism—which was also the official religion of Spain—and otherwise pursue their livelihoods with minimal interference. Some families and individuals did travel north through the Louisiana territory to set up homes as far north as Wisconsin. Cajuns fought in the American Revolution. Although they fought for Spanish General Galvez, their contribution to the winning of the war has been recognized. "Galvez leaves New Orleans with an army of Spanish regulars and the Louisiana militia made up of 600 Cajun volunteers and captures the British strongholds of Fort Bute at Bayou Manchac, across from the Acadian settlement at St. Gabriel. And on September 21, they attack and capture Baton Rouge. A review of the list of members shows many common Cajun names among soldiers who participated in the Battle of Baton Rouge and the Battle for West Florida. The Galvez Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was formed in memory of those soldiers. The Acadians' joining the fight against the British was partially a reaction to the British evicting them from Acadia. The Spanish colonial government settled the earliest group of Acadian exiles west of New Orleans, in what is now south-central Louisiana—an area known at the time as Attakapas, and later the center of the Acadiana region. As Brasseaux wrote, "The oldest of the pioneer communities . . . Fausse Point, was established near present-day Loreauville by late June, 1765. The Acadians shared the swamps, bayous and prairies with the Attakapa and Chitimacha Native American tribes. After the end of American Revolutionary War, about 1,500 more Acadians arrived in New Orleans. About 3,000 Acadians had been deported to France during the Great Upheaval. In 1785 about 1,500 of them obtained the authorisation to emigrate to Louisiana, often to be reunited with their families or because they could not settle in France. Mostly secluded until the early 1900s, Cajuns today are largely assimilated into the mainstream society and culture. Some Cajuns live in communities outside of Louisiana. Also, some people identify themselves as Cajun culturally despite lacking Acadian ancestry. Religious traditions Cajuns are predominantly Roman Catholic. However, Protestant and Evangelical Christian denominations have made inroads among Cajuns, but not without controversy — many Cajuns will shun family members if they convert to any form of Protestantism because of the extreme persecution the Cajuns were subjected to by Protestants during the Great Expulsion of 1755, and throughout their history for maintaining their Catholicism. The 1992 cookbook, Who's Your Mama, Are You Catholic and Can You Make a Roux by Cajun Chef Marcelle Bienvenue outlines long-standing beliefs that Cajun identity was rooted in community, cuisine, and very specifically, devout Roman Catholicism. Traditional Catholic religious observances such as Mardi Gras, Lent, and Holy Week are integral to many Cajun communities. Language Main article: Cajun French Cajun French is a variety or dialect of the French language spoken primarily in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. At one time there were as many as seven dialects spread across the Cajun Heartland. Recent documentation has been made of Cajun English, a French-influenced dialect of English spoken by Cajuns, either as a second language, in the case of the older members of the community, or as a first language by younger Cajuns.

Who caught the final episode?

The last episode of the season for Swamp People. Did you catch it? Here's the short.

It's the final two days of the season for the Swamp People, and there is still a lot of work to do. Troy faces his greatest nemesis, a gator known as the "Loch Ness Monster," as the other swampers race to "tag out" for the season.

I can't wait till next season. I hope they keep the series going it has been a delightful experience watching and enjoying it. If you missed it you can watch the full episode of Swamp People on History Channel. What did you all think of the final episode? 

The Final Countdown

With just a few days left in the season, the pressure's intensifying. Can the swampers "tag out" in time?

Check it out tonight 10/24/2010 10/9c

Pierre Part gets put on the map thanks to Troy

Troy Landry of Pierre Part, Louisiana gains celebrity status in south Louisiana.

Landry is one of several stars on The History Channel's new series. "Swamp People" is a documentary television series that follows Cajuns living in the swamps of the Atchafalaya River Basin. The series premiered August 22.

Landry said the people from The History Channel first went to Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries looking for information on alligator hunting.

"When they finished getting their information, they asked the guys if they knew anyone who they could go out in a boat with and take pictures of the swamp," Landry said.

One of Landry's friends works for Wildlife and Fisheries and gave the representatives his information.

"He called me right after they left his office and said 'man, t-buddy I hope you not mad at me, but I gave some people your name and phone number,'" Landry said. "I wanted to help out my buddy, so I figured I would do this favor for him."

Landry said he had no idea that The History Channel was planning on making a TV series.

"The more I talked to them, the more I realized that they wanted to make a show out of this and pay me for it," Landry said. "I said well shit, I had to catch the alligators anyhow, so why not let them help me to pay for it?"

Since its premiere, "Swamp People" has been the talk of not only south Louisiana, but also the whole nation. The show has set the ratings record for The History Channel.

"I really never thought the show would be as popular as it is," Landry said. "I figured the little kids would like it, but even the old people like it. The kids, the momma, the daddy, the maw maw and the paw paw all like the show. Everyone I talk to loves it. It shocked me. I didn't think a lot of people would like it this much."

Landry says that things have definitely changed since the beginning of the show.

"I used to be able to go to the grocery store and back in five minutes," Landry said. "Now it takes me an hour and a half. Everybody I meet wants to talk about the show and how much they like it. I really enjoy it, though."

Landry's favorite part about the show is the attention that he gets from the children.

"They actually love the show," Landry said. "When I meet them somewhere, the first thing they say is 'Is that the alligator man? Are you the man on TV?' Sometimes I kid with them and say 'Oh no, that's my brother!' but they know better."

The first season of "Swamp People" focused solely on alligator hunting. Landry said that The History Channel plans on mixing things up with other subjects such as crawfishing in the next seasons.

Landry often says in the show that he "lives off of the land." He is currently building a new house for his family that contains no drywall. The interior of the house is made entirely of salvaged wood that he collected from the swamp himself.

Landry says that he plans to be a part of the show for as long as he can. "I hope they like me being on the show, so as long as they want me there, I guess I'll be on it."

Find Your Inner Cajun - Alligator Recipes

So if you are curious and want to try your hand at cooking some of this wide range of alligator meat I will provide you with a few recipes to do just that.
Happy Cooking!

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After 20 years of protection, the alligator has made a remarkable comeback and alligator meat is available again. Most people only use the tail, but the other meat is good, too. The best tail meat will come from a 4 - 5 foot gator. A 3-footer wouldn't be big enough to feed the camp, 6-10 footers tend to put up a bit of a fight, and over 10 foot he's probably tough and you'll want to grind the meat up.

Many prepare alligator sub sandwiches made with tender fried alligator tail
meat on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomatoes.

Good Marinade For Alligator Tail:
In a large bowl or pot (big enough to soak a good portion of meat in) mix together:
1 beer
1-2 cups of milk
Louisiana Hot Sauce - To Taste

Put the nuggets in the liquid and set in the refrigerator or ice chest to soak for at least 1/4 hour.

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Stewed Alligator In Creole Sauce
2 tb Olive oil
1 c Chopped onions
1/2 c Chopped celery
1/2 c Chopped bell peppers
2 tb Minced garlic
3 c Peeled; seeded, chopped tomatoes (preferably ripe plum tomatoes)
1/4 c Chopped fresh basil
2 tb Chopped fresh oregano
2 ts Chopped fresh thyme
Salt; to taste
Cayenne pepper; to taste
Freshly-ground black pepper; to taste
2 ts Worcestershire sauce
3 c Chicken stock
1 1/2 c Chopped green onions
1 lb Alligator; cut into 1" pieces
8 tb Butter; at room temperature
1 Crusty loaf of French bread
2 tb Finely-chopped parsley

In a saucepan, heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, saute the onions, celery, and peppers for 1 minute. Add the garlic and continue sauteing for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, basil, oregano, and thyme. Season with salt, cayenne and black pepper. Add the Worcestershire sauce and chicken stock. Bring the liquid up to a boil. Add the green onions and alligator, cover. Simmer the mixture for 12 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and swirl in the butter. Spoon the stew in a shallow bowl. Garnish with parsley. Serve with the crusty bread. This recipe yields 4 appetizer servings.

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Grilled Cajun Style Gator Tail 4 To 6 Lbs Gator Tail Lemon wedges Seasoning Mix: 12 T Paprika 6 T Garlic powder 3 T Salt 3 T White pepper 3 T Oregano, crushed 3 T Black pepper 2 1/2 T Thyme 1 T Cayenne pepper To make seasoning mix, combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, white pepper, oregano, black pepper, thyme and cayenne pepper in jar with tight fitting lid. Shake well to combine. Mixture may be stored for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, cut gator tail meat into 1/2" cubes. Roll each cube in 1 tablespoon of the mixture. Cook over high heat on an outdoor barbecue grill or under the oven broiler for 4 to 6 minutes, or until gator tail meat is white and firm to the touch. Serve warm with lemon wedges. The seasoning mixture will coat up to 24 (4 oz.) servings of gator tail.

 

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Alligator Pizza 1 Italian bread shell (boboli) 7 1/2 oz Prepared pizza sauce 1/2 ts Creole seasoning 1 c Alligator meat; chop 1/4 c Bell pepper; chop 3 tb Onion; chop 1 tb Green onion; chop 2 c Cheddar/Jack cheese; shred 1 tb Garlic and herb seasoning Preheat oven to 450~. Place bread shell on ungreased cookie sheet. Spread sauce evenly over bread shell. In a small bowl, pour Creole seasoning over alligator meat and mix well. In a medium skillet, saute seasoned alligator meat, bell pepper, onion and green onions until veggies are tender. Spoon meat mixture over pizza sauce, top with cheese and garlic and herb seasoning. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until crust is crisp and cheese begins to brown.

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Alligator Chili 1 lb Alligator meat, diced 2 tb Vegetable oil 1 lg Onion, diced 1 lg Bell pepper, diced 1 cl Garlic, minced 16 oz Can pinto beans 10 oz Can tomatoes & chilies, blended 6 oz Can tomato paste Salt & pepper to taste 1 ts Cumin 1 Diced jalapeno pepper 1 c Dark red wine In a Dutch oven - boil diced meat in water seasoned with salt and pepper for 20 minutes. Then drain and set aside. In the same dutch oven, add oil, onion, bell pepper and garlic and saute until onions are tender. Add pinto beans, tomatoes, stomato paste, salt, pepper, cumin and jalapeno. Cook on medium-low heat 40 minutes - then add the alligator meat. Cook on low heat for 3 hours. Add the wine during the last 30 minutes of cooking time. Makes about 6 servings.

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Cajun Gator with Green Peppercorn Sauce Alligator; (or any meat or seafood) Cajun Seasoning: 1 tb Black pepper 1 tb White pepper 1 tb Cayenne pepper 1 tb Granulated garlic 1 tb Salt 1/2 tb Thyme 1/2 tb Rosemary 1/2 tb Crushed red pepper 1 tb Flour Butter or oil; (for frying) Brandy Green peppercorns Heavy cream Season gator (to your taste). Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium heat. Turn heat to high, place gator in skillet and saute until moisture comes to the top of the gator. Turn gator over and continue to saute for another minute. Add brandy and flambe. Add peppercorns and heavy cream, continue to cook until cream thickens.

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1.03.01

Swamp People has Taken Over History Channel

With the August 2010 premiere of Swamp People, the History Channel moved a little further away from its core programming and onto newer findings. Following the success of the channel's other original reality shows like Pawn Stars and American Pickers, Swamp People represents an even greater departure for the history-themed network.
The programming shift has been very successful. Pawn Stars has been wildly successful in the ratings, American Pickers has spawned a British copycat, and the series premier of Swamp People shot the History Channel to the number one spot in cable ratings for the time slot. This is mostly due because History Channel has decided to go out of the box and push the envelope in this series following hunters who kill, skin, and eat not only alligators, they also kill snakes and bull frogs to eat for dinner. Watching these cajuns is like stepping back in time. From watching them kill, skin, and eat their kill. Its a way of life for them and how they make their living while also keeping the overwhelming alligator population down.

History of Louisiana’s Cajuns in Atchafalaya Swamp

Louisiana’s Cajun people originated from French settlers in Acadia, Canada. After the onset of the French Indian war in 1755, Great Britain drove French settlers from Acadia during what is now called Le Grand Derangement, or The Great Upheaval. About 3,000 Acadians fled to Louisiana, one of the last French settlements in America at the time.
The rich natural resources of the million-acre Atchafalaya River Basin allowed the new settlers to maintain an existence similar to their former lives in Acadia. The settlers eked out a living raising livestock, hunting and fishing. Many of the 180,000 Acadian descendants, now called Cajuns, still follow this traditional lifestyle.
Format of History Channel's Swamp People Reality Show
The show follows a handful of these Cajuns as they embark on their annual alligator hunt during the month-long hunting season. For most Americans, the swamp seems to be a harsh, uninhabitable environment. The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called it “the forest primeval.” Bruce Mitchell, who runs the Kleibert Turtle and Alligator Farm, calls it “my piece of heaven down here.”
The show depicts the ingenuity and strength of the Cajun people. While the month-long alligator hunt can provide most of a family's annual income, swamp-dwellers must find multiple ways to make a living. None has done this more successfully than Albert "Butch" Knight, who, in addition to gator hunting, builds boats, welds, and owns his own trucking company. Others can been seen farming, fishing, shrimping, trying to attract tourists, or offering services to other hunters. For some, life is a constant scramble find steady sources of income.
The program shows the deep love the Cajuns have for their land and way of life. Patriarchs Troy Landry and Joe LaFont (Trapper Joe) have raised their children to follow in their footsteps. Joe’s stepson, Tommy Chauvin, has been his right-hand man in the swamp since Tommy was in the first grade. In some ways, Swamp People is about how traditions are maintained and passed on to the next generation.

Controversy Surrounding Swamp People ( This will apply to some of my readers as I have received numerous comments)
There is some controversy surrounding the show. Swamp People represents a programming change that could cost the History Channel its most loyal viewers. While it is clear that the Cajuns depicted have a rich cultural history and strong traditions, there’s little attempt to show the history of those connections. Primarily, the show depicts swamp-dwellers trying to kill or exploit alligators and other animals.
Viewers may also be concerned about the animal cruelty documented the show. While alligators are vicious hunters, and the population must be contained, the methods of hunting them are brutal. The alligators are often baited in unattended traps. When a gator snags the bait, it becomes hooked. The animal is then trapped, impaled live on a hook for hours, until the hunters come to shoot it. Often, it takes several shots to kill the animal.
Despite these issues, Swamp People is an intriguing show that should continue to do well on the History Channel. The program has a sense of integrity that is absent in other shows. Viewers get the sense that this reality show is real. It depicts a way of life that is uniquely American, but virtually unknown outside of the Louisiana swamps. Swamp People serves as a reminder of the great cultural diversity that defines America.
Swamp People viewers: comment on the show in the space at the end of this article.
History Channel fans may also want to read American Pickers and Chasing Mummies: The History Channel's 

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1.03.01

Missed an episode? Watch them online.

Not all of us have the luxury of tuning are television to the History Channel every Sunday without ever missing an episode. Thank God for the internet. If you missed and episode and really want to catch up on what you missed you can and without paying a cent. I have put together a list of all the sites to stream episodes online for free.









http://mytvxy.com/category/swamp-people/
http://www.history.com/shows/swamp-people/videos/playlists/full-episodes#swamp-people-swamp-wars
http://video.tvguide.com/Shows/Swamp+People
http://www.findinternettv.com/Videos/Show/Swamp-People.aspx
http://www.tvduck.com/Swamp-People.html
Hope this small list helps with the episodes you missed. Happy watching!

New Episode 10/17 Gator Voodoo

With just a week left in the season, the gators have mysteriously stopped biting. Is it the full moon? Swampers fight back with their own tried and true tactics, from new territories to a traditional Cajun bait called "shake and bake."

Sounds like an interesting episode this week. Same time as always 10/9c on the History Channel. Enjoy this weeks episode of Swamp People!

New episode tomorrow everyone!

Well, I know how much everyone missed the show last week and I thought that was it for the season. It appears as if the History Channel was toying with our emotions. There will be a new episode this Sunday 10/10/2010 at 10/9C on the History Channel....

This Weeks episode is titled "Swamp Wars"  this weeks episode shows the swampers race toward the end of gator season, Tommy and Joe have a poacher after their catch and vow swamp justice. Meanwhile, Junior and Willie try different ways to earn cash: catching frogs and snakes.

Sounds like a pretty interesting show this week, I am super curious what they are going to do about the poacher lurking in their gator hunting territory.....


Starting tomorrow afternoon around 1PM Central time will be a swamp people marathon all day up to the new episode that will air. So, if you missed a show here's your chance to catch up on this season's Swamp People Au revoir Swampers!

No new episodes tonight

Now we are in the month of October and sadly that means the end of the alligator hunting season and the end of the Swamp People season. But if you have missed some episodes watch the History Channel Saturday 10/09/10 at 10/9C to catch up on the episodes you missed.  I am looking forward to a new season of Swamp People, I hope History Channel keeps this show on for many many seasons to come.


UPDATE:

While watching IRT all day to day I saw commercials of Swamp People and thought I heard them say there will be new episodes sometime in October but I can't find any info on the History Channels site to back that up. Once I find some info out about if there will be or not, I will update when necessary. Here's to hoping that they will continue on with Swamp People, seems like it just started, hate to see it end so soon.

September 26, 10/9C

Family Feuds

Premiere Date: 09/26/2010

It's halfway through the grueling alligator season and the stress is taking a toll on families throughout the swamp. Joe and Tommy are fighting... and even Troy is frustrated. Meanwhile, nuisance gator hunter Howard McCrea is tracking a deadly gator.

Halfway through the alligator hunting season and it doesn't sound like the season is getting any better. What's up with the "deadly gator" has this alligator been on attack more or is he another cannibal? 

Tonights Upcoming show 10/9 c

Force of Nature

Premiere Date: 09/19/2010

A cold spell is coming, one that could drive gators into early hibernation, ending the season early. It's a race against time as every gator hunter in the gulf tries to beat the storm. TVPG V-L

Sounds like an interesting episode tonight, can't wait to watch it!

Why We Like It

Swamp People is a pretty interesting reality show that focuses on the lives of the people who live in the swamps of Louisiana. Some people who hate the swamps start having creepy feelings when they even get to hear about people that are actually living in the swamps. The persons who live in the swamps "swamp people" feel it quite normal and easy to live there.
What you see on the show Swamp People is also pretty interesting and the people get to see how weapons were made by the master hunter and his eldest son Willie. They also created some hooks that most of the people might not have seen. These hooks looked to be made for hunting some swamp animals. The show Swamp People has gained a lot of popularity among the people because the life in a swamp is pretty interesting and not a very well known territory. The people living in swamps have a completely different life style as compared to the people living in the cities and even the villages. The people of the cities are amazed to see the life of the swamp and the challenges that the people living there have to face. Most are shocked to think people would actually choose to live a life like that but for swamp people it is all they have ever known. No one just moves to the swamps to live there, it is a lifestyle that they have grown up in, its all the swamp people know and that's how they know to live. Hunting alligators is part of that well known lifestyle it is a way of living.

One episode of Swamp People also showed Joe going to the marshlands along with his son. These swamps are some of the most dangerous places in the world and a person has to be very careful in moving through these places. The fans of the Swamp People series are pretty excited to see the upcoming episodes of the show and to see what lies ahead for the swamp people of Louisiana.

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1.03.01

They Caught Godzilla!

Last night's show of Swamp People was pretty good. They finally caught the nusance cannibal alligator "Godzilla", the way the caught the 10ft monster was the most interesting part. They didn't even hook the gator! Godzilla was trying to chomp down on a smaller alligator that was hooked and ended up tying the line around his neck and esentially hung himself, accidental alligator suicide. Looks like catching alligators in that area may be a bit easier for the swamp people now that the caniball alligator Godzilla has been put to rest.

I really felt kind of bad for T. Mike, poor guy, first used the wrong kind of gun to kill a gator, but still his dad allowed him to go out on his own and check hooks. While out on his own he did get a good sized alligator but when he was ready to go he went to start up the boat and the pull string broke and he was unable to start up the engine. Thankfully he had a worried dad who went out looking for his son, they were able to repair the broken pull string with an alligator line and his dad was well prepared for the situation with the right tools.

All in all it looked like a pretty good day for the swamp people, I can't wait for next week. I was also happy to see some subtitles playing into the mix!

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Cannibal Gator 9/12/2010 10/9c

Cannibal Gator

Premiere Date: 09/12/2010 10/9c

Catch the latest episode tomorrow night of Swamp People. Sounds like this episode will be interesting and it sounds like their season may be nearing the end of the 1 month allotment. I can't wait to watch it! Let everyone here know what you thought of the episode as I will put my two sense in on it after I have watched it.

Alligators are among the most territorial of animals, and won't hesitate to eat smaller gators that wander into their feeding grounds. Joe and Tommy come up against the notorious cannibal gator they call "Godzilla," when they discover smaller gators on their bait lines scarred with bite marks. Meanwhile, Mike and Troy face different battles. Mike's trying to pass down his vast swamp knowledge to his son T-Mike, while Troy's lines are empty, putting his season in jeopardy.

Swamp People - Life in Louisiana

When the History Channel created this show they really chose the runts out of the litter to follow, but who else would hunt alligators for a living anyway?  Not trying to be mean by saying that, just saying that what you see as coonass, cajun, southern boys, well, they are not all like that, just a few here and there, not everyone in this humid region is like that though. But it still can be quite the cultural shock if you have never been here before. I know it was for me, I have lived in this area for about 4 years now. Moved down here from a fairly large city in Oregon, it was like moving to another country for me.

CULTURAL SHOCK HAS SET IN

Well, the very first thing you will encounter when visiting the South, home of the Swamp People is the accent. It is one of the more harder things to overcome when visiting. My first encounter was at a McDonalds drive-thru. For the life of me I just could not understand what the woman was saying through the speaker, apparently when you ask for a coke down here they will in turn ask you  what kind, so 1st tip, when ordering make sure you are being very specific in your ordering techniques and God forbid if you ask for a pop, they will look at you like you are an extraterrestrial creature from another planet. I have put my "pop" phrases behind me and have moved on to something not so complex to order, like tea for instance. The accents are definitely hard to get use to, Louisiana in particular as you have seen depicted on the show. It would be so awesome if people here came with built in Closed Captioning, would make my life so much easier.

The Foods of Louisiana
Another thing that takes some getting use to is the food. I am a person that refuses to eat seafood, I don't know what it is, I just hate it, the smell, the texture, the way it all looks, just so unappetizing to me. I am a very picky eater so living here is especially hard for me, if you too are a picky eater tread lightly and learn to love fast food and cooking at home. Everyone around here eats fish of all kinds, rabbit (gross),turtle(ewwww),frog legs(.....),and of course alligator meat. Some of the more well known dishes are gumbo,jambalaya,oysters, fried catfish, and of course fried chicken (Popeye's says it all). A family event here usually revolves around a crawfish boil with spicy red potatoes and corn on the cob all with a kick, everyone cooks with hot sauce, if you don't have a bottle in your fridge how dare you.
Some of my favorite New Orleans style deserts would have to be Beignets and Pralines, if you have never tried them you are really missing out. If you are a coffee drinker and love a bold blend, a New Orleans style chicory is a perfect choice, it is VERY strong.

It's Getting HOT!

Remember last weeks episode where they had to wet a blanket and put over the alligators? Well, that's because of the heat here in Louisiana. They said on Swamp People they had to do that to keep the meat from going bad.

If you can't stand the heat, then this certainly isn't the place for you. I know in some places in the US you don't even need to own an air conditioner for the summer months, well I can assure you it is not like that here. Everyone has an air conditioner and anyone with a porch has outside ceiling fans attached to their porch. It really is that hot. Not only is it hot but boy is it humid! Go outside and you will instantly feel your skin getting sticky and feel your hair become damp and if you are wearing glasses or sunglasses, expect a light fog.

I know this post isn't exactly inspiring, but I really think everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Try some Gumbo, eat a beignet, drink a cup of chicory and sit outside and enjoy the hot weather. If Swamp People can do it, so can you!

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1.03.01

Last Night's Show

Pretty good episode last night. I must admit I felt pretty bad for that one guy, I think his name was Bud, the guy does great when hunting deer but for the life of him he just couldn't get a good shot on an alligator. He had his gun retrieved and was shown how to do it right. As said in the show by Tommy, you want to hit the soft spot on the back of his head, that soft spot is only the size of a quarter so precision is everything when taking a shot and apparently takes a lot of practice to master something like that. I am sure it is a lot different then hunting deer. You are faced with keeping your balance on a boat, taking aim at a an alligator flipping around in the dirty mucky water it can't be that simple and quite obviously isn't.

I found that to be the best part of last night's episode, not saying everything else wasn't good just that it didn't capture my interest as much as that part of the show did. What was your favorite part of last night's show?

September 5th 10/9c - Troy's Gamble

Tonights upcoming show will be about Troy desperately needing to find a new honey hole, a corner of the bayou teeming with gators. He thinks he's found one, but the rights to hunt it will cost him a lot of cash. He takes the risk--but will it pay off? Meanwhile, Joe and Tommy contend with their own greenhorn, a landlubber named Bud. Across the swamp, the Kliebard family shows they don't need the aid of computers or a factory--Mike engineers and builds a perfect aluminum boat from scratch, showing off his Cajun ingenuity and expertise.

So stay tuned for a personal review from yours truly, or you could just watch the show yourself.

Swamp People and the Atchafalaya Swamp

Sprawling over a million-acre swath of southern Louisiana, the Atchafalaya River Basin is the largest swamp in the United States and one of the country's most ecologically varied regions. Its wetlands, bayous and marshes are home to 300 species of birds, 90 species of fish, shellfish and 54 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the famous American alligator. It owes much of its haunting and mysterious beauty to the towering, moss-draped bald cypress trees that thrive in the swamp waters.
For hundreds of years, the Basin's human dwellers (swamp people)—from the Native Americans who harvested its timber to the present-day Cajuns who hunt alligators in the swamps murky depths—have subsisted on its many bountiful resources. In the second half of the 18th century, the region became a refuge for several thousand French colonists who had been expelled from Acadie, part of present-day Nova Scotia, for refusing to swear allegiance to the British crown and church. Known as the Acadians, the settlers adapted their way of life to the changeable nature of the Basin's wetland environment, where water levels fluctuate depending on the season, by favoring houseboats and campsites to more permanent homes. Many began growing sugarcane and other crops in the fertile bayou soil, while other swamp people made a living as loggers, hunters, trappers or fishermen.

The Acadian community grew and prospered, eventually giving birth to the distinctly Louisianan "Cajun" culture, known throughout the world for its food, jazz music and unique dialect. Today, the Cajuns make up a significant part of southern Louisiana's population, and many continue to embrace the lifestyle and traditions of their ancestors.
In spite of the region's natural bounty and unmistakable splendor, swamp living has never been easy for the Cajuns and other residents of the Atchafalaya Basin. For instance, the disastrous Great Flood of 1927 decimated many communities, sparking a mass exodus that dramatically reduced the region's population. But to many people born and raised in the cradle of the lush and majestic Atchafalaya, the dangers and challenges they face are an accepted–and even welcome–part of life.

Swamp People - History about Cypress Lake

If you caught the episode Houdini's Last Escape on Swamp People, you saw Cypress Grove where they caught the big gator. Cypress Grove is a 2-acre swamp located in Lafayette, Louisiana. Located in the heart of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus that originally started as a buffalo wallow. Cypress Grove is a habitat for native irises, alligators ( of course), turtles, birds and fish, as well as a hangout for students and a point of interest for tourists visiting the area of  Lafayette, Louisiana. Cypress Lake is casually called The Swamp, which is also the nickname of the Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns stadium, named Cajun Field.


In prehistoric times, buffalo herds wandering through the area stopped in the shade of the cypress grove, pawing and stomping at the ground. Eventually a depression in the ground formed from the buffalo's. The grove, called a trou de taureau in Cajun French, or “bull hole,” began to retain water and form a pond.
UL Lafayette (est. 1900) grew up around the pond. Initially the university fenced it in to use as a pig pen and feeding area for its instructional farm. In the early 1920s, the pig pen was drained to return the 63 cypress trees into the newly named Cypress Grove. The university used the grove as an open-air theater for Shakespearean productions, music and dance programs. Commencement exercises were held beneath the cypress canopy in 1935 for the first time and several subsequent years when the weather permitted.
In the early 1940s, some agriculture faculty members proposed converting the grove back into a pond, because they were concerned a lack of water could harm the cypress trees. A pump was installed, the pond was refilled, and Cypress Grove became Cypress Lake.
An oak tree located south of Cypress Lake has a plaque paying tribute to Edwin Stephens, the first president of the university, which was then called Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute

Alternate theory about the lake

An alternate theory exists to explain why the grove was converted back to a small lake. This one is counter to the theory that the trees needed water. Either could be correct.
The differing view is that the university created the lake as a precautionary measure during World War II. Two women with strong ties to the university, Maria Mario Mamalakis and Vesta Bourgeois, participated in the oral history project in which their memories of Cypress Lake were recorded in the mid-’80s.
“People didn’t realize that we were so near the gulf and had a lot of German submarines in the gulf area,” said Mamalakis, explaining why the university decided to create the lake. “It was a worry that we could even be bombed. It was Cypress Grove for many years, but they were afraid that we might need extra water in case of fire if a bomb had been dropped on campus.” Bourgeois concurred, adding that female students filled the swamp and conducted fire drills.
“They realized that if the Germans came to the gulf south of Abbeville they would bomb not us, but the vulnerable place, Baton Rouge,” Bourgeois explained. “If they had to come back with bombs (in their airplanes), they would not go back to the ship, but would drop them at some vulnerable place, and Southwestern would have been one.
“So they began preparing for this type thing, and they saw that there was no water. So they put water (in the grove), and we began teaching girls at the gym bucket brigades. So we had ladders, and an obstacle course for the girls to run, realizing that all of our men went into the service, and the others were in the National Guard or volunteers, so that the women would have to do these sorts of things. That’s how Cypress Grove was filled. Not many people knew that.”
Although the grove was a popular gathering place and was even used as a lovers' lane, students accepted the swamp because it was part of the war effort, according to Bruce Turner, a UL Lafayette history professor and head of the special collections at Edith Garland Dupré Library.
“I’m sure if they made the case that it was being done for war preparedness, then for patriotic reasons, people would accept that,” Turner said. “It was right in the middle of World War II, and everyone was concerned. Everybody was willing to make sacrifices for the war.”

Swamp People - What the Show is All About

Swamp People on the History Channel Hits Big – “Swamp People,” a new popular reality series is spotlighting a number of families who live within America’s largest swamp. It is an interesting mix of a culture and nature lesson. For 30 days, the network will be following around swampers during their annual alligator hunt. Which you can be expecting another season of the show right around the corner consider the annual alligator hunting season is upon us. The network released a statement describing what they are attempting to do with their new series.

“It is a uniquely American story of a proud and skillful people fighting to maintain an ancient way of life in a rapidly modernizing world.”
The series debuted and received a good reception from fans and critics alike. They were able to kill a 13 foot “monster gator” on the program during a hunt in the cypress groves. Animal rights activists will likely have a problem with the show, but it goes to show how different certain areas of the United States are from one another. One of the hunters pointed out that a popular swimming hole and a popular vacation spot during the summer months in the area is just a few yards away from where they killed the alligator.

The show goes to show that living in the swamps can be very dangerous but also profitable if you play your cards right. The swamps  are a  completely different way of life. Some of them almost never leave the swamp other than to work, and a vast majority of them work in the swamp in some way. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the show pans out, and whether or not the network decides to do a second season of Swamp People. With the fans pouring in from all over, I don't think they will have much of a debate about the subject. 

Houdini's Last Escape

So who caught the show last night? Great right? Well if you didn't catch the episode let me fill you in on what happened.

Troy enters one of the most mysterious hunting grounds in the swamp: the ominous cypress groves, in search of a monster gator that's escaped his traps for years (Houdini). Meanwhile, Junior enters a different kind of foreign territory as he reluctantly hosts the ultimate greenhorn, an Italian leather buyer.

Not a whole lot going on in this weeks episode, stayed tuned for next week, maybe it will be a tad more exciting. Agonizing, the waiting game. Swamp People has me hooked, and if you are reading this blog it has you hooked too I am sure.

Becoming Swamp People

So you're now ready to dig your heels in the muck and mud of the Louisiana swamps and catch some alligators and make some quick cash. Well, it may not be as quick as what you're thinking. To become swamp people you must think like swamp people. How to do this you ask, let me fill you in on the necessary steps to becoming one of the swamp folk.

• Hunting and fishing for commerce and recreation are longstanding traditions in Louisiana, particularly in the Atchafalaya Basin. Not like your families traditions, I am sure.
• The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries heavily regulates the state's hunting and fishing seasons. So get ready to jump through some hoops.
• There are regulated hunting seasons for deer, turkey, quail, rabbit, alligator, squirrel, raccoons, opossum, migratory birds and waterfowl. Swamp people leave no meat untouched or uncooked. I wonder if there is also a regulation for turtles, I guess I may have to research that later. Because it is a delicacy in these parts. Never tried it myself and probably never will.
• There are regulated fishing seasons for crawfish, shrimp, oysters and seawater and freshwater fish ranging from shark to grouper. Pretty normal for anywhere right?
• Nutria, a rodent species that is considered a nuisance because it destroys Louisiana coastal wetlands, is hunted for population control and used as a food source by subsistence hunters. They can be a pain in the butt so this is something to be thankful for.
• An estimated 75 to 105 million crawfish–some for export and some for local consumption–are caught during the crawfishing season, which lasts throughout the year.
• Shrimping season usually begins in April and is regulated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, which monitors catch and population sizes in order to determine season length.
• Hunting season for alligator begins the first Wednesday in September and last for 30 days.The time is coming up for the season so go get your mud boots and rotting chicken and hit prepare for the swamps.
• Alligator hunting is intensely managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, which only allows licensed hunters to participate and restricts the activity to defined wetland habitats of the Atchafalaya swamp and coastal waters. What government agency isn't heavily regulated though?
• Alligator hunters must obtain a license and a limited number of tags from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. so if you kill a little gator that won't be worth much, you can't just throw back in the water, you have to tag them.
• Alligator hunters must either own or lease land that is classified as wetland habitat in order to qualify for tags. So go get a real estate booklet and become part of the swamp people society.
• The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries only distributes tags for property containing sufficient alligator habitat that it has determined capable of sustaining an alligator harvest. Shouldn't be hard to do in these parts.
• The goal of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries' alligator program is to manage and conserve Louisiana's alligators as part of the state's wetland ecosystem while providing benefits to the species, its habitat and other species associated with alligators as well as economic benefits to landowners, alligator farmers and alligator hunters.
• The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries' alligator management program is one of the world's most recognizable examples of a wildlife conservation success story, and has been used as a model for managing various crocodilian species around the world.
• Louisiana's wild alligator population is estimated at roughly 1.5 million animals; another 500,000 live on alligator farms. There are plenty to go around for all the aspiring swamp people out there.

Swamp People Kill Big Head

What happens when the History Channel and Animal Planet end up sleeping together after a night of partying during Mardi Gras? 

I found the above quote on a website and if you live in these parts I'm sure you'll appreciate it. If your offened by it, well then you just lack a sense of humor.

"Swamp People."

 

The new reality series spotlighting the families (called "Cajuns") who live within America's largest swamp is an interesting mix of culture and nature. For 30 days, the network followed these swampers during the annual alligator hunt — calling it "a uniquely American story of a proud and skillful people fighting to maintain an ancient way of life in a rapidly modernizing world."

 

With many websites lighting up about the record 13-foot "monster gator" killed during a hunt in the cypress groves. Animal rights activists may not be impressed by the brutality of it all, but History Channel does its best to tone down the violence of the hunt. It's especially disconcerting to hear one of the hunters point out that a popular swimming hole is just a few yards away from the kill. If there's one thing the show hints at early, it's that living in these conditions comes with some dangerous company.

 

"Swamp People" airs each Sunday at 9 p.m. (ET) on the History Channel.

Where the Swamp People Can Be Found

SWAMP PEOPLE — Deep in the heart of Louisiana lies America’s largest swamp–a million miles of inhospitable bayous, marshes and wetlands where nature rules and humans struggle to tame it. Many of its inhabitants are the hardened descendants of French refugees who were forced out of Canada in the 18th century and settled in this harsh yet majestic environment. Today, these people are known as the Cajuns, a group renowned throughout the world for their flavorful cuisine, distinctive music and vibrant culture. Resilient, self-reliant and fiercely independent, the Cajuns of the Atchafalaya Swamp still carry on many of their ancestors’ trades and traditions.
HISTORY follows these swampers through a time of year that is crucial to their survival: the 30-day alligator hunting season. At its core, this is a uniquely American story of a proud and skillful people fighting to maintain an ancient way of life in a rapidly modernizing world, despite the many perils and trials that stand in their way. (10 p.m., History)

Definition of Swamp People

I'm just positive you are all wondering what the definition of Swamp People is. I won't keep you in suspense any longer.

According to the Urban Dictionary Swamp People is defined as;
A race of cult going zombies trying to take over the world. 

Great right, yeah I thought so too. So there you go, we both know you chuckled a bit.


Swamp People is a pretty interesting reality show that focuses on the lives of the people who live in the swamps of Louisiana. Some people who hate the swamps start having creepy feelings when they even get to hear about people living in swamps but if you have ever been to the swamp lands it's really not that creepy. People find it creepys because of all those tall tales about the swamp monsters and even big foot. But let's be honest here, apparently big foot is in every region of the US according to all those "sightings" but he hasn't hurt anyone yet so I wouldn't worry to much about him he's probably just a lonely hairy man who finds comfort in playing pranks on the unknowing people around him. The persons who live in the swamps feel it is quite normal and easy to live there, better them than me is all I have to say to that.
The latest episode of the Swamp People (August 22,2010) was also pretty interesting and the people got to see how weapons were made by the master hunter and his eldest son whose name is Willie. They also created some hooks that most of the people might not have seen. These hooks looked to be made for hunting some swamp animals. The show Swamp People has gained a lot of popularity among the people because the life in a swamp is pretty interesting and apparently even more so dangerous. The people living in swamps have a completely different life style as compared to the people living in the cities and even the villages. The people of the cities are amazed to see the life of the swamp and the challenges that the people living there have to face.

The latest episode of Swamp People also showed Joe going to the marshlands along with his son. These marshlands are one of the most dangerous places in the swamps and a person has to be very careful in moving through these places. The son of Joe is a teen and he does some stupid acts which a teen is expected to do and he gets himself into some deep trouble. The fans of the series are pretty excited to see the upcoming episodes of the show which can be watched on the History Channel

Swamp People Ratings

HISTORY® CONTINUES ITS RATINGS SUCCESS

WITH SUNDAY NIGHT DEBUT OF

SWAMP PEOPLE

Drives HISTORY to #1 in Cable within 10-11pm Time Period

and Sets Record as Network’s Best-Ever Original Series Launch

New York, August 24, 2010 – HISTORY’s series opener of SWAMP PEOPLE, on Sunday, August 22 at 10pm ET, produced stellar ratings for the network and set a new record, among all key demos, as HISTORY’s best-ever original series launch.

The series premiere garnered 4.2 million total viewers, 2.5 million Adults 25-54 and 2.3 million Adults 18-49 – driving HISTORY to #1 in cable within the 10-11pm time period in total viewers and Adults 25-54.

Deep in southern Louisiana there are nearly 1 million acres of flooded forest, marshland and bayous unlike anyplace else in the United States. It’s a hidden world, a place where nature still rules – but a hardy breed of “Swamp People” knows the secrets of this dangerous mysterious territory. Most are Cajun descendants of French-speaking settlers who came from Canada in the 1700’s – and their way of life has been fundamentally the same for generations. Hunting, especially alligator hunting, remains a major source of their livelihood. In the first season of SWAMP PEOPLE, a 10-episode series which premiered on Sunday, August 22 at 10pm ET and airs on Sundays at 10pm thereafter, HISTORY follows these intrepid hunters as they head out in pursuit of monstrous “killing machines” during the 30-day alligator hunting season.

HISTORY® and HISTORY HD® are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning original non-fiction series and event-driven specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the network’s program offerings are hit series such as American Pickers, Ax Men, The Universe, Ice Road Truckers, Chasing Mummies, Top Shot and Pawn Stars, as well as acclaimed specials including America the Story of Us, WWII in HD, 102 Minutes That Changed America, Moonshot and Life After People. HISTORY has earned four Peabody Awards, eight Primetime Emmy® Awards, 12 News & Documentary Emmy® Awards and received the prestigious Governor’s Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network’s Save Our History® campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take a Veteran to School Day is the network’s latest initiative connecting America’s schools and communities with veterans from all wars. The HISTORY website, located at www.history.com, is the leading online resource for all things history, featuring over 20,000 videos, images, audio clips, articles and interactive features that allow visitors to dig deeper into a broad range of thousands of historical topics.

The People of Swamp People

So who are these crazy guys of Swamp People that head into the swamps of Louisiana to catch a gator or two. Well I did some research and have came across there names and will list them all here for your viewing pleasure.

Albert "Butch" Knight
Butch does a little bit of everything, from trapping alligators to building boats to welding. To top it all off, he owns his own trucking company and can often be found at the helm of his 18-wheeler. The one thing he can't do is swim, but that's never stopped him from hopping in his boat and zipping through the waters around beautiful Avoca Island, which just happens to be known for the enormous alligators that live there and call it home.


During hunting season, Butch teams up with his two sons, Kenwood and Anthony, and often brings a grandkid or two along for the ride. Butch is one of 14 siblings, and all but one live nearby, so there's never a shortage of family members around. The Knights are a close-knit family that loves a good wholesome prank, a cold beer and the oddly unique experience of swamp living.

Junior and William Edwards

hardcore swampers, Junior Edwards and his son William spend their days out on the water throughout the year. They truly live off the land, taking full advantage of the swamp's bountiful resources, including its crawfish, crabs, deer, frogs and buffalo fish. The independent swamper lifestyle agrees with Junior; the one time he tried working for someone else, he only lasted two weeks. But that doesn’t mean he doesn't possess an incredible work ethic. Every morning, he leaves home by 5:30 for a long day of trapping and selling his catch. In the evenings, he and his wife Theresa do everything they can to prepare for the next season, such as making nets for buffalo fishing. Now William is carrying on the family tradition, sharing the tricks of the trade with his own young children as well.

Mike Kliebert

Mike was literally raised among the gators, growing up on the alligator and turtle farm his father founded about 50 years ago. He still lives there with his wife, two sisters and brother-in-law, Bruce Mitchell. While many similar establishments breed alligators indoors, the Kliebert Farm takes a more natural approach, keeping its resident animals in outdoor ponds. Some of the gators who live there are 50 years old and up to 12 feet long.
Tending the farm is backbreaking work, so Mike takes every opportunity to hunt wild gators in rivers, bayous and marshes. A man of many talents, he spends the little free time he has building boats, repairing engines and brewing his own beer and wine.

Bruce Mitchell

Bruce runs the Kliebert Turtle & Alligator Farm, working closely with his brother-in-law, Mike Kliebert. He's been living on the farm compound for roughly 25 years. In addition to raising reptiles, Bruce and Mike hunt and process wild gators, selling the meat and other parts to various customers. Their goal is to waste nothing and remain self-sufficient at all times.

Joe LaFont and Tommy Chauvin

It's no surprise that Joe LaFont and his stepson, Tommy Chauvin, are known to all as "Trapper Joe" and "Lil' Trapper." Whether it's alligators, shrimp, muskrats or the giant swamp rodents called nutria, these guys are experts in the art of trapping. They also excel at living it up, especially when they take their neighbors' party bus out for a spin.

Troy and Jacob Landry

Troy Landry is the quintessential Cajun swamp man. From November to August, he makes his living in the crawfish industry, buying from local fishermen and distributing throughout Louisiana. But when September rolls around, it's all alligators all the time. Troy and his son, Jacob, spend their days hunting wild gators and running a huge warehouse where local trappers can store their catches. At night, they fry up fresh alligator meat on Troy's houseboat or take their boat on a bayou pub crawl, stopping at all their favorite watering holes. Thanks in part to his frequent parties, Troy is one of the most prominent residents of Pierre Part, his hometown, and his son seems to be following in his footsteps.

Clint Landry

Though of no relation, Clint Landry works closely–and parties hard–with his friends Jacob and Troy Landry. He also owns a turtle farm and camp where he and his buddies like to swim in the alligator-infested bayou and play pranks on each other.

There you have it. The people of Swamp People. They are an eventful and unique bunch. 

 

Swamp People

So now there is a reality show on the History Channel called Swamp People. This show depicts life as an alligator hunter in the swamps of Louisiana. So I bet your wondering, why would you hunt an alligator? I asked the same thing a few years back before I moved to swamp territory. Simply put, they hunt alligators to lower the population, for the alligator meat (yes, people actually eat the stuff. Supposedly it tastes like chicken), and they hunt and sell them for the alligators skin. For one month out of the year people are allowed to hunt alligators. The state of Louisiana issues tags for the hunters, every alligator killed no matter the weight or length has to be tagged, once you are out of tags that's the end of the season for you. The heavier and longer the alligator is, the more it is worth. It was said on the first airing of the show that a hunter can make half a years salary from one month out hunting alligators.

Now you're probably sitting around wondering how to get your hands on a boat and some swamp get-up, but don't go dashing to the swamps yet. This definitely isn't a job for everyone. Alligator hunting is very dangerous but is also needed to keep the population down. If it wasn't for the hunters places like, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi would be over ran with these sharp toothed prowlers. Like I said though not a job for everyone, you need to have your wits about you when wrestling one of these creatures, watch out for the strong chompers and whipping tale, they can be huge and definitely angry when you enter their domain. Don't get knocked out of your boat either, then you will be facing alligator infested waters along with all the venomous and deadly water snakes. Hey, nobody said making money was easy.


If you saw the first episode of Swamp people you caught how a father and step-son exited their boat to find the hooked alligator, the step son went to shoot the alligator as the alligator was racing towards them, he fired and missed and fired again only to discover there were no bullets left. Now that right there is a situation you don't want to find yourself in. Facing an alligator without something to defend yourself with is a sure fire way to get really hurt or possible killed.

So how do they hook them? Well, alligators love rotting meat, yep good old rotting, stinking, raw meat. The smellier the better. An alligator can get a whiff of the rotting meat from quite a ways away and come right to it, when they go to swallow the meat, they get hooked. When the hunters make their way back to the traps they will pull the lines while someone else is standing by ready to shoot. A sure way to kill a gator is a shot right square on the head. Hey, I never said it would be pretty either.

To obtain a license to hunt alligators will cost $25 for a resident of Louisiana and $150 for non Louisiana residents. As found on the Louisiana Alligator Advisory Council site states:

An alligator hunter license applicant must submit the following:

• a completed alligator hunter license application form including the hunter’s information (name, dob, ss#, etc.),
• proof of property ownership (tax receipts or bill of sale) containing Parish, Township, Range, Section and acreage information,
• a map outlining the property to be hunted, and
• a landowner’s signature indicating permission for the hunter to harvest alligators on the property.
• If applicable a legal alligator hunting lease may be submitted.

People not possessing or having permission to hunt alligators on property can harvest alligators as an alligator sport hunter while accompanied by a guide. A guide must be an alligator hunter possessing tags. Alligator Sport Hunter License cost $25 for Louisiana residents and $150 for non-residents.

There are a reported 1.5 million alligators located in the state of Louisiana. Now you see the need for harvesting, right? Louisiana alligator hunters currently harvest over 33,000 wild alligators and farmers harvest over 280,000 farm-raised alligators annually. Raw meat and hide values are estimated at over $10 million for the wild harvest and over $33 million for the farm harvest in 2005. (Note these values consist of raw meat and hides only and are not reflective of hide values after tanning and product manufacturing, values associated with jobs, tourism, economy, etc. or egg values.)



 There is way more to it then what the show Swamp People depicts. It is definitely a good show just to give you an idea of what life is like in the swamp lands of Louisiana.