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Local girl, 15, snags 10-foot gator in Fla.
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| Ichabod Crane Student and Kinderhook resident Jennifer Receveur poses with the 10-foot, more than 300-pound alligator she shot with a bow and arrow while hunting in Florida with her father and brother on Aug. 16. (Contributed photo) |
By Jamie Larson
A local 15-year-old girl, known for her success on the track and gymnastics equipment, bagged her largest and most unusual trophy last month — a ten-foot alligator.
Jennifer Receveur used a bow and arrow to pull in the big reptile while hunting in Florida with her father and brother.
“It was exciting and suspenseful,” Jennifer said. “My friends were really surprised because it’s not the activity they expect me to do.”
While Jennifer, a high school student at Ichabod Crane, has hunted in the past for birds and deer, she spends most of her extracurricular time competing in track and field, cross country, and gymnastics.
Before moving to the area three years ago with her family, she was named Indiana Youth Sportsman of the Year, won numerous archery competitions, and was ranked sixth in the nation in gymnastics tumbling and trampoline.
At Ichabod Crane she holds the school pole vaulting record and she came in third in her last cross country meet in Chatham.
Jennifer said the thrill she felt when she made the well-placed shot into the side of the alligators neck was similar to the excitement she feels when she wins a race or competition. She said it’s not just the good feeling of being successful but also realizing that all her hard work and training paid off.
Jennifer’s father, Terry Receveur, said he is extremely proud of his daughter and that the whole experience of being out on the nighttime hunt with Jennifer and his oldest son Jeff, 19, was a great family moment.
The state of Florida gives out 9,000 Alligator Trapper’s licenses a year by lottery. The licenses are highly coveted and assigned to specific areas of the state, as one of the purposes of the gator hunting season is population control.
The Receveurs received the only license to hunt in all of Okeechobee County, and Receveur said this gave them the opportunity to hunt in a much greater unspoiled area.
Receveur and Jeff began surveying their hunting ground on a Saturday, settling on an area in some orange grove canals.
Jennifer was still in Columbia County at the time participating in a large youth church event which she helped organize. She then flew down to Florida for the nighttime hunt.
Receveur said the night was overcast, making the grove and water extremely dark.
As Jennifer sat poised on the shooting platform in the front of the boat, the Receveurs trolled through the water, slowly scanning the darkness with a spotlight waiting to see the red reflection of alligator eyes on the surface of the water. It wasn’t long before they spotted a big one.
As Jennifer got into position with her recurve bow armed with a “Gator Getter” arrow, family friend Capp Williams let out a grunting alligator call. The sound worked almost too well as Receveur said the animal quickly turned, coming straight at the boat.
Releasing the arrow, Jennifer made a dead on shot into the neck of the alligator. “That thing is huge!” she shouted.
Had the former cheerleader’s shot been off only a little, the arrow would have bounced off tougher sections of the animal’s hide.
The hunt went by the books, Receveur said, the arrow penetrated the skin and held on as the creature was reeled in via a rope secured to the end of the arrow.
As the gator tired itself out it went into a “death roll,” spinning its body around ad around. As it did so, it wrapped itself up in the rope making it easier to handle. Jennifer wasn’t quite large enough to handle this physical stage of the process.
As the gator was pulled up alongside the boat, electrical tape is wrapped around the mouth to keep its powerful jaws closed. Then the animal was killed quickly with a knife blow to the back of the scull in a process called pithing.
Jennifer said the experience was scary but fun. Her father said that as they brought the alligator back to land Jennifer couldn’t help investigating and playing with her prize.
“This was a tremendous Florida family vacation that didn’t involve Disney World,” Receveur said. “I was able to spend some great quality time with Jennifer and Jeff and help restore Jennifer’s drive to hunt.”
The following evening father and son pulled in a couple of gators of their own, Receveur’s measuring more than 12 feet.
Receveur said while he knows some people have an aversion to hunting, the method they used is as quick for the animal and every single part of the animal is used.
They save and eat all of the meat and the hides are used to make bags, shoes and wallets. Jennifer will also soon be getting a large souvenir from her first big game hunt. Her gator is being taxidermied for a mount that will apparently look like the creature is swimming right out of the wall.
Receveur said the mount will be something she will some day be able to show her grandkids, and remember what she accomplished in her youth.
Jennifer Receveur used a bow and arrow to pull in the big reptile while hunting in Florida with her father and brother.
“It was exciting and suspenseful,” Jennifer said. “My friends were really surprised because it’s not the activity they expect me to do.”
While Jennifer, a high school student at Ichabod Crane, has hunted in the past for birds and deer, she spends most of her extracurricular time competing in track and field, cross country, and gymnastics.
Before moving to the area three years ago with her family, she was named Indiana Youth Sportsman of the Year, won numerous archery competitions, and was ranked sixth in the nation in gymnastics tumbling and trampoline.
At Ichabod Crane she holds the school pole vaulting record and she came in third in her last cross country meet in Chatham.
Jennifer said the thrill she felt when she made the well-placed shot into the side of the alligators neck was similar to the excitement she feels when she wins a race or competition. She said it’s not just the good feeling of being successful but also realizing that all her hard work and training paid off.
Jennifer’s father, Terry Receveur, said he is extremely proud of his daughter and that the whole experience of being out on the nighttime hunt with Jennifer and his oldest son Jeff, 19, was a great family moment.
The state of Florida gives out 9,000 Alligator Trapper’s licenses a year by lottery. The licenses are highly coveted and assigned to specific areas of the state, as one of the purposes of the gator hunting season is population control.
The Receveurs received the only license to hunt in all of Okeechobee County, and Receveur said this gave them the opportunity to hunt in a much greater unspoiled area.
Receveur and Jeff began surveying their hunting ground on a Saturday, settling on an area in some orange grove canals.
Jennifer was still in Columbia County at the time participating in a large youth church event which she helped organize. She then flew down to Florida for the nighttime hunt.
Receveur said the night was overcast, making the grove and water extremely dark.
As Jennifer sat poised on the shooting platform in the front of the boat, the Receveurs trolled through the water, slowly scanning the darkness with a spotlight waiting to see the red reflection of alligator eyes on the surface of the water. It wasn’t long before they spotted a big one.
As Jennifer got into position with her recurve bow armed with a “Gator Getter” arrow, family friend Capp Williams let out a grunting alligator call. The sound worked almost too well as Receveur said the animal quickly turned, coming straight at the boat.
Releasing the arrow, Jennifer made a dead on shot into the neck of the alligator. “That thing is huge!” she shouted.
Had the former cheerleader’s shot been off only a little, the arrow would have bounced off tougher sections of the animal’s hide.
The hunt went by the books, Receveur said, the arrow penetrated the skin and held on as the creature was reeled in via a rope secured to the end of the arrow.
As the gator tired itself out it went into a “death roll,” spinning its body around ad around. As it did so, it wrapped itself up in the rope making it easier to handle. Jennifer wasn’t quite large enough to handle this physical stage of the process.
As the gator was pulled up alongside the boat, electrical tape is wrapped around the mouth to keep its powerful jaws closed. Then the animal was killed quickly with a knife blow to the back of the scull in a process called pithing.
Jennifer said the experience was scary but fun. Her father said that as they brought the alligator back to land Jennifer couldn’t help investigating and playing with her prize.
“This was a tremendous Florida family vacation that didn’t involve Disney World,” Receveur said. “I was able to spend some great quality time with Jennifer and Jeff and help restore Jennifer’s drive to hunt.”
The following evening father and son pulled in a couple of gators of their own, Receveur’s measuring more than 12 feet.
Receveur said while he knows some people have an aversion to hunting, the method they used is as quick for the animal and every single part of the animal is used.
They save and eat all of the meat and the hides are used to make bags, shoes and wallets. Jennifer will also soon be getting a large souvenir from her first big game hunt. Her gator is being taxidermied for a mount that will apparently look like the creature is swimming right out of the wall.
Receveur said the mount will be something she will some day be able to show her grandkids, and remember what she accomplished in her youth.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
Informed wrote on Sep 21, 2009 12:23 PM:
" Alligators are becoming overpopulated in many areas of Florida and are being professionally controlled to protect both humans and pets. Several human deaths a year are due to areas overpopulated with alligators. Alternatives to harvesting the reptiles are not available. Most Florida residents are not particularly happy to have a large non-selective eating reptile relocated to their area. Harvesting and utlizing animals for food and clothing has been part of human existence from the beginning. Teaching children to kill and use animals under the right circumstances is indeed "well done"! If given a choice to humanely harvest an alligator or let the population go uncontrolled and jeopardize human safety. I would choose to reduce the alligator population. I do value human life over animal life. "
HollyRock wrote on Sep 22, 2009 9:28 AM:
" Overpopulation is definately a problem. But I guess that humans forget that we are the ones that are overpopulating. Let us not forget the Snow Leopard who's existence is constantly threatened by the overpopulation of humans. Animals were here first. We build homes on their land and expect them to move elsewhere and find their food elsewhere. We expect them to understand that we are the "top of the food chain" as we kill them to make sure that humans remain "safe". I am not as un-informed as you think, I just don't believe that humans have a right not to value any life that is not the same as theirs. Most Florida residents should know that the area they choose to live has always been populated with alligators. It is commom knowledge. Teaching children to kill and use animals is needed under what circumstances in this day and age? They don't have a vehicle to make it to the local grocery store? I understand the need for such maybe 100 years ago, but today not so much. Does that mean that I want my children to starve if something happens to our stores or we have no electricity to keep them running? Nope. That's why there is gardens. "
Informed wrote on Sep 22, 2009 12:55 PM:
" I do not disagree that humans are overpopulating. It is a problem we have to deal with. I do believe there is a hiearchy of rights. Many people do not have the right to choose where they live. Most have to live where they have a job. It is indeed unfortunate that wildlife has been misplaced by human intrusion, but it is where we are at. I would much prefer to know where my food came from rather than go to a grocery store and buy something that someone else had to kill. It detaches society from reality. If you are a true vegan and renounce all meat and animal products, then I respect your decisions and comments. However, it is hypocritical to reject hunting if you eat meat, wear leather, take medicine, or wear cosmetics. All are benefits to mankind based on use of animals. Hunting is not a necessity for survival in most situations, however it does align the death of animal with eating and actually makes one appreciate animal life more. Very nice debate and I'll leave it as an agreement to disagree. "
USMC1775 wrote on Sep 24, 2009 10:24 PM:
" HollyRock, from your response to Informed, at least she didn't kill a human!!! Go Grow your organic tomatoes in your back yard garden, I would love to see you survive in the wilderness w/o killing something that would help you survive. There are hunting regulations in every state that should protect certain species.. Please try to feed an alligator a piece of raw chicken and see if that "nice" animal doesn't try to take your arm with it!!!! "
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HollyRock wrote on Sep 21, 2009 11:46 AM: