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Swamp People - Season 17 - Episode 14: Tag Out or Bust
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00:00:15It's the final day of gator season.
00:00:181, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
00:00:22And we will be a wrap.
00:00:24But with water levels at a record low.
00:00:27Let's go.
00:00:28Woo!
00:00:29Nothing comes easy.
00:00:31Woo!
00:00:33It's one of the roughest years we ever had.
00:00:35I just hope we can tag off the deck.
00:00:38It's the hunter's last chance to fill tags.
00:00:41Better rip, Willie.
00:00:43And slaying swamp giants.
00:00:45Whoa!
00:00:46Whoa!
00:00:47Dude!
00:00:48We got to catch these alligators and get the job done.
00:00:51Mustering every ounce of grit and determination they've got left.
00:00:55Get him up!
00:00:56Try him!
00:00:57Whatever happens, you got to keep going.
00:00:59Whoa!
00:00:59To hit their numbers.
00:01:01Dang!
00:01:01I don't care what it takes.
00:01:03I got lines to run and I got tags to fill.
00:01:06Oh, look at your buck.
00:01:08And cement their reputations.
00:01:11Well, can they get in there, man?
00:01:12I don't want to lose it.
00:01:13You're going to tag over.
00:01:14I promise you that.
00:01:15Dang!
00:01:16Or risk coming up short.
00:01:19Oh!
00:01:19Oh, damn, that's a good one, too.
00:01:20In the swamp's final clash.
00:01:23We got one tag left.
00:01:26Oh, oh, whoop!
00:01:28Oh, hold him, hold him, hold him, hold him, hold him.
00:01:31Oh!
00:01:33Oh!
00:01:37Run these bad clothes onto your life.
00:01:40All the pain through the struggle and the strife.
00:01:43Now there's just one thing you've got left to do.
00:01:46Light them ice, let it burn, and break on two.
00:01:50Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
00:01:56Oh, oh, oh.
00:02:00Like a loaded pistol, like a raging storm
00:02:03You got thunder in your veins
00:02:06You won't stop till your dying day
00:02:10Comes your way
00:02:26It's day 30 of the 30-day gator season.
00:02:30And in Pierre Park, King of the Swamp, Troy Landry, and his partner Pickle Weed
00:02:36are in a no-holds-barred battle to tag out.
00:02:391, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
00:02:43All right.
00:02:44And we will be a rat.
00:02:47Earlier this morning, Troy broke the news to his teams
00:02:50that with water levels plummeting to a record low,
00:02:54their final hunt will be their hardest.
00:02:57With the water, we all have to stay on top of your game.
00:03:00We need to try to push ourselves.
00:03:02Push, push, push.
00:03:03Knock it out.
00:03:04We have to.
00:03:06It's one of the roughest years we ever had.
00:03:08And fishing's rough today.
00:03:10The water's real low.
00:03:11But I just hope, with everything that's been going on this year,
00:03:14I hope we can tag out the deer.
00:03:17Let's roll.
00:03:18Let's get it done.
00:03:21With 43 tags left for the Landrys to fill,
00:03:25Troy and Pickle take 10 of them
00:03:27into the most difficult location they have lived.
00:03:30We are dealing with a lot of fluctuation of the water,
00:03:33and we got a lot of tags to fill.
00:03:35So as soon as we can get these tags filled, the better.
00:03:37Got a little pressure on my shoulders right now.
00:03:42All right, come on, alligator.
00:03:51We got something.
00:03:55Ooh.
00:03:57Ooh.
00:03:58Whoa.
00:04:02Bring him up, Kiwi.
00:04:03Bring him up.
00:04:04Ooh.
00:04:05Woo.
00:04:07Oh, yeah, that's massage right there.
00:04:09Bring him up, Kiwi.
00:04:10It's the time I like to fight.
00:04:12Ah, I almost dropped it.
00:04:19Ooh.
00:04:20It's a boot.
00:04:21Ah.
00:04:23Ah.
00:04:25Oh.
00:04:27All right.
00:04:28Ooh.
00:04:32Eat him up.
00:04:33Eat him up.
00:04:34Eat him up.
00:04:36Eat him, eat him up.
00:04:46Ooh.
00:04:47Good job, little girl.
00:04:49Shot.
00:04:50This eight-footer may not break any records,
00:04:53but with the location and low water levels,
00:04:56every gator is a welcome sight today.
00:05:00That was a good little fight.
00:05:02This is a good way to start our tag all day.
00:05:04It wasn't big alligators, but we got a few tags.
00:05:07Feisty.
00:05:08Hey.
00:05:08Oh, God.
00:05:29Now, we're up.
00:05:33Good job.
00:05:35the tall task for their final day.
00:05:38Get pumped! Whoo!
00:05:42Willie. Hey, Willie.
00:05:45Yeah.
00:05:46Getting down to the end.
00:05:48Yeah.
00:05:49We got about 18 tags left.
00:05:52I know we ain't been catching that every day,
00:05:55but we need to try.
00:05:58Well, today's the last day of the season,
00:05:59and to be honest with you, I'm a little nervous.
00:06:01We got a lot of work ahead of us,
00:06:03but I think if we keep chipping away at it
00:06:05and stay persistent,
00:06:06I think we'll go home
00:06:07with not a tag left in the box.
00:06:09You good, Willie?
00:06:10Good.
00:06:11We got our fingers crossed.
00:06:13We're hoping we can tag out.
00:06:14I know Jacob got a lot on his mind and all,
00:06:16and he's in the back of that boat.
00:06:17His head's going out at him.
00:06:19He's thinking about,
00:06:20I want to run as many lines as I can,
00:06:23as fast as I can to fill these tags,
00:06:26and we got to catch these alligators
00:06:27and get the job done.
00:06:33Some big bus water right there.
00:06:36On the bank.
00:06:38On the bank.
00:06:43Is he still alive?
00:06:48Yeah, he's alive.
00:06:51Oh, look to the right over there.
00:06:53Your head just went down.
00:06:55In them lilies.
00:07:08What do you look like, Willie?
00:07:10Yeah, we got something.
00:07:17What you got, Willie? What you got, Willie?
00:07:21Ooh, whoa.
00:07:25Damn good, Gator.
00:07:28What?
00:07:30Who?
00:07:33Hold on, Willie.
00:07:37There you go, there you go.
00:07:42Dude.
00:07:45Damn off.
00:07:47Give me a shot, Willie.
00:07:49Give me a shot, Willie.
00:07:57There we go.
00:07:59Boy, this is a good start on our last day, Willie.
00:08:02Where you want him, right here?
00:08:03Yeah.
00:08:04One, two, three.
00:08:06Oh, yeah.
00:08:07The 11-foot beast is a solid start,
00:08:09but with 17 tags remaining,
00:08:12the hard work is just beginning.
00:08:15I'm a little worried if we don't step up our game,
00:08:18the season's gonna run out,
00:08:19and we're gonna have a lot of tags left on our hands.
00:08:25Man, that sure is a good Gator to start out the morning, huh?
00:08:28Absolutely, buddy.
00:08:30We'll take that all day.
00:08:45Over at the Six Mile Lake...
00:08:48You ready?
00:08:49Yep.
00:08:50Let's get it.
00:08:51Swamp veteran Bruce Mitchell and his partner, Anna Rebeck,
00:08:55are starting the last day of the season with 11 tags left.
00:09:00Moon's all up.
00:09:02That means you get it to swim all night.
00:09:05That full moon, we usually do good.
00:09:07Good.
00:09:08Hold on.
00:09:11Any other alligator season,
00:09:13Bruce and Anna could all but guarantee 11 Gators on tag out day.
00:09:17But this season has been unlike any before.
00:09:21And this was a different kind of season with the water.
00:09:24One day it's up, one day it's down.
00:09:26You never know where it's gonna be.
00:09:28I mean, if it comes over your bait, you don't catch Gators.
00:09:31If it drops out too low, Gators can't jump up and get it.
00:09:34You gotta really pay attention to your water.
00:09:38First line.
00:09:41Don't know what's gonna happen.
00:09:44Yeah, I do know what's gonna happen.
00:09:47Still hanging.
00:09:49They're not lighting.
00:09:51I really thought we'd catch one there, boy.
00:09:53That's a good spot.
00:09:54You got the little grunts coming off the side.
00:09:57Dang.
00:10:01I'm a little bit concerned because we need to tag out.
00:10:04But the water's so low.
00:10:05So that's not really good for Gator hunting.
00:10:07The tide didn't come up.
00:10:09But it didn't drop back out.
00:10:11I don't know.
00:10:12I was gonna say our chicken's too high.
00:10:15That Gator will jump up and get that.
00:10:17I'm so thankful I'm hunting with Mr. Bruce.
00:10:20He's an experienced veteran in Gator hunting.
00:10:22And so I really rely on him and trust him in these types of hearts
00:10:25in the wild conditions.
00:10:26But even for him, this is proving difficult.
00:10:29It looks down.
00:10:40What you see?
00:10:42Oh, it's straight down the water.
00:10:52Oh!
00:10:52Oh!
00:10:53Get the gun!
00:10:53Get the gun!
00:10:55Get the gun!
00:10:56Get the gun!
00:10:57Get the gun!
00:10:58Get him up!
00:10:58Get him up!
00:11:02Oh!
00:11:03I thought we didn't have anything.
00:11:04Thump!
00:11:06Oh!
00:11:06He's trying to go out of the boat.
00:11:12There we go!
00:11:13Come on, buddy.
00:11:15Get him up there.
00:11:16Watch him.
00:11:17Can you get a shot?
00:11:18Yeah.
00:11:18Get him up.
00:11:19Get him up.
00:11:20Get him, Mr. Bruce.
00:11:32Woo!
00:11:33We're about driving no more.
00:11:35He ain't big, but that's another tag, Phil.
00:11:37How many we got left?
00:11:39Once we tag this Gator, we got 10 Gators left.
00:11:42Then we'll be through it this year.
00:11:44Catching a six and a half foot Gator is a decent start to the day.
00:11:48But with the challenging conditions, it does little to ease the hunter's concerns.
00:11:54I'm hoping today, it's just something you worry about every day until you have no more tags.
00:12:00And it's going to be tough today because the water is low, low, low.
00:12:04But we're going to tag out, hopefully.
00:12:07He ain't big as I want it, but he's in the boat, and that's the main thing.
00:12:11Hold on.
00:12:12Hold on.
00:12:13If we keep on going, we're going to get through the day.
00:12:16All right.
00:12:16Let's get it done.
00:12:45Let's get it done.
00:12:47gators to tag out in the second year captain is feeling extra pressure to cap a successful season
00:12:56i want to prove who i am to troy and jacob to show them they did not mess up by
00:13:01putting me in
00:13:01a boat so last night i went out and i put 20 new lines out because i need to make
00:13:07sure i
00:13:07catch these gators for troy make a break today big boy make a break there's more pressure on
00:13:13on don rather than me he feels as if he gotta make sure he proves himself every day even though
00:13:20he's done already in the past and i understand in a way but i don't feel as much pressure as
00:13:27he has
00:13:32there's one right here in front of us pretty good over here in the shallow cross well we got 15
00:13:37tags
00:13:37that'll be what you want to try to get on him get your triple hook
00:13:54oh god i got him hold him hold him
00:13:59oh god damn that's good too
00:14:01give me a shot don't come under don't come under
00:14:09hold him hold him hold him hold him hold him
00:14:34go away
00:14:36go away
00:14:45one two three filling their first of 15 tags with a 10-footer helps ease the pressure on don
00:14:54hell yeah in the boat
00:14:57this is the first alligator i ever trouble hooked i'm on cloud nine right now i can't like i just
00:15:02can't
00:15:02fathom that this just happened it all happened so quick and it was a great feel
00:15:08i didn't see the excitement on don's face brought me up even more what's the word of the day
00:15:15optimistic optimistic optimistic
00:15:16opto mystic don't ask me how to spell it
00:15:35out in a million
00:15:37the ron jones and anthony porkchop williams have eight tags left to finish their season but so far they've come
00:15:46up empty
00:15:49look at that kuzak another one hanging bro
00:15:54can't catch no alligator like that car pulling up to the line bro with the chicken still swinging
00:16:01got my spirit lord and the best one in hell right now kuz we just can't get right man
00:16:07that pressure on us bro
00:16:09now we might not tag out kuz
00:16:12the landowner he would not be happy if we don't tag out on these gators
00:16:17i know it's been a long difficult season down to the nitty-gritty everybody won't go home to their
00:16:24family but it's extremely important that i get these eight gators today y'all about them smiling
00:16:29but because i have that pressure on us bro oh what the hell she got that well that's a praying
00:16:37mantras man
00:16:37praying mantras yeah you almost free on me oh that was a praying mantras look see
00:16:45oh we need prayer we need bread we need bread we need bread we should have been on top of
00:16:50one of them
00:16:51tags praying that we can't go praying mantras are native to north america including the louisiana bayou
00:16:59many traditional communities believe their presence is a sign of good fortune to come
00:17:07so we got to put him back at home you know i'm gonna put him back i ain't gonna hurt
00:17:11him
00:17:11you know it's a good sign or what yeah man out here in nature a spider could have fell out
00:17:16the
00:17:16tree i hate spiders snake could have fell out you know what fell out what fell out a praying mantras
00:17:22that's a sign you might be saying don't give up bro we ain't gonna give up and just pray that
00:17:26everything go true and we tag out it's been a rough season man but we got to suck it up
00:17:31got a pretty little harder you know but we got eight more to go man we got to buckle down
00:17:36man and do
00:17:36what we got to do because if we don't feel the tag back the landowner have to return the tag
00:17:41back to
00:17:42to the wildlife fishery and he losing money and we ain't making money come on cool that i'm gonna see
00:17:47that brand man that's telling them that's wrong that's wrong
00:18:07over on lake barrette midway through the day the team is off to a slow start in one of the
00:18:13hardest
00:18:13areas they've hunted all season with only two of their 10 tags filled troy needs his trusty deckhead
00:18:20to get them over the finish line every year i'm getting older and older and you're gonna have to
00:18:26do more and more oh i know you're already bitching that'll make you do a lot i don't care it's
00:18:33all part of
00:18:34it i had a lot of helpers come through my boat in the last 40 years okay a lot of
00:18:41help i think you're
00:18:43about the best i ever had
00:18:48she just had a baby a few months ago and man you know you didn't know what i didn't know
00:18:53what to
00:18:54expect this year out of what she's doing looks like she's doing better than ever she's more determined
00:18:59than ever i love watching her because she gives it a hundred percent do you see the line yes i
00:19:05do see
00:19:06the line
00:19:17don't come a little girl
00:19:25yeah we got one oh good
00:19:35whoa
00:19:36watch him watch him
00:19:46oh bring him up
00:19:49bring him up
00:20:00shoot him
00:20:04i will i will as soon as i get a shot
00:20:07shoot him
00:20:19where to fight that damn thanks to pickle's iron grip on the feisty eight footer the team is finding
00:20:26their mojo despite the low water you know there's a lot of women that go to the gym to exercise
00:20:33that's my
00:20:34workout right here
00:20:35you come in the boat and fight alligator that's it i'm this little bitty petite girl i started out as
00:20:41this like naive firecracker and he's taught me a lot over the years we clash a lot you know but
00:20:48it
00:20:48also it it works at the same time look at here baby what we got one two three four five
00:20:55six seven girl
00:20:58getting close
00:21:00next
00:21:18across the swamp jacob and little willie still face a hefty number of tags to fill with time quickly taken
00:21:26away
00:21:35we got 16 tags left it's a little more than what i want to have here on this set i
00:21:39really don't
00:21:40want to go back to the ramp or to the dock with just one or two tags in my box
00:21:43i want to be done
00:21:44with so we're going to be on the lookout we're going to fill every tag we can in any means
00:21:48possible
00:21:48we got to get some more gators in the boat we got our fingers crossed we hoping we can tag
00:21:54out
00:21:54if not we got our secret weapon i made a special trouble hook in memories to pay respects to my
00:22:02papa and all he's the first to ever do it and it's been blessing me all season and i it's
00:22:06going to
00:22:06continue blessing me come on willie keep your eye out
00:22:16i don't know what it is they got a pile of bubbles coming up over there
00:22:22going north towards the bank huh yeah that's an alligator because it's still bubbling
00:22:28need that trouble hook in the water
00:22:35better rip willie make your pa proud
00:22:57coming to the boat hell yeah they pull so hard in that shallow water
00:23:02mm-hmm
00:23:21come on willie little willie is using his treble hook to try and pull in a monster
00:23:29good gator
00:23:32watch it willie
00:23:35go get away come on willie
00:23:49take him buckwheat
00:23:53in the freaking foot no wonder he was pissed
00:23:57one two three
00:24:00hell yeah nice little addition
00:24:04hauling in this 11-footer on willie's treble hook gives the team some much-needed momentum
00:24:10and puts them 15 gators from their goal good job willie good job yes sir i've been doing trouble
00:24:19hooking all my life and the trouble hooking is the one way that we know how to put alligators in
00:24:24the
00:24:24boat you give me tags and you turn me loose and i trouble every single one of them i just
00:24:28do what i was
00:24:29taught my papa taught my dad my dad taught me it was it's kind of like a tradition that keeps
00:24:35going and
00:24:35i'm gonna teach my kids someday it's one of the best papa taught me how to make them curve them
00:24:41hooks in right and you got a good hook you don't miss everything you throw the hooks on is there
00:24:48down willie that's what i'm talking about
00:25:06several miles southwest on six mile lake bruce and anna have struggled all morning with only three
00:25:14gators in the boat
00:25:27this is frustrating we're not having a very good day the gators aren't really biting
00:25:34very well getting really worried nothing is on our line empty hooks hooks being knocked in the water
00:25:41we don't know what to do
00:25:51well it's down down down yeah
00:25:56what you got adam oh it's straight down i ain't too impressed with that
00:26:09what you got
00:26:10i don't know
00:26:26nothing
00:26:28we still have eight tags mr bruce yeah i know what are we going to do it ain't over yet
00:26:34hang that
00:26:35We're going to go catch some more.
00:26:37I hope we do.
00:26:39We've got to finish.
00:26:40With only three tags filled,
00:26:42Bruce decides to keep their bait hanging
00:26:44to maximize their chances.
00:26:46But it also means they have to run every line twice
00:26:50before the season ends at sunset.
00:26:53It's going to be a long day today.
00:26:55You just can't stop until you have no more tags.
00:26:58You can't quit.
00:26:59You've just got to push your way through whatever happens.
00:27:02You've got to keep going.
00:27:03When the bag's empty, then you go home.
00:27:06Hold on.
00:27:07I hope we get our last ones.
00:27:11Why don't we go catch some alligators?
00:27:14That's a good idea.
00:27:16We need one, Mr. Bruce.
00:27:17We've got to tag out.
00:27:31On Bell River.
00:27:33Down, ain't it?
00:27:33Yeah, I see the line, but I don't know.
00:27:36Oh, it's still up.
00:27:37Hit it?
00:27:38Yeah.
00:27:40After a hot start with their treble hook,
00:27:43Don and Calum's lines are ice cold.
00:27:46Oh, we've got chicken hanging, boy.
00:27:49This might be a rough day today.
00:27:52Man, we ain't doing worth of crap on fish, and the water's so damn low.
00:27:56And I mean, line after line after line.
00:27:59I mean, these lines ain't even down.
00:28:00I still got chicken on the line.
00:28:02So I'm sitting back here scratching my head, you know, and all we can do is just keep running
00:28:06lines, cross our fingers, and hope for the best.
00:28:12And damn chicken is still hanging.
00:28:14That is not a good sign.
00:28:15No, not at all.
00:28:17I mean, it really don't.
00:28:18I mean, we're seeing the gators.
00:28:19They're here.
00:28:20I don't understand that.
00:28:22Straight to the back.
00:28:26Oh, I see a stretch to the left, ain't it?
00:28:28Yeah.
00:28:31Hopefully they ain't all tangled up.
00:28:33Sure will.
00:28:43Well, if we don't start pulling some gators off these lines, we might not tag out today.
00:28:48I mean, I always started off strong, but boy, I mean, we come to a halt quick.
00:28:53Well, we don't know what's on this line yet.
00:28:56But it's back and going out on the cheek.
00:28:58All right, you ready?
00:28:58Watch your minds, okay?
00:29:01My hammer.
00:29:12I see a bare hook and a branch.
00:29:15Well.
00:29:17Ain't no gator, huh?
00:29:20I don't think Trull would be too happy for a tag or this, huh?
00:29:23Well, no, probably not.
00:29:26After coming up empty on this pass, the pair will need the extra 20 lines Don set to pay
00:29:32off if they hope to tag out.
00:29:35We run about a dozen lines and, I mean, nothing.
00:29:39This is terrible.
00:29:40Man, this thing's just blowed up with them, huh?
00:29:42Yeah.
00:29:43I don't care what it takes.
00:29:44That's what I'm going to do.
00:29:46I got lines to run and I got tags to fill.
00:29:49Hard to stay optimistic like this.
00:29:52It's not looking real good.
00:30:06Over in Amelia, the rolling pork chop continued to struggle without a single tag filled on
00:30:13the dag.
00:30:15It ain't looking good, man.
00:30:17No, it ain't looking good, Cousin.
00:30:18Cut your sweatin', boy.
00:30:20I tell you, if I go do a number two, I might poop out a diamond right now.
00:30:23How long that pressure's been on me, cub?
00:30:26We got eight more to go, man.
00:30:27We got to buckle down, man, and do what we got to do.
00:30:30So we hunting and hunting, you know, hustling.
00:30:33And we got the first couple of lines.
00:30:35We ain't had nothing.
00:30:36We got to fill these tags or we ain't gonna be able to get no more tags for next year.
00:30:43Cousin.
00:30:43What up, cub?
00:30:44I lying down, boy.
00:30:46Yeah.
00:30:47Look like the old praying mantis and change our luck, huh, cub?
00:30:50Yeah, we need this, cub.
00:30:52We need this to be a gator, man.
00:31:01You got something, Cousin?
00:31:02You got that, cub?
00:31:04Oh, you got something.
00:31:13Uh.
00:31:21What's up, cub?
00:31:22Yeah?
00:31:26Hold on, like yourself, bro.
00:31:29Whoa, could I get in there, man?
00:31:30I don't want to lose them.
00:31:34Be ready, cub.
00:31:36What's up, cub?
00:31:37Jack, cub.
00:31:40Dang, cus.
00:31:42You ready, Cudan?
00:31:43You made a shot, folks, shut up.
00:31:53Good job.
00:31:57Paying off, cus.
00:31:59Seven more to go, cus.
00:32:01Got it?
00:32:01Then we'll be at the primers' land.
00:32:04There you go, Cudan.
00:32:06Well, when we first started, bro, we had a whole stack of anything, Cud.
00:32:10With seven tags remaining, the team still has a long way to go.
00:32:15We're getting down to the nitty-gritty, eh, baby?
00:32:17Oh, yeah.
00:32:18Even though, Cud, we ain't gonna make too much of him, but, hey, bro,
00:32:22we closer to tagging out, Cus, eh?
00:32:24It wasn't a spectacular gator, but guess what?
00:32:26He was bigger than a lizard, and I put the tag in his tail.
00:32:30Anything goes, man, you know?
00:32:31We gotta make it happen.
00:32:33Oh, that praying mantis?
00:32:34Yeah.
00:32:35That's a good sign, cus.
00:32:36Yeah?
00:32:37We are from nothing to something, Cus, eh?
00:32:39Oh, yeah.
00:32:40Told you that.
00:32:55Across the swamp, the end of a long day and brutal season could be within reach as Troy and Pickle
00:33:03are down to their last four tags.
00:33:08I'm ready to get back home to my baby.
00:33:10I was worried having a baby when I got pregnant for my girl.
00:33:16I was worried about being away from it and all of that, but I think I kind of got my
00:33:20head on the street.
00:33:21I want my kids to grow up and be proud of me, you know?
00:33:23And I don't want them to turn back and say, why'd you quit because you had me, you know?
00:33:28I want them to turn around and say, I'm glad you kept going and you didn't let me stop you,
00:33:35you know?
00:33:36Well, of course.
00:33:36I want them to be proud, you know?
00:33:38Yeah, they got a lot to be proud of.
00:33:40This season is a rough one for me, to be completely honest.
00:33:44Leaving one baby at home was hard enough.
00:33:46And here I am, two seasons later, leaving two babies at home.
00:33:51But I want them to grow up and say, she didn't let us stop her from doing anything she wanted
00:33:57to do.
00:33:58Like, just keep being Superwoman, at least in their eyes, you know?
00:34:02I hope you can come back next year and help me some more.
00:34:05Maybe one day I'll get behind the motor, huh?
00:34:08Oh, Lord.
00:34:10Oh, Lord.
00:34:11I did not go there.
00:34:13Whoo!
00:34:15Well, I don't know what you would have did right there.
00:34:17Right there.
00:34:20Talk to me.
00:34:23I don't see anything.
00:34:24I just see the flag.
00:34:31Do we have some?
00:34:32We will see.
00:34:34Huh?
00:34:34My best judgment says, there ain't nothing on here.
00:34:37But, sometimes I'm wrong.
00:34:43Oh!
00:34:44I'm wrong!
00:34:45Come here!
00:34:49Oh, yeah, he's a big one.
00:34:50He's a big one.
00:34:52Oh!
00:34:53Ah!
00:34:55Bring him up!
00:34:57Uh-uh!
00:34:58Oh!
00:34:58Bring him up!
00:34:58Uh-uh!
00:34:58Uh-uh!
00:35:03Uh-uh-uh!
00:35:03Uh-uh-uh!
00:35:03Uh-uh-uh!
00:35:04Uh-uh-uh-uh!
00:35:04Bring him up, Kiwi!
00:35:04Bring him up!
00:35:06Oh, nice, as though!
00:35:11Oh, good boy!
00:35:13Uh-uh.
00:35:16Come on.
00:35:17Bring him up, Kiwi!
00:35:17Bring him up!
00:35:25Oh!
00:35:29I did it again.
00:35:31Sometimes I mad myself.
00:35:35Good job, little baby.
00:35:42Right there where you stand it.
00:35:44This nine-footer brings the team closer to tagging out.
00:35:48But the king of the swamp never caps his chickens
00:35:51before they hatch.
00:35:53Phoebe and I are almost done,
00:35:55but anything can happen when you're out there on the water.
00:35:58So, you just, you never know.
00:36:01This is it, Phoebe. One, two, three.
00:36:05Three tags left, baby girl.
00:36:10Getting close.
00:36:26On Six Mile Lake,
00:36:28Bruce and Anna's decision to run their lines twice
00:36:31might save their season.
00:36:33But the extra workload is taking a toll on the hunters.
00:36:38I'm exhausted, Mr. Bruce.
00:36:39Me too.
00:36:40We got a lot of work to do still.
00:36:42I'm about, wow, I'm about shot.
00:36:44But I don't have the option to be tired.
00:36:47I just got to tell myself, keep going.
00:36:49Keep going, because it's tough out here.
00:36:52And no matter what, I got to push through this.
00:36:54I got to get these gators today, not tomorrow, today.
00:37:06See anything?
00:37:08Line's down.
00:37:10That's a good sign.
00:37:13See it?
00:37:13Because I can't see nothing.
00:37:15Oh, there's a gator on the other side.
00:37:18It's moving.
00:37:19She's here.
00:37:21Hurry up, Mr. Bruce.
00:37:23She's here.
00:37:24It's coming.
00:37:29Get him up.
00:37:30He's up.
00:37:31Oh!
00:37:38Game over.
00:37:40Well, that was nice.
00:37:42I wish he was all like that.
00:37:43Okay.
00:37:44Can we get him up?
00:37:45Ready?
00:37:46Watch him.
00:37:47Watch that mouth.
00:37:48Watch that mouth.
00:37:49I am.
00:37:49Okay.
00:37:51This seven-footer brings Bruce and Anna's total to nine.
00:37:55But the hunters aren't the first to tag this gator.
00:37:59Hey, Mr. Bruce, look.
00:38:00What you got?
00:38:01He's got a tag on his foot.
00:38:02Oh, yeah.
00:38:03This is a farm-raised gator.
00:38:04Cool enough.
00:38:05We're going to have to take that tag and turn that number into wildlife fisheries.
00:38:08In 1986, the Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife started an alligator ranching program.
00:38:16Licensed farmers collect eggs, hatch them, and then release the gators into the wild with
00:38:22a tag, allowing biologists to identify them later.
00:38:28Stick that in the hole.
00:38:29Two more gators.
00:38:30We're out of here.
00:38:34Go get some more.
00:38:36What about those?
00:38:37Two left, Mr. Bruce.
00:38:39Two.
00:38:46Two.
00:38:48Two.
00:38:49Two.
00:38:52Two.
00:38:53Two.
00:38:53Two.
00:38:54Across the swamp, Jacob and Little Willie have been loading the boat with monsters,
00:38:59but they still have half their tags left.
00:39:04Getting closer and closer.
00:39:06I think the last day is going to be a good one.
00:39:09One for the books.
00:39:10We've got nine tags left.
00:39:12Let's get it done.
00:39:13There we go.
00:39:13We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I think if we keep chipping away at it and
00:39:17stay persistent, I think we'll go home with not a tag left in the box.
00:39:27Oh, got a tree shaker.
00:39:29Uh, ho!
00:39:31Might have them on the line, Willie.
00:39:35You got a crime scene, Willie.
00:39:37It's a big gator that's on the line, too.
00:39:40Pretty gator, man.
00:39:43That's what I'd like to see.
00:39:50Uh-oh.
00:39:51Uh-oh.
00:39:58We got a big one!
00:39:59Oh, whoa!
00:40:00Damn!
00:40:02Watch him!
00:40:03Watch him!
00:40:04Oh, yeah!
00:40:11Damn!
00:40:12We're gonna have a good average today, my boy.
00:40:15Let him cut that line with that tail.
00:40:17Hold on, Willie!
00:40:21That's what I'm talking about, my boy.
00:40:23That is a hammer.
00:40:27You're gonna sink the boat today, Willie, son.
00:40:29Good gator.
00:40:30There we go.
00:40:31Now we got him right.
00:40:41That's what I'm talking about.
00:40:42That's what I'm talking about.
00:40:43You got a monster.
00:40:44Jeez Louise!
00:40:46One, two, three!
00:40:56Come on.
00:40:58Come on.
00:41:01Come on.
00:41:02Come on.
00:41:04Come on.
00:41:04Come on.
00:41:05Come on.
00:41:06With this massive 12-footer, the team is firing on all cylinders.
00:41:12Good job, Willie.
00:41:13Good job, Jacob.
00:41:15I saw a blessing fishing with Jacob for the second year in a row.
00:41:17He treats me good.
00:41:19Mr. Jacob is a hard-working guy.
00:41:22He's a hustler.
00:41:23Man, I just can't ask for no better.
00:41:25We're down to our last gator, and I know we're gonna get it done.
00:41:29About to be tagged out.
00:41:33Can't get hit quick enough.
00:41:50Across the swamp, the low water continues to give Leran and Porkchop fits, as they still only have one tag
00:41:59filled on the day.
00:42:02Hold up, cousin.
00:42:04Another empty line, cousin.
00:42:06Keep checking all them doggone empty lines.
00:42:09If we don't tag out, somebody's pocket could be empty, too.
00:42:14Ain't looking good, cousin.
00:42:16No, it ain't.
00:42:18Down to seven tag left.
00:42:20I'm a little worried.
00:42:22We down to the nitty-gritty, so I hope we pull it through.
00:42:26You know, just gotta try to figure it out.
00:42:32Lying down, cousin.
00:42:34Yeah.
00:42:43Oh, look at your buck.
00:42:48Oh, yes, sir.
00:42:59Oh.
00:43:02Damn, buck.
00:43:02All right, cousin.
00:43:03We gotta get it through there.
00:43:05Cud, he rolled it up on me, cousin.
00:43:06I know, cousin.
00:43:07Watch yourself.
00:43:08He's slamming y'all either now, cousin.
00:43:12Cud, I'm gonna need you to push up on him, dude.
00:43:14Woo!
00:43:18Give me a shot, Pochard.
00:43:19I'm trying, cousin.
00:43:19Hold on.
00:43:28Good job, cousin.
00:43:30You got it, man.
00:43:31I'm gonna put one there.
00:43:32Yeah, you got it.
00:43:32I tell you, you got it, Cud.
00:43:33Oh, yeah, I got it.
00:43:33Hey, Cud.
00:43:34Let me help you, bro.
00:43:35Yeah.
00:43:36Come on, y'all.
00:43:39See?
00:43:39That's what I tell you, man.
00:43:40Let me help you, Cud.
00:43:41Drop it me there.
00:43:42Drop it me there.
00:43:43Drop it me there, Cud.
00:43:45Oh, what's up, boy?
00:43:47What's up, boy?
00:43:47With a nine-footer, the team may be turning the corner.
00:43:50But to tag out, they'll need a miracle comeback.
00:43:55The lady ain't sung yet.
00:43:56You could feel my heart beating through my shirt.
00:43:59Things are getting good, but good got room for improvement.
00:44:02I would like it to be going great.
00:44:04Finish line right there.
00:44:06I can see it, but I just gotta get it so I can cross it.
00:44:09Yeah, Cud.
00:44:10Another tag down, boy.
00:44:11Another tag down, baby.
00:44:12Yeah, we need a different one, boy.
00:44:29Over on Lake Verrett, Troy and Pickle are down to their final tag,
00:44:34looking to close out one of their toughest seasons on record.
00:44:38All right, B. We got one tag left, and we only got, I think,
00:44:42maybe three lines there.
00:44:43Getting down a little wire.
00:44:45Every year, I don't know if it's my age,
00:44:47but it looks like every year gets a little harder and a little harder.
00:44:50And this year, it's like it jumped up to another level.
00:44:55You'd adjust all your sets and all your lines for your water level,
00:44:59and then two days later, it was total opposite.
00:45:03And it made it hard.
00:45:12Is that one over there?
00:45:13Yeah.
00:45:36Oh, my.
00:45:38Oh, it's a good one.
00:45:39It's a good one.
00:45:39It's a good one.
00:45:40Yeah, back up.
00:45:40Back up.
00:45:41Can you pull it out of there?
00:45:42Yeah.
00:45:49What have we got, Tree Wee?
00:45:50A good, good one.
00:45:50Wait.
00:45:51Don't make me let it go.
00:46:02You got him?
00:46:03Yeah.
00:46:04You got him?
00:46:08No, no.
00:46:08Oh, my God.
00:46:10Oh.
00:46:10What!
00:46:11Shoot the dancing.
00:46:15Pick it up!
00:46:16Hurry up!
00:46:22Oh, my God.
00:46:27two, one, two, one, two, one, two.
00:46:31Shoot him!
00:46:32Oh, my God.
00:46:34I don't know I don't know.
00:46:48Woo-hoo-hoo! Yeah! That's it, dude. We done. What a freaking tag out, huh?
00:46:57This massive 12-footer is their biggest on the day.
00:47:00Come on up.
00:47:03All right, right there.
00:47:04And ends their year on a high note.
00:47:07You're putting them here?
00:47:07Yep, right here.
00:47:09Okay, Pete.
00:47:10Let me come tag it. You always get the fun part.
00:47:13We had to think out the box this year. We struggled. It was a rough year, but that's what's making
00:47:19it so enjoyable to be finished.
00:47:21Now the season's down. This evening, when I'm going to be home, relaxing.
00:47:27It's going to hit you, huh?
00:47:28It's going to hit me. I'm going to be sad. I'm going to go from being happy to being sad.
00:47:33Not enough.
00:47:47Over on Bell River, Don and Kalem continue to struggle.
00:47:53And with gator season nearing an end, the pair still has plenty of work to do.
00:47:58Eat more.
00:48:01Eat more.
00:48:25I don't know. We're going to tag it out.
00:48:26Yeah, it's almost like it's going all the way to the right.
00:48:28I see a tail right there, right in the edge of the lilies.
00:48:31Oh, yeah.
00:48:34You alive?
00:48:36Oh, yes, he is.
00:48:38Woo!
00:48:41Dang!
00:48:58I can't get no shot like that.
00:49:05Oh, wonderful.
00:49:08Come on, give me a shot. Give me a shot.
00:49:21That's a gun dollar.
00:49:22Shh, shh, shh, pow, pow.
00:49:24Hey, look.
00:49:25Hey, one more tag, baby.
00:49:26That's a good gator, too, bro.
00:49:27Oh, yeah.
00:49:28Hey, we're getting there.
00:49:29Catching this nine-foot gator puts Don and Kalem past the halfway mark
00:49:34and brings a little optimism back to the boat.
00:49:38Them tags got to be filled over that paper.
00:49:40I mean, it's not a good deal, so I'm going to keep running lines.
00:49:44I'm going to keep tagging them, putting them in the boat,
00:49:46and try to get this going.
00:49:47They started off good.
00:49:49Went to crap.
00:49:50Now it's starting to build back up.
00:50:03Over on Six Mile Lake, for Bruce and Anna,
00:50:07the extra effort to run their lines twice
00:50:09might push them over the finish line.
00:50:12But it's not over until they click their last tag.
00:50:17Now, one more.
00:50:18We only have one tag left, but everything's difficult right now.
00:50:22And I just kind of send up a little prayer, like,
00:50:25please, God, we really need one.
00:50:31What you got, Anna?
00:50:33I see the line.
00:50:34It just kind of goes straight down.
00:50:37I'm hoping we can tag out right here.
00:50:48Oh, I feel something, Mr. Bruce.
00:50:50Good.
00:50:51Here, I want to come down there.
00:50:52I don't want to fall out.
00:50:53It's slippery up there.
00:50:54It's heavy.
00:50:55You don't need to fall out the boat on the last getter.
00:51:01There he is!
00:51:02There he is!
00:51:03Come on, get him up!
00:51:04Get him up!
00:51:11Oh!
00:51:12Come on, get him up!
00:51:13Get him up!
00:51:14Try him!
00:51:21I got him!
00:51:21I'll get him!
00:51:22Be still!
00:51:23Get him up!
00:51:28Watch out!
00:51:29Whoa!
00:51:31Get him up and I'm gonna shoot him!
00:51:33He keeps going down!
00:51:39Get ready, Mr. Bruce!
00:51:47Nice shot!
00:51:48Tag out getter.
00:51:49That's it, baby.
00:51:50We're going home.
00:51:51I told you we'd tag out on a big one.
00:51:53Yeah.
00:51:54Here we go.
00:51:56A massive 12-footer is the perfect end to a difficult season.
00:52:00And despite all the challenges this year,
00:52:03the team shows no signs of slowing down.
00:52:06Final gator, Mr. Bruce.
00:52:08You ready?
00:52:08I am very ready.
00:52:09Me and Mr. Bruce, we always have ups and downs,
00:52:12but he's always got a plan.
00:52:13He has my back, and he's always teaching me something.
00:52:16You know we work smarter, not harder.
00:52:18Amen.
00:52:19Good?
00:52:20Yeah.
00:52:20I love learning from an experienced swamper,
00:52:23and I hope to be as good as him someday.
00:52:26And he told me, maybe one day you'll be running your own boat.
00:52:28And I hope that, but I also really like being his deckhand.
00:52:33Oh, that felt good.
00:52:34Yeah, yeah.
00:52:35We did it.
00:52:36Phew!
00:52:37That's coming up.
00:52:38I was four years old,
00:52:39and I got pictures of me and my grandpa with gators.
00:52:42It's in my blood.
00:52:44As long as I'm alive, I will be gator hunting.
00:52:47So what about next year?
00:52:48Next year?
00:52:49Yeah.
00:52:51You're going to need a bigger boat,
00:52:52because I won't catch more gators.
00:52:53I'm okay with that.
00:53:04Across the swamp,
00:53:06with one hour left in the day,
00:53:08Jacob and Willie are riding a hot streak
00:53:11and only need one more gator to tag out.
00:53:15We ain't going back to Duffy's with one tag in his boat.
00:53:18I guarantee you that.
00:53:19Yeah, last couple lawns has been good.
00:53:21I'm just down every one of them in a row.
00:53:24But we got one more alligator to catch.
00:53:27It could change in a blink of an eye.
00:53:29You never know.
00:53:38Oh, we got something right here, Willie.
00:53:40A tree shaker.
00:53:41Oh, that's good.
00:53:54Oh, a good gator.
00:53:57Good gator.
00:54:00I'm talking about Willie.
00:54:03Come on, Willie.
00:54:04Hold on to him.
00:54:06Spicy something, huh?
00:54:08Come on, Willie.
00:54:08Ooh, yeah.
00:54:12I'll gladly click the last tag on him.
00:54:14Ooh, ooh.
00:54:16There he is.
00:54:17Come on, Willie.
00:54:17Bring me the last one.
00:54:19Right there.
00:54:23Come on, Willie.
00:54:24Shoot him.
00:54:25Shoot him.
00:54:26Shoot.
00:54:31Oh, that's it, Willie.
00:54:35Woo.
00:54:36Tagged out.
00:54:37Hallelujah.
00:54:38With this 11-footer, Jacob and Willie finish their 18th tag of the day.
00:54:44And the team closes out on their second successful season together.
00:54:49Right.
00:54:50Right, Willie.
00:54:52You know, this year was one for the books.
00:54:54We were dealt with some tough conditions with the high waters and the low waters.
00:54:57But at the same time, it's all about the traditions.
00:55:01Carrying out what we were taught throughout the years.
00:55:03And doing things that we feel will live on forever in our families.
00:55:07You know, like little Willie with his grandpa, Jr.
00:55:10You know, he's carried on a lot of traditions that he's taught him.
00:55:13And he really shined this year with that.
00:55:15We just hope that we continue to do this for a long time to come.
00:55:19Click.
00:55:20Let me see your last tag shuffle.
00:55:22Let me see how you do it.
00:55:27That's all you get.
00:55:28Unless you start throwing dollar bills at me.
00:55:31So this year, I mean, with losing my papa and me,
00:55:34dedicating the season to my grandpa and all,
00:55:36this season's special to me.
00:55:37We didn't give up.
00:55:39Clipping that last tag was a big weight lifted off our shoulders.
00:55:42And I looked up and I knew papa was looking down on us.
00:55:46Yeah, take this good old load back on the duffies, huh?
00:55:49Let's do it, baby.
00:55:50Home season has finally come to an end.
00:56:03In Amelia, the Ron and Porkchop have made steady progress late in the day
00:56:09and they're down to their last tag.
00:56:11But they only have two lines left to check.
00:56:15We got to tag out.
00:56:16You're tagging out, boy.
00:56:18I don't know where you find to keep a lifted spirit.
00:56:21You might be no something out or nothing.
00:56:23You might be Nostradamus or somebody.
00:56:26You done went looking at a few chancuse, huh?
00:56:28It's been a long season, man.
00:56:31I know we're getting out at the end.
00:56:32We don't have that many lines left, but we're going to tag out, bro.
00:56:34I promise you that.
00:56:42Line down, coach.
00:56:43Oh, man.
00:56:44One tag left.
00:56:45Line down.
00:56:46Come on, now.
00:56:51Hold up.
00:56:51I got it from right there.
00:56:52Hold up.
00:56:52Hold it there.
00:56:53Let me see what we got.
00:57:05We got to make quick work of this, buddy.
00:57:08Give me a shot, bro.
00:57:10We can't do this.
00:57:16Oh, good job, man.
00:57:21Give me a shot, bro.
00:57:22Can't go through that.
00:57:33Give me something cool there.
00:57:35Tag off, boy.
00:57:36Come on.
00:57:40Get it right there.
00:57:41I'm going to help you.
00:57:42With the capture of this hearty 10-footer,
00:57:45Leron and Porkchop fill their eighth tag,
00:57:47and the team's hard-fought season comes to an end.
00:57:53Put your tag on.
00:57:54We ain't tag on yet, because I got to put it in me now.
00:57:57Me and Leron, we family.
00:57:59And when you can do something that you love with a family member,
00:58:02man, that's a blessing.
00:58:03Man, love your family, because at the end of the day,
00:58:05that's all you have.
00:58:06You know what I call this, cousin?
00:58:07What's that, cousin?
00:58:08The kiss of death, baby.
00:58:09Put the tag on, baby.
00:58:10Boy, I like it.
00:58:11That's what I'm talking about.
00:58:12I done told you.
00:58:12Oh, man.
00:58:13It's bittersweet for me, gator season.
00:58:15The bitter part, I'm away from my five kids.
00:58:18The sweet part, I'm out here doing what I love.
00:58:21And not only that, we catching gators
00:58:23to help lower the population.
00:58:26This stuff is bigger than, you know,
00:58:28we just come together one month for a paycheck.
00:58:31Love you, man.
00:58:31I love you, too, cousin.
00:58:32Let's go and lower these gators.
00:58:33Let's get to duffing, guys.
00:58:34We'll see y'all gators next season.
00:58:45On Bell River, Don and Calum's extra line
00:58:49started producing at the last possible minute.
00:58:53And tag out is finally within reach.
00:58:55But Mother Nature is not making it easy.
00:58:59Man, that water fell.
00:59:00All the lilies come from out of the swamp.
00:59:02Right back out in the middle here, ain't it?
00:59:04It has been a rough season.
00:59:05The water's up, down, up, down.
00:59:08It is so hard to fish this.
00:59:11But we got one tag left.
00:59:13I cannot wait to feel it.
00:59:26Big old stump.
00:59:27I ain't got all the stump.
00:59:32Hey, I'll tell you what.
00:59:33I got an idea.
00:59:34What?
00:59:34Let's tie the whole thing to the ballot vote.
00:59:36We're tied right here.
00:59:37I'll back it out of here.
00:59:38And we'll pull him out of there, huh?
00:59:43See what we can do.
00:59:52Now we got a place of working, don't we?
00:59:54Yep.
00:59:59What you got?
01:00:00Well, you got the bubbles, don't we?
01:00:08Oh, yeah.
01:00:09Oh, yeah.
01:00:11I'm losing.
01:00:14Come on, come on, give me a shot.
01:00:15Give me a shot.
01:00:17Oh, big boy.
01:00:18Oh, look at him go, look at him go.
01:00:23Don't lose him, don't lose him, don't lose him, don't lose him.
01:00:25He don't want to come up, huh?
01:00:28He don't want to come up, huh?
01:00:29Yeah.
01:00:30Come on, big boy.
01:00:42Come on, big boy.
01:00:48Yep.
01:00:48Come on, big boy.
01:00:48Good job.
01:00:49Number 15.
01:00:50Good job.
01:00:51One, two, three.
01:00:54It came down to the wire.
01:00:56But catching this massive 11-footer marks the end of a challenging season for the hunters.
01:01:03It's been Don's second year together hunting, and it was just rough with the high and the
01:01:10low water, but I didn't know each other better.
01:01:13We know how to work with each other now.
01:01:14Now it's over.
01:01:15And I'm looking forward to next year.
01:01:18That's a damn good gator.
01:01:19Yeah, he's been working out.
01:01:21Hey, gator season is done.
01:01:23Done.
01:01:24How am I sleeping in the morning?
01:01:26Oh, I did.
01:01:27Sure.
01:01:27Yeah.
01:01:28Yeah.
01:01:39Over in Pierre Park, the Landrys invite all the Swampers to celebrate the end of gator
01:01:47season with a Cajun-style feast.
01:01:51This is ours.
01:01:52Yeah.
01:01:59Listen, we want to take a minute here to thank everybody for putting out as hard as
01:02:05y'all did this year.
01:02:06Everybody worked hard.
01:02:07And look, we lost two old pros this year.
01:02:11We lost Mr. Junior Edward and Mr. Sterling Friu.
01:02:18So let's just think of them and move forward and thank y'all for everything y'all done.
01:02:24Thank you for having us, my patrol.
01:02:26I'll be with you more.
01:02:27There's nothing better than a big cookout, especially at the end of alligator season.
01:02:31You're working seven days a week, you burn out, and then you just sit down and relax with
01:02:35your family and friends.
01:02:37That's what life is all about, really.
01:02:39I love that sauce.
01:02:41I could eat good that.
01:02:43Good job, Jacob Landry.
01:02:45Good job.
01:02:47Good job, Jacob Landry.
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