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.