Although once classed as an endangered species, the American alligator has strongly rebounded in incredible numbers; and the oversize reptiles can be gigantic.
Located throughout much of the Deep South, aggressive, dangerous and toothy gators commonly measure over 10 feet long and weigh hundreds of pounds. Some have been recorded weighing more than 1,000 pounds, and they regularly eat deer, wild hogs, dogs, poisonous snakes and sometimes even people.
Gator hunting is a fast-growing and intriguing sport, with guides and outfitters in many Southern regions - mostly hunting at night with powerful spotlights. Safari Club International (SCI) keeps records of big gators taken by hunters, and the following heavyweights are in the top tier of the nearly 250 trophies tallied by SCI (scirecordbook.org).