By Peggy Tartaro,
Executive Editor

At the NRA Convention in Houston, we ran into former Western New Yorker Nicole McKibbin, now a Texan, who works for Texas Fish & Game magazine.

Nicole was showing off some photos of a recent alligator hunt she took part in, and we couldn't resist asking her to share them, since alligator hunting has never been high on our "to-do" list.

But, Nicole may just be one of the best salespeople around as she has us almost convinced that it would be a good idea.

First off, she said it was a LOT of fun! (No need to add emphasis-Nicole did that herself.)

The hunt took place in Anahuac, TX, last September and was Nicole's first alligator hunt.

She used a Taurus .38 revolver and it took two shots.

Nicole said, "the first one missed (but if he had eyebrows, I would've trimmed them)." I'm actually strangely relived that alligators don't have eyebrows!

"The second shot hit dead on-right between the eyes and an inch and a half back-just where you're supposed to hit."
The gator in question was male, and measured out at 7 feet, 9 inches long.

Nicole tells us the meat was "good," although we remain a tad bit skeptical about that, relying on my friend Barbara's famous dictim, "If they tell you it taste like chicken-order the chicken.

Nevertheless, what finally sold us on the idea that it might be time to look into alligator hunting, was Nicole's report that she was having the hide tanned and dyed.

Still not convinced to investigate 'gator hunting? (A good place to do so might be at Texas Fish & Game's website, fishgame.com; the site has some of the magazines articles as well as extensive resources like lists of guides and outfitters in the Lone Star State. You can even subscribe online.)

Nicole delivers the coup d'grace with her list of what might become of that hide: a pair of boots, a purse (and if there's enough left over) a belt.

Hmm, some quality time with a revolver, dinner and a purse-soulds like a great idea to us!