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Man Nabs Record-Setting Gator

By Associated Press

Eufaula, AL – A Headland man is credited with harvesting a 12-foot, 675-pound alligator from Lake Eufaula. It was the largest kill in two seasons since the state legalized alligator hunting.

William Simmons harvested the huge gator Saturday, laying claim to the record, which had been held for a week by Stockton's John Sutton, who caught a 12-foot, 10-inch, 641-pound alligator on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta on August 19th.

Simmons said he spotted the reptile near the railroad trestle and the Vandiver Causway around midnight. He shot the gator at about 12 a.m. He had it tied to the boat an hour and 45 minutes later.

Simmons plans to have the front third of the alligator stuffed and placed in his trophy room.

Fourteen gators were harvested on Lake Eufaula, with the smallest weighing 57 pounds and the largest tipping the scales at the record 675 pounds.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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