An Early Taste of What It's All About

By Cadet Brad Guidroz

On July 22, 2001, Senior Agent Travis Huval and I, Cadet Brad Guidroz were on our way home from working a shift in the Vermilion Bay when we received an anonymous call. The complainant stated that there were three subjects in a boat allegedly frogging with what appeared to be a .22 rifle in their possession in Half Moon Bayou near Krotz Springs. The complainant also said that someone in a car had dropped them off and that this was a regular occurrence.

Being fresh out of the Academy and full of anticipation, the drive from Lafayette to Krotz Springs seemed endless! Once we neared Half Moon and positioned the truck out of sight in case of a pick-up, we positioned ourselves on the bayou bank where we could observe the three lights shining the banks as well as the main channel of the bayou. As their boat neared us, the anticipation grew stronger. When the boat passed directly in front of us we shined a light on the subjects and identified ourselves as State Wildlife Agents.  We then directed the driver to bring the boat to the bank. Upon doing so, Sr. Agent Huval asked the operator of the boat if they had caught any frogs. The man's reply made it obvious that he was not a professional outlaw. He stated that there were no frogs in the boat, but there was an alligator in the ice chest. He went on to say that someone passed by on a four-wheeler and placed the alligator along with the .22 rifle on the bank of the bayou and that he couldn't just leave them there. After further questioning and the man's fear of going to jail, he admitted to killing the alligator. The .22 rifle that was used belonged to one of the two juveniles that were in the boat with him. The man went on to tell us that he was just trying to show the juveniles a good time. There is one thing he

showed them, the consequences!  The nineteen-year-old man was cited for taking alligator closed season, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and civil restitution for the alligator.