Whitney Williams, a junior in high school, was prepared with this response when asked how she wanted to celebrate her 17th birthday, despite the fact that it is not the traditional response a parent would get.
“I want to go alligator hunting,” Williams recalled telling her parents, Chris and Tammie Williams, in response to their query.
Whitney Williams, a student at Covenant Christian High School, was prepared with this statement when asked by her parents about how she would want to spend her 17th birthday. https://t.co/zD4mD4A0Yu
29 August 2022 — TimesDaily Newspaper (@TimesDaily)
Nevertheless, it was typical of Whitney, who enjoys hunting, fishing, and the great outdoors.
Chris said, “She watches ‘Swamp People’ on television.” “She has always been a fan and said, ‘One day, I’ll do it.’ She continued to harass me about it.”
It took time to organize the hunting expedition and ensure that they engaged competent, experienced individuals. Finally, they discovered a gang in Tallahassee, Florida.
Chris added, “I identified several men that work for the state of Florida and survey various locations.” “The surveys reveal how many alligators are there, and they also gather eggs and other such items.”
Whitney and her father were bow hunting at night in a marsh on the weekend of July 30.
“We entered this ancient marshy region,” Chris said. “Trees had to be chopped down to make room for a flat-bottomed boat. We entered at night with flashlights and heard a little alligator cry.”
According to him, the sound resembles hatchlings, which attracts alligators.
Chris said, “We had one leap up and bite the bow of the boat.”
And Whitney cherished every second of it.
“That was insane,” she said. “We’ve been watching a lot of ‘Swamp People,’ and I thought, ‘That seems like fun.’ I also like hunting and other activities, so I said, why not try something different?
They ventured out for two consecutive nights, and on the second night they discovered a large alligator. Finally, Whitney’s chance presented itself.
Chris said that she used a crossbow with a buoy attached to track the alligator’s whereabouts in the water.
After shooting two arrows into the alligator, they began to bring it closer to Whitney so she could use a boom stick with a shell on the end. It is effective because hitting the alligator with the stick causes the shell to explode. It’s a technique to shoot the reptile without really using a gun.
Whitney reported that her adrenaline was pumping.
“It was my first time participating in every aspect of this type of hunting,” she said. “I needed to support the crossbow with something. My whole body was trembling with nervousness. However, I’m glad I didn’t miss it.”
Even if the search was successful, there was still the issue of returning the alligator. The instructors first did not believe it was a very huge alligator; they informed the kid that it was of “good size.”
“They then said, ‘No, this is not a reasonable size. This is monumental,’ Whitney said. When we stretched it out and measured it, they said, “Wow, we haven’t received one like this in years!”
It measured 12 1/2 feet in length and was estimated to weigh over 500 pounds.
Whitney said, “We couldn’t even fit it in the boat.” “It had to be dragged through the water. It required five people to drag it inside the vehicle. I did not anticipate its size.”
Chris said that the alligator hunt is an activity that Whitney adores.
“She enjoys any challenging tasks,” he remarked. She wants to demonstrate her capability.
Whitney, a member of the Covenant Christian High School basketball team, said that she loves pushing herself and hunting and fishing with her father.
“If I’m not doing that, I’m either playing basketball or exercising,” she said.
The family will consume and split the alligator flesh. The skull and skin will also be used.
Whitney said, “We’re obtaining the head and having it skinned.” “I was like, ‘Dad, I’ve got this fully figured out!’”
“I don’t sure what I’ll do with the skin, but I’ll probably use it to make a knife sheath and perhaps boots. The head will likely be placed in my bedroom.”
Chris said that he was pleased to watch Whitney through the experience.
He said, “She will remember it and tell her grandchildren one day.” “How many children are permitted to do that?” “And get something of this size.”
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