Hunter bags massive, 770-pound alligator on her first hunt

A Mississippi woman landed a massive 770-pound alligator during her first-ever hunt, after being drawn for a permit on her first application. Kelly Murphy of Booneville caught the 13-foot, 5-inch reptile in the Mississippi River in the Southwest Zone on Saturday, August 29. Her party had an hour-long fight with the animal, breaking several lines and two fishing rods. Alligator hunting permits in Mississippi are highly sought, with thousands applying for fewer than 1,000 tags each year. Murphy said the moment was “unbelievable” and described it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The group reportedly hooked the alligator after it was snagged on the bank, and the fight proved difficult as it broke multiple lines.