Capt. Bob Stafford looks out of binoculars to spot gators during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. Alligators were hunted to near extinction in Florida before they became protected in the 1960s, ca

Capt. Bob Stafford looks out of binoculars to spot gators during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. Alligators were hunted to near extinction in Florida before they became protected in the 1960s, causing the number of reptiles to rebound drastically. There are now an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida, so each year, the state’s FWC sets sustainable harvest quotas and issues a limited number of hunting permits.

An alligator gazes up at the boat while hunters try to reel it in during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

An alligator gazes up at the boat while hunters try to reel it in during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford, center, works on reeling in a fishing line during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford, center, works on reeling in a fishing line during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Hunters work on pulling an alligator into the boat during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Hunters work on pulling an alligator into the boat during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford works to measure and tag an alligator during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford works to measure and tag an alligator during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

The sun sets on Lake Okeechobee during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

The sun sets on Lake Okeechobee during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford, left, looks out for gators with visitors from Michigan Tanner Bellinger, center, and Parker Westphal, right, during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford, left, looks out for gators with visitors from Michigan Tanner Bellinger, center, and Parker Westphal, right, during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford works to pry a harpoon line from a gator's mouth after dispatching the animal and getting it in the boat during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford works to pry a harpoon line from a gator's mouth after dispatching the animal and getting it in the boat during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford shines a light out onto the water while looking for gators during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford shines a light out onto the water while looking for gators during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford looks out of binoculars to spot gators during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. Alligators were hunted to near extinction in Florida before they became protected in the 1960s, ca
An alligator gazes up at the boat while hunters try to reel it in during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
Capt. Bob Stafford, center, works on reeling in a fishing line during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
Hunters work on pulling an alligator into the boat during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
Capt. Bob Stafford during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
Capt. Bob Stafford works to measure and tag an alligator during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
The sun sets on Lake Okeechobee during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
Capt. Bob Stafford, left, looks out for gators with visitors from Michigan Tanner Bellinger, center, and Parker Westphal, right, during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
Capt. Bob Stafford works to pry a harpoon line from a gator's mouth after dispatching the animal and getting it in the boat during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.
Capt. Bob Stafford shines a light out onto the water while looking for gators during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford looks out of binoculars to spot gators during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. Alligators were hunted to near extinction in Florida before they became protected in the 1960s, causing the number of reptiles to rebound drastically. There are now an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida, so each year, the state’s FWC sets sustainable harvest quotas and issues a limited number of hunting permits.

An alligator gazes up at the boat while hunters try to reel it in during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford, center, works on reeling in a fishing line during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Hunters work on pulling an alligator into the boat during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford works to measure and tag an alligator during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

The sun sets on Lake Okeechobee during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford, left, looks out for gators with visitors from Michigan Tanner Bellinger, center, and Parker Westphal, right, during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford works to pry a harpoon line from a gator's mouth after dispatching the animal and getting it in the boat during an alligator hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

Capt. Bob Stafford shines a light out onto the water while looking for gators during a hunt with Okeechobee Charters on Lake Okeechobee Friday, Sept. 27, 2019.

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