The night hunt

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The night hunt

An alligator in Champney River splashes water with his tail in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

An alligator in Champney River keeps a close watch on a passerby in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Gator hunter Jim Gillis searches for an alligator with a spotlight as AJC reporter Mark Davis looks in Champney River in Darien, which is about 270 miles southeast of Atlanta, on Saturday, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Gator hunter Jim Gillis searches with a spotlight in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Gator hunter Jim Gillis (left) tries to secure a 6 feet 8 inches long female gator as his son Griffin, 16, and AJC reporter Mark Davis (right) try to avoid the water splash in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Gator hunter Jim Gillis secures a 6 feet 8 inches long female gator in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Jim Gillis and his son Griffin,16, unload a 6 feet 8 inches long female gator at Champney River Boat Ramp in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Jim Gillis attaches a tag on a 6 feet 8 inches long female gator he captured with his son Griffin,16, in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

AJC reporter Mark Davis and Jim Gillis (background) and his son Griffin,16, return to a boat ramp after they captured a 6 feet 8 inches long female gator in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

AJC reporter Mark Davis (center) poses with gator hunters Jim Gillis (right) and his son Griffin,16, in front of a 6 feet 8 inches long female gator at Champney River Boat Ramp in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Jim Gillis and his son Griffin (inside the SUV), 16, get their boat into the river at Champney River Boat Ramp in Darien, which is about 270 miles southeast of Atlanta, on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.

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An alligator in Champney River splashes water with his tail in Darien on Saturday night, September 6, 2014. Georgia's alligator season runs Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, and it's no easy ticket. More than 11,000 people applied last year, with the state only offering 850 slots. The state considers its abundance of alligators to be one of its conservation success stories. Alligators were once listed as endangered because of poaching and encroaching development on their habitat, but wildlife management efforts helped them come back enough to be downlisted in 1987. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

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