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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 battle goals out of your life.
00:01:40All the pain through the struggle and the strife.
00:01:43Now there's just one thing you got left to do.
00:01:46Light a mask, let it burn, and break on two.
00:01:50Oh, oh, oh.
00:01:53Oh, oh.
00:01:54Oh, 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.
00:05:25Across the swamp,
00:05:27in prime hunting grounds,
00:05:29Jacob Landry and his partner Little Willie are armed with 18 tags to fill.
00:05:34a 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 childhood situations.
00:10:26But even for him this is proving difficult.
00:10:29It looks tough.
00:10:40What'd you see.
00:10:42Oh it's straight down the water.
00:10:52Oh, oh get the gun get the gun get the gun. Get him up. Get him up
00:11:03I thought we didn't have anything. No. He's trying to go out of the boat
00:11:13Come on, buddy. Get him up there. Watch him. Can you get a shot? Yeah. Get him up. Get him
00:11:20up. Get him, Miss Bruce.
00:11:33We're about driving no more. He ain't big, but that's another tag, Bill. How many we got left?
00:11:38Once we tag this gator, we got 10 gators left. Then 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.
00:12:03But, uh, 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.
00:12:13If we keep on going, we're going to get through this day.
00:12:16All right, let's get it done.
00:12:37Over on Bell River.
00:12:40Optimistic is the word of the day.
00:12:44Hunters Don Brewer and Calum Landry need 15 gators to tag out.
00:12:49In 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 a boat.
00:13:02So last night I went out and I put 20 new lines out.
00:13:06I need to make sure I catch these gators for Troy.
00:13:08Make a break today, big boy. Make a break.
00:13:12There's more pressure on Don rather than me.
00:13:15He feels as if he got to make sure he proves himself every day.
00:13:20Even though he's done already in the past, and I understand in a way,
00:13:24but I don't feel as much pressure as he has.
00:13:32There's one right here in front of us, pretty good, over here in the shallow cross.
00:13:36Well, we got 15 tags, that'll be one.
00:13:39You want to try to get on them?
00:13:40Get your triple hook.
00:13:54Oh, I got him. I got him.
00:13:55Hold him, hold him.
00:14:00Oh, damn, that's good, too.
00:14:01Give me a shot.
00:14:03Give me a shot.
00:14:05Don't come undone. Don't come undone.
00:14:09Hold him, hold him, hold him, hold him, hold him.
00:14:34Oh
00:14:35No way
00:14:48Filling their first to 15 tags with a 10-footer helps ease the pressure on Don
00:14:57This is the first alligator ever trouble hook I'm on cloud nine right now
00:15:01I can't like I just can't fathom that this just happened
00:15:04It all happened so quick and it was a great feel
00:15:09I didn't see the excitement on Don's face for me up even more. What's the word of the day?
00:15:14Optimistic optimistic
00:15:16up-do-mystic
00:15:18Don't ask me how to spell
00:15:35Out in Amelia
00:15:38the 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
00:15:57Pulling up to the line bro
00:15:58With the chicken still swinging
00:16:02Got my spirit lord in the best one in hell right now car we just can't get right man
00:16:07Now pressure on us, bro
00:16:09Now we might not tag on car
00:16:12The landowner he will not be happy if we don't tag out on these gators
00:16:17I know it's been a long difficult season
00:16:21Down to the nitty-gritty everybody won't go home to their family
00:16:24But it's extremely important that I get these eight gators today
00:16:28Y'all about them smiling bro because of that
00:16:30That pressure on us bro
00:16:31Oh
00:16:33What the hell
00:16:34She got that car
00:16:36Oh, that's a praying mantis man
00:16:37A praying mantis?
00:16:39Yeah
00:16:39You're almost free on me
00:16:41Oh, that was a praying mantis
00:16:43Look, you see
00:16:45Oh, we need prayer
00:16:46We need prayer car
00:16:47Oh, we need prayer car
00:16:49You should have been on top of one of them tags
00:16:51Praying that we tag out
00:16:55Praying mantises 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
00:17:09I'm gonna put him back
00:17:10I ain't gonna hurt him
00:17:11You know
00:17:12It's a good sign or what?
00:17:13Yeah, man
00:17:13Out here in nature a spider could have fell out of the tree
00:17:16I hate spiders
00:17:17Snake could have fell out
00:17:19You know
00:17:20What fell out?
00:17:21What fell out?
00:17:21A praying mantis
00:17:22That's a sign
00:17:23You might be saying don't give up bro
00:17:25We ain't gonna give up
00:17:26And just pray that everything go true and we tag out car
00:17:28It's been a rough season, man
00:17:30But we got to suck it up
00:17:31We got to put it a little harder, you know
00:17:33But we got eight more to go, man
00:17:34We got to buckle down, man
00:17:36And do what we got to do
00:17:37Because if we don't fill these tags back
00:17:39The landowner have to return these tags back to the wildlife fishery
00:17:44And he losing money
00:17:44And we ain't making money
00:17:46Come on, Coutan
00:17:47I'm gonna see what that praying mantis is telling us
00:17:49That's wrong, Scott
00:17:50That's wrong
00:18:06Over on Lake Beret
00:18:09Midway through the day
00:18:10The team is off to a slow start
00:18:12In one of the hardest areas they've hunted all season
00:18:15With only two of their ten tags filled
00:18:18Troy needs his trusty deckhead to get them over the finish line
00:18:23Every year I'm getting older and older
00:18:25And you're gonna have to do more and more
00:18:27Oh, I know
00:18:28You already bitching that'll make you do a lot
00:18:32I don't care, it's all part of it
00:18:34I had a lot of helpers come through my boat
00:18:37In the last 40 years, okay
00:18:40A lot of helpers
00:18:42I think you're about the best I ever had
00:18:48She just had a baby a few months ago
00:18:50And, man, you know
00:18:52I didn't know what to expect this year out of her
00:18:55But she's doing
00:18:56It looks like she's doing better than ever
00:18:58She's more determined than ever
00:19:00I love watching her
00:19:01Because she gives it 100%
00:19:03Do you see the line?
00:19:05Yes, I do see the line
00:19:17Talk to me
00:19:21Don't cut me, little girl
00:19:25Yeah, we got one
00:19:26Oh, good
00:19:36Whoa, watch him, PC, watch him
00:19:48Whoa, bring him up, bring him up
00:20:04I will, I will it, when did I get a shot?
00:20:07Shoot him!
00:20:18Oh, Peter, where to fight that there?
00:20:22Thanks to Pickle's iron grip on the feisty eight-footer,
00:20:25the team is finding their mojo despite the low water.
00:20:30You know, there's a lot of women that go to the gym to exercise.
00:20:34That's my workout right here.
00:20:35And you come in to board and fight alligators.
00:20:37Me too.
00:20:38I'm this little bitty, petite girl.
00:20:40I started out as this, like, naive firecracker,
00:20:44and he's taught me a lot over the years.
00:20:46We clash a lot, you know, but it also, it works at the same time.
00:20:52Look at here, Phoebe.
00:20:53What we got?
00:20:54One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, girl.
00:20:59Getting close.
00:21:01Next.
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.
00:21:2816 left, Willie.
00:21:3216 left.
00:21:33Get a full boat, baby.
00:21:35We got 16 tags left.
00:21:37It's a little more than what I want to have here on this set.
00:21:39I really don't want to go back to the ramp or to the dock with just one or two tags
00:21:42in my box.
00:21:43I want to be done with, so we're going to be on the lookout.
00:21:46We're going to fill every tag we can in any means possible.
00:21:49We got to get some more gators in the boat.
00:21:51We got our fingers crossed.
00:21:53We're hoping we can tag out.
00:21:54If not, we got our secret weapon.
00:21:58I made a special trouble hook in memories to pay respects to my papa and all.
00:22:02He's the first to ever do it.
00:22:04And it's been blessing me all season, and it's going to continue blessing me.
00:22:10Come on, Willie.
00:22:11Keep your eye out.
00:22:16I don't know what it is.
00:22:17They got a pile of bubbles coming up over there.
00:22:22Going north towards the bank, huh?
00:22:25Yeah.
00:22:26That's an alligator, because it's still bubbling.
00:22:29Need that trouble hook in the water.
00:22:35Better rip, Willie.
00:22:37Make your pa proud.
00:22:57Come in to the boat.
00:22:59Hell yeah.
00:23:00They pull us so hard in that shallow water.
00:23:03Mhm.
00:23:06You're good?
00:23:07Yeah.
00:23:07Yeah.
00:23:08Yeah.
00:23:08Yeah.
00:23:09He he he!
00:23:09Hey!
00:23:10He he he!
00:23:12Hey!
00:23:21Come on, Willie.
00:23:22Little Willie is using his treble hook to try and pull in a monster.
00:23:30Good gator.
00:23:32Watch it, Willie.
00:23:36Don't get away.
00:23:38Come on, Willie.
00:23:49Take him, Buckwheat.
00:23:53In the freaking foot.
00:23:55No wonder he was pissed.
00:23:57One, two, three.
00:24:01Hell yeah.
00:24:02Nice 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.
00:24:14Good job, Willie.
00:24:16Good job.
00:24:17Yes, sir.
00:24:18I've been doing treble hooking all my life.
00:24:21And the treble hooking is the one way that we know how to put alligators in the boat.
00:24:24You give me tags and you turn me loose and I treble hook every single one of them.
00:24:28I just do what I was taught.
00:24:30My papa taught my dad and my dad taught me.
00:24:32It's kind of like a tradition that keeps going and I'm going to teach my kids someday.
00:24:37It's one of the best.
00:24:39Papa taught me how to make them, curve them hooks in right, and you got a good hook you
00:24:43don't miss.
00:24:45Everything you throw the hooks on is there.
00:24:47Come down, Willie.
00:24:49That's what I'm talking about.
00:25:06Several miles southwest on Six Mile Lake, Bruce and Anna have struggled all morning
00:25:13with only three gators in the boat.
00:25:16That chicken's hanging.
00:25:19I'm going to spray it, get it wet, get it dripping.
00:25:25All right.
00:25:27Crap!
00:25:28This is frustrating.
00:25:30We're not having a very good day.
00:25:32The gators aren't really biting very well.
00:25:35I'm getting really worried.
00:25:36Nothing is on our line.
00:25:37Empty hooks, hooks being knocked in the water.
00:25:41We don't know what to do.
00:25:51Well, it's down.
00:25:53Down?
00:25:53Yeah.
00:25:56What you got, Adam?
00:25:58Oh, it's straight down.
00:26:01I ain't too impressed with that.
00:26:09What you got?
00:26:11I don't know.
00:26:26Nothing.
00:26:28We still have eight tags, Mr. Bruce.
00:26:31Yeah, I know.
00:26:31What are we going to do?
00:26:33It ain't over yet.
00:26:35Hang that back.
00:26:36We're going to go catch more.
00:26:37I hope we do.
00:26:39We got to finish.
00:26:40With only three tags filled, Bruce decides to keep their bait hanging to maximize their chances.
00:26:46But it also means they have to run every line twice before 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 just got to push your way through.
00:27:01Whatever happens, you 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 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, Don and Calum's lines are ice cold.
00:27:46Oh, we 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 of left, ain't it?
00:28:28Yeah.
00:28:31Hope it ain't all tangled up.
00:28:33Sure will, Clay.
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 only started off strong, but boy, I mean, we come to a halt quick.
00:28:52Well, we don't know what's on this line yet.
00:28:56But it's backing on out on the sea.
00:28:58All right, you ready?
00:28:58Watch your minds, okay?
00:29:12I see a bear hook and a branch.
00:29:15Well, ain't no gator, huh?
00:29:20I don't think Trull would be too happy for a tag on this, huh?
00:29:23No, no, probably not.
00:29:25All right.
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, these things just blow that with them, huh?
00:29:42Yeah.
00:29:43I don't care what it takes.
00:29:45That'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 the 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.
00:30:31So 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 going to be able to get no more tags for next
00:30:39year.
00:30:43Cousin.
00:30:43What up, cub?
00:30:44I lying down, boy.
00:30:46Yeah.
00:30:46Look like the old praying mantis didn't change our luck, huh, cub?
00:30:50Yeah, we need this, cub.
00:30:51We need this to be a gator, man.
00:30:53We need this to be a gator, cub.
00:31:26Hold on, watch yourself, boy.
00:31:29Boy, Cousin, get in there, man.
00:31:30I don't want to lose them.
00:31:34Get ready, cub.
00:31:36Come here, sir, fuck, child.
00:31:37Got you, cub.
00:31:40Dang, cub.
00:31:42Get ready, Cousin.
00:31:43Come here, sir, fuck, child.
00:31:53Good job.
00:31:57Paying off, cub.
00:31:59Seven more to go, cub.
00:32:01Got it?
00:32:01Then we'll be at the primers' lane.
00:32:04There you go, Cousin.
00:32:06Well, when we first started, boy, we had a whole stack of anything, cub.
00:32:09With 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, cub, we ain't gonna make too much of him, but hey, bro, we closer to tagging
00:32:23out, Cousin.
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 the tail.
00:32:29So, anything goes, man, you know, we gotta make it happen.
00:32:33Oh, and I'm praying, man.
00:32:34Yeah.
00:32:35That's a good sign, cub, you know?
00:32:37We ain't from netting to something, Cousin.
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
00:33:02and Pickle are down to their last four tags.
00:33:07I'm ready to get back home to my babies.
00:33:09I 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
00:33:20on 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?
00:34:01I 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, let it not go there.
00:34:13Woo!
00:34:15Well, I don't know what you did right there.
00:34:20Talk to me.
00:34:22I don't see anything.
00:34:24I just see the flag.
00:34:30Do we have some?
00:34:32We will see.
00:34:34My best judgment says there ain't nothing on here.
00:34:37But sometimes I'm wrong.
00:34:43Oh, I'm wrong.
00:34:45Come here!
00:34:49Oh, yeah, he's a big one.
00:34:51He's a big one.
00:34:52Oh!
00:34:53Ah!
00:34:55Woo!
00:34:55Bring him up!
00:34:56Bring him up!
00:34:57Woo!
00:35:03Bring him up, baby.
00:35:04Bring him up!
00:35:06Woo!
00:35:07Oh, nice one.
00:35:08Let's go.
00:35:11Oh, good boy.
00:35:16Bring him up, baby.
00:35:17Bring him up!
00:35:25Ooh!
00:35:27Gotcha!
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 counts his chickens before they hatch.
00:35:53Peewee and I are almost done, but anything can happen when you're out there on the water.
00:35:58So, you just, you never know.
00:36:01This is it, Peewee.
00:36:03One, two, three.
00:36:05Three tags left, baby girl.
00:36:10Getting close.
00:36:26On Six Mile Lake, Bruce and Anna's decision to run their lines twice might 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.
00:37:19He's here.
00:37:21Hurry up, Mr. Bruce.
00:37:23He's here.
00:37:24He's coming.
00:37:29Get him up.
00:37:30He's up.
00:37:31Oh!
00:37:38Game over.
00:37:41Well, that was nice.
00:37:42I wish he was a doll 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.
00:37:51This 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.
00:38:02It's a farm-raised gator.
00:38:04Oh, yeah.
00:38:05We're going to have to take that tag and turn the number in to wildlife fishery.
00:38:08In 1986, the Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife started an alligator ranching program.
00:38:17Licensed farmers collect eggs, hatch them, and then release the gators into the wild with a tag,
00:38:24allowing biologists to identify them later.
00:38:28Stick that in the hole.
00:38:29Two more gators, we out of here.
00:38:34Go catch them all.
00:38:36What about those?
00:38:37Two left, Mr. Bruce.
00:38:53Across 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.
00:39:12Get it done.
00:39:13There we go.
00:39:14We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I think if we keep chipping away at it and
00:39:17stay persistent,
00:39:18I think we'll go home with not a tag left in the box.
00:39:27Oh, got a tree shaker.
00:39:29Oh, might have them on the line, Willie.
00:39:35We've got a crime scene, Willie.
00:39:37It's a big gator that's on the line, too.
00:39:40Pretty gator, man.
00:39:44But I like to see.
00:39:50Oh, oh.
00:39:51Oh, uh-oh.
00:39:52Oh, uh-oh.
00:39:58Oh, we got a big one.
00:39:59Oh, yeah.
00:40:02Watch them.
00:40:02Watch them.
00:40:04Oh, yeah.
00:40:11and we're gonna have a good average today my boy
00:40:15let him cut that line with that tail
00:40:21that's what i'm talking about my boy
00:40:23that is a hammer
00:40:27gonna sink the boat today willy son
00:40:29there we go now we got him right
00:40:40that's what i'm talking about
00:40:42got a monster
00:40:43jeez louise
00:40:45ready one two three
00:40:56come on you big sucker
00:41:02here we go
00:41:06with this massive 12 footer the team is firing on all cylinders
00:41:11good job willy
00:41:13good job jacob
00:41:14it's a blessing fishing with jacob for the second year in a row he treats me good
00:41:18mr jacob is a hard-working guy he's a hustler
00:41:22man i just can't ask for no better
00:41:24we're down to our last gator and i know we're gonna get it done
00:41:29about to be tagged out
00:41:32and get hit quick enough
00:41:50across the swamp the low water continues to give loran and pork chop fits as they still only have one
00:41:58tag field on the day
00:42:00hold up
00:42:02another empty line
00:42:05keep checking
00:42:07and all of them doggone empty line we don't tag out somebody pocket will be empty too
00:42:14ain't looking good
00:42:15no it ain't
00:42:18down to seven tag left
00:42:19i'm a little worried
00:42:21we down to the nitty gritty so
00:42:24i hope we pull it through you know it just just gotta try to figure it out
00:42:31he's not
00:42:32lying down cousin
00:42:33yeah
00:42:34yeah
00:42:42oh look at your box
00:42:47oh yes sir
00:42:49oh yes sir
00:42:50oh yes sir
00:42:51oh yes sir
00:42:51oh yes sir
00:42:59Oh
00:43:02Damn, I see that we got to get it through that but he wrote it up on the track. I
00:43:06don't know what you're having y'all either not
00:43:12God I'm gonna need you to push up on them food
00:43:18That's up on top right
00:43:28Good job, you got it man. Yeah, yeah, you got it. I tell you guys. I got it. Hey cut.
00:43:34Let me help you
00:43:35Come on y'all
00:43:38See no, I tell you man. Let me help you cup drop it with a
00:43:42Drop it with a cup
00:43:46Show bar with a nine-footer the team may be turning the corner, but to tag out they'll need a
00:43:53miracle comeback
00:43:54The lady ain't sung yet. You could feel my heart beating through my shirt things are getting good
00:44:00But good got room for improvement. I would like to be going great finish line right there
00:44:05I can see but I just got to get it so I can cross
00:44:09Yeah, cool, man another tag down another tag down baby. Yeah, we need a different one
00:44:29Over on Lake for red
00:44:30Troy and people are down to their final tag looking to close out one of their toughest seasons on record
00:44:38All right, we we got one tag left and we only got I think maybe three lines
00:44:43Every year, I don't know if it's my age, but it's like every year gets a little harder and a
00:44:49little harder
00:44:50And this year is like it jumped up to another level
00:44:55You're just all your sets and all your lines for your water level and then two days later was total
00:45:02opposite
00:45:02And it made it hard
00:45:12That one over there yeah
00:45:36Oh
00:45:37With a good one is a good one to go with yeah back up pull it out of there. Yeah
00:45:49What we got really a good good one wait don't make me let it go
00:46:02Got him you got him
00:46:16We got him
00:46:16oh
00:46:41yeah
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. All right, right there.
00:47:04And ends their year on a high note.
00:47:07You putting them here?
00:47:07Yep, right here. Okay, 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.
00:47:18But that's what's making it so enjoyable to be finished.
00:47:21Now the season down. This evening, when I'm gonna be home, relaxing.
00:47:27It's gonna hit you, huh?
00:47:28It's gonna hit me. I'm gonna be sad.
00:47:30I'm gonna go from being happy to being sad.
00:47:33Not enough.
00:47:47Over on Bell River, Don and Calum continue to struggle.
00:47:53And with gator season nearing an end, the pair still has plenty of work to do.
00:47:59Eat more.
00:48:00I don't know if we're gonna tag out.
00:48:02Liam will change the word of the day to foobar.
00:48:05I think we should change it to disappointment.
00:48:08Usually, I'm already back in and checked in.
00:48:11And I'm starting to get a little worried.
00:48:13But I got to get these gators.
00:48:19Well, line's down, ain't it?
00:48:21Yeah, I don't see the chicken hagging.
00:48:23Oh, we ain't got a gator on this. We ain't gonna tag out.
00:48:26Yeah, it almost looks 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!
00:48:43Got the gator rope.
00:48:45Dang!
00:48:48Dang it.
00:48:48Ah, dang it!
00:48:58I can't get no shot like that.
00:49:04Oh, wonderful.
00:49:08Oh, good shot!
00:49:09Good shot!
00:49:20That's a gun, Donna.
00:49:23Hey, 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 tides got to be filled over that paper.
00:49:40I mean, it's not a good deal, so I'm gonna keep running lines,
00:49:44I'm gonna keep tagging them, putting them in the boat,
00:49:46and try to get this going.
00:49:47It started off good, went to crap,
00:49:50now it's starting to build back up.
00:50:03Over on Six Mile Lake,
00:50:05for 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
00:50:14until they click their last tag.
00:50:17Got one more!
00:50:18We only have one tag left,
00:50:20but everything's difficult right now.
00:50:22And I just kind of send up a little prayer,
00:50:25like, please, God, we really need one.
00:50:31What you got, Anna?
00:50:33I see the line, it 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.
00:50:50Here, 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 gate.
00:51:01There he is! There he is!
00:51:03Come on, get him up! Get him up!
00:51:12Get him up!
00:51:14He's trying!
00:51:19Careful!
00:51:21I got him. I get him.
00:51:22Be still.
00:51:23Get him up!
00:51:28Watch out!
00:51:29Boom!
00:51:31Get him up and I'm going to shoot him!
00:51:33He keeps going down.
00:51:39Get ready, Mr. Bruce.
00:51:47Nice shot!
00:51:48Tag out better. That's it, baby. We're going home.
00:51:50I 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 a perfect end to a difficult season.
00:52:00And despite all the challenges this year, the team shows no signs of slowing down.
00:52:06Final gator. Mr. Bruce, you ready?
00:52:08I am very ready.
00:52:09Me and Mr. Bruce, we always have ups and downs, but 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. Good?
00:52:20I love learning from an experienced swamper, and I hope to be as good as him someday.
00:52:25And 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!
00:52:37Let's cover him up.
00:52:38I was four years old, and I got pictures of me and my grandpa with gators.
00:52:42He said, my blood, as 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, because 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, Jacob and Willie are riding a hot streak, and only need one more
00:53:13gator to tag out.
00:53:15We ain't going back to Duffy's with one tag in this boat.
00:53:18I guarantee you that.
00:53:19Yeah, last couple of lines 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, look at that, Jimmy.
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 son, huh?
00:54:08Dude, yeah.
00:54:12I'll gladly click the last tag on him.
00:54:15Ooh, ooh.
00:54:16There he is.
00:54:17Come on, Willie.
00:54:17Bring him here.
00:54:18Last one.
00:54:19Right there.
00:54:23Come on, Willie.
00:54:24Shoot him.
00:54:25Shoot him.
00:54:26Shoot.
00:54:32Oh, that's it, Willie.
00:54:33Hey.
00:54:35Woo.
00:54:36Tagged out.
00:54:37Hallelujah.
00:54:38With this 11-footer, Jacob and Willie finished 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.
00:54:51You 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 and doing things that we feel will
00:55:06live 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, and he really shined this
00:55:15year 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, dedicating the season to my grandpa
00:55:35and all, this season's special to me.
00:55:37We didn't give up.
00:55:38Clipping 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.
00:56:08And 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 of nothing.
00:56:23You might be Nostradamus or somebody.
00:56:26You done went looking at a few chancurs, huh?
00:56:28It's been a long season, man.
00:56:30I know we're getting on to 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, Kurt.
00:56:43Oh, man.
00:56:44Kurt, one 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.
00:57:22There you go, Cousin.
00:57:32Give me some Cousin.
00:57:35Tag out, boy.
00:57:36Car.
00:57:39Get it right there.
00:57:41I'm going to help you.
00:57:42With the capture of this hardy 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 any of me in there.
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.
00:58:10Put the tag on, baby.
00:58:11Boy, 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 it, man.
00:58:31I love you too, Cousin.
00:58:32Let's go unload these gators.
00:58:33Let's get to duffing, Cousin.
00:58:34We'll see y'all gators next season.
00:58:45On Vail River,
00:58:47Don 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.
00:58:59And that water fell,
00:59:00all the lilies come from all the swamps.
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 on a 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 boat.
00:59:36Or tie it right here.
00:59:37I'll back it out of here.
00:59:38And we'll pull him out there, huh?
00:59:43See what we can do.
00:59:52Now we got a place for working, don't we?
00:59:54Yep.
01:00:00We got the bubbles, don't we?
01:00:08Oh, yeah.
01:00:10Oh, yeah.
01:00:11I'm losing.
01:00:14Come on.
01:00:14Come on.
01:00:15Give me a shot.
01:00:15Give me a shot.
01:00:17Oh, big boy.
01:00:18Oh, look at him go.
01:00:20Look 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?
01:00:30Oh, no.
01:00:30Come on, big boy.
01:00:31Yeah.
01:00:42I'm talking about baby.
01:00:44Tag out.
01:00:45Done.
01:00:46That's a last pass.
01:00:48Yeah.
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.
01:00:57But catching this massive 11-footer marks the end of a challenging season for the hunters.
01:01:03It was me and Don's second year together hunting.
01:01:06And it was just rough with the high and the low water.
01:01:11But 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 was a damn good game.
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'll do.
01:01:27Oh, yeah.
01:01:39Over in Pierre Park, the Landrys invite all the swampers to celebrate the end of gator season
01:01:47with a Cajun-style feast.
01:01:59Listen, we want to take a minute here to thank everybody for putting out as hard as y'all
01:02:05did this year.
01:02:06Everybody work hard.
01:02:07And look, we lost two old pros this year.
01:02:11We lost Mr. Junior Edgewood and Mr. Sterling Freewood.
01:02:18So let's just tinker them and move forward and thank y'all for everything y'all done.
01:02:24Now, thank you for having us, man, patrol.
01:02:26I'll bring you real hard.
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.
01:02:32You burn out.
01:02:33And then you just sit down and relax with your 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.
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