Season 3 Begins with a BANG!

Swamp people hat

The first day of the season of swamp people begins at sunset, something these swamp people have been waiting for all year! Troy decides to run two boats this year based on the success of last years gator hunt! Troys team has 430 tags to fill 110 tags more then last year and hes bound to get them all but If the Landry’s fail they could be out thousands of dollars. Clint already has a plan to get an alligator they call Godfather. The gator is wreaking havoc on peoples homes. To capture the godfather the boys bait for gator with rotten chicken hope it works.

Liz is back on the bayou, but not with Troy this year, Last year Troy and Liz made a killing shooting up gators here and there. Liz has 260 this year but she will miss her old boss Troy. She has a new partner named Kristi so let’s see how this will turn out. Liz says she’s been on the land since she could wipe her on A**. Liz has learned everything from her father. She starts the season off by hunting on her dads old hot spot.. But the gators are hiding in the lily pad’s and are nowhere to be found.Let’s hope her luck changes as the season progresses

RJ and Jay Paul are back, and they are ready this year! RJ says he has been hunting gators for 33 years and he is ready to fill a whopping 500 tags, 70 more then the team Landry. RJ is trying to coin the title of King of the Swamp by using witty catch phrases like “the proof is in the pudding”. It worked for Troy Landry let’s see how it works for him. Team RJ are aiming to get 30 to 40 gators their first day out. Things are looking good when they come up to their first taut line with a gator waiting on the other endt. Jay Paul shoots the gator just in time to save RJ, Jay Paul pulled off the shot under the water! An amazing life saver!True to the Swamp People name.

Bruce and Tyler are back on the hunt! For 30 years Bruce has been hunting on his own. But this year Bruce has 300 tags to fill 100 more then last year but Bruce has a secret weapon! A Sniper named Ron, Bruce is confident that Ron is going to bring a lot to the table with his sharpshooting skills. At 75 yards away Ron takes out a gator with deadly precision! Bruce celebrates in a signature way by giving his dog Tyler a treat.

Troy and Clint are still on the hunt for the Godfather. They are both feeling great about getting the gator but have their doubts after seeing gator tracks all around but there chicken is still hung.  They decide that they need to go fishing for some new bait, Asian carp have over run the bayou since the early 90’s and Troy is going to get some! Troy says something with the noise of the engine or possibly the wake of the boat excites these fish and they pop up everywhere like popcorn! Driving in circles Troy catches a 35lb Asian Carp! Just what they were looking for to bait the Godfather.

Liz and Kristi are off to a  good start! that is…until their next line is nowhere to been seen. Liz uses a homemade hook pole to find the line. Whatever alligator snagged this must be huge!

Troy and Clint are still having a hard time finding his great gator Godfather. They are  filling up their boat quick and have a big gator on the line! But its not godfather.

RJ and Paul are already half way to there goal of 40 gators they need to call in for back up as their air boat is overflowing with gators. Lighter and ready to go RJ and Jay Paul find their next gator hidden. Jay Paul finds himself standing right on top of the gator but recovers quickly. The gator makes a run for it but RJ and Jay Paul are quick enough to catch him.

Bruce has already dropped off 15 gators at the dock. Bruce is really confident with his new sniper named Ron, He decides to drop Ron off on the ground to snipe big gators and tells Ron he will be back if he hears a shot. Ron gets to work building a blind, using found wood,  Spanish moss and leaves. Ron gets ready for a long wait. Saying he has seen times where you lay on the rifle for 8 to ten hours at a time without seeing a darn thing.  Ron scans the water for any signs of life. Ron sees his first gator! 650 lbs! A great addition to the boat and to the Swamp People Season!

RJ and Jay paul are moving at quick pace regardless of their close calls. Coming on a tangled line RJ takes a risk and decides to put his hand under the water in true swamp people fashion, the gator swings his head around and splits RJ’s small finger wide open. Jay Paul takes the first shot he can and kills the gator. But now has to aid to his dad to see what damage has been done. RJ could have easily lost his hand, but is ready to get back to business. Washing his cut with the swamp water.

Liz and Kristi are really having a hard time getting this half ton gator on there boat, the winch is broken and its become a real wrestling match. Liz thinks the gator is 13’ Just as Liz and Krisi are just about out of strength Liz remembers that her dad would never give up. Giving it one last pull the gator comes on board.

Troy and Clint are still looking for Godfather. Troy is really determined to catch this gator saying the gator might change his appetite from fish to kids or from fish to dogs or cats. Headed back to Clint’s camp they see a hopeful sign. This one could be the Godfather. As troy is about to grab the line he notices the line is about to pop.  Clint finally gets his shot… Finally they got their gator, but things aren’t always as they seem on the bayou. The gator is still moving, and still alive. They unload all the bullets they have to take the gator down. This is a monster gator. As they pull the gator on board its confirmed it is the Godfather! This is one big gator.

RJ and Jay Paul caught there quota of 40 gators, when gators are sold at the market every part of the gator is used. Each gator is measured and buyers pay for by the foot.. This season prices are up 30% so big gators will catch top dollar. The team is on pace to get their 500 gators. RJ explains why its going to be a tough 30 day season that will fill like 60 days.

Get a Gator Crossing sign, Just click the picture!

The godfather measures in at 13’ and Troy is excited about his start of the new season of the hunt and of Swamp People, and across the swamp Liz and Kristi are measuring up their massive gator hoping its trumped the kings gator! Her monster gator is 13’ 6” long!

And just like that Swamp People Season 3 debut episode has come and gone. What will the next episode have in store? It seems like this episode just had so much to offer. I look forward to seeing what next week has in store. Stay tuned to Swamp People on History Channel.!