"(insects trilling) (bird screeches)" "(alligator hissing)" "(snarling) (owl hoots)" "(owl hoots) (alligator growls)" "NARRATOR:" "It'sonlythe third day of alligator season, day of alligator season, and all hell is breaking loose." "and all hell is breaking loose." "JAYPAUL:" "Yow!" "JAYPAUL:" "Yow!" "R.J.:" "I haveto watch" "R.J.:" "I haveto watch this boy." "this boy." "Trying to throw me overboard?" "Trying to throw me overboard?" "WILLIE:" "Ooh,he 'spopping" "WILLIE:" "Ooh,he 'spopping them jaws." "them jaws." "TROY:" "Shoothim,Holden." "TROY:" "Shoothim,Holden." "Shoot him, shoot him, shoot him!" "Shoot him, shoot him, shoot him!" "(Jeromy whoops)" "(Jeromy whoops) JEROMY:" "Ow!" "JEROMY:" "Ow!" "DAVID:" "Oh!" "DAVID:" "Oh!" "JEROMY:" "Holdon !" "JEROMY:" "Holdon !" "(Troy gasps)" "(Troy gasps) (growling)" "(growling) (gunshot)" "NARRATOR:" "Huntersarehaving to face an entirely different to face an entirely different kind of predator." "kind of predator." "HOLDEN:" "Itlookscut ,Nunky." "HOLDEN:" "Itlookscut ,Nunky." "TROY:" "Huh?" "TROY:" "Huh?" "HOLDEN:" "Lookscut." "HOLDEN:" "Lookscut." "TROY:" "Motherfricker." "TROY:" "Motherfricker." "HOLDEN:" "Cleancut." "HOLDEN:" "Cleancut." "NARRATOR:" "Poachersare" "NARRATOR:" "Poachersare everywhere, robbing them blind." "everywhere, robbing them blind." "JEROMY:" "Seven-and-a-half-foot" "JEROMY:" "Seven-and-a-half-foot alligator." "alligator." "Got a bullet in his head, too." "Got a bullet in his head, too." "NARRATOR:" "Leavingthemno" "NARRATOR:" "Leavingthemno choice but to go deeper into choice but to go deeper into unknown territory... unknown territory..." "JAYPAUL:" "Whothatis?" "JAYPAUL:" "Whothatis?" "DAVID:" "Theydon'tlooktoo" "DAVID:" "Theydon'tlooktoo happy." "happy." "JAYPAUL:" "Man,what,y'all" "JAYPAUL:" "Man,what,y'all lost or something?" "lost or something?" "NARRATOR:...wherethegoing" "NARRATOR:...wherethegoing gets downright rough." "gets downright rough." "DAVID:" "Left,left,hard!" "DAVID:" "Left,left,hard!" "Hard!" "Oh!" "Hard!" "Oh!" "(bleep)" "(bleep) Hold on!" "Damn!" "Hold on!" "Damn!" "NARRATOR:" "Welcome..." "NARRATOR:" "Welcome..." "to the swamp." "NARRATOR:" "InPierrePart, King of the Swamp, Troy Landry," "King of the Swamp, Troy Landry, is racing out to check his lines is racing out to check his lines with his 15-year-old nephew with his 15-year-old nephew Holden." "With Chase still on an out-of-town job, Holden has an out-of-town job, Holden has been filling in as deckhand." "So far this season, they've tagged 67 gators in the they've tagged 67 gators in the first two days." "first two days." "And Troy's impressed." "TROY:" "He'sgonnamakeagood little hunter and a good little little hunter and a good little fisherman, 'cause he pays fisherman, 'cause he pays attention to the details and attention to the details and he's sharp." "he's sharp." "NARRATOR:" "ForTroy,the solid" "NARRATOR:" "ForTroy,the solid start has taken some pressure start has taken some pressure off." "So today he's looking forward to teaching his nephew." "Troy's eager to get started, but as they get to started, but as they get to their first line Holden's about to get a different lesson." "TROY:" "I 'llbeason of a bitch." "a bitch." "NARRATOR:" "A cutlineis" "NARRATOR:" "A cutlineis always bad news." "It means someone is stealing gators right off their stealing gators right off their lines." "NARRATOR:" "Butlineafter line a poacher has beat them to the punch." "To the hardworking Landrys, it's like a shot to the gut." "HOLDEN:...theyjusttaking food right out your mouth, food right out your mouth, really." "really." "NARRATOR:" "Theareaisa total" "NARRATOR:" "Theareaisa total loss." "loss." "Troy's got to come up with a" "Troy's got to come up with a plan B, and fast." "NARRATOR:60milesaway,near  Houma Native American hunters, RJ and Jay Paul hunters, RJ and Jay Paul Molinere, have camped out" "Molinere, have camped out overnight deep in Creole Bayou." "An area so remote, they had to scout it in a helicopter." "NARRATOR:" "JayPaul'sput up the money for the 50 tags the money for the 50 tags they've secured in this area." "they've secured in this area." "And he's got a lot on the line." "And he's got a lot on the line." "JAYPAUL:" "TakingonCreole" "JAYPAUL:" "TakingonCreole Bayou is actually, uh, taking a" "Bayou is actually, uh, taking a big risk." "NARRATOR:" "Butsuccessmight not come easy." "Today, the boys need at least 20 gators to cover at least 20 gators to cover the cost of this trip." "And that's a tall order." "(engine starts)" "NARRATOR:" "Andas theyget to their first line they like what they see." "NARRATOR:" "It'san angry eight-footer." "And it's in no mood to play." "JAYPAUL:" "Ooh!" "NARRATOR:" "JayPaulhas to move fast." "(gunshot)" "NARRATOR:" "It'sagoodstart." "The eight-foot gator will fetch $240 at the buyer." "But with a goal of 20 gators for the day, they've for the day, they've got a long way to go." "NARRATOR:38miles northeast... northeast..." "in Raceland." "David Ladart and Jeromy Pruitt are headed out to run" "Pruitt are headed out to run their first lines of the season." "JEROMY:...andI'mreadyto wet a hook." "wet a hook." "I'm ready to put some bait on" "I'm ready to put some bait on there and skin it." "there and skin it." "Ready to hammer down." "Ready to hammer down." "NARRATOR:" "Theboyshavemade" "NARRATOR:" "Theboyshavemade  a road trip 300 miles from a road trip 300 miles from their turf with big their turf with big expectations." "DAVID:" "Butyoucatchabig  gator, that's where the money's gator, that's where the money's at." "NARRATOR:" "Theboysacquired 30 tags from Mr. Jimmy, the 30 tags from Mr. Jimmy, the local landowner." "local landowner." "And today they're hoping to" "And today they're hoping to start cashing in." "To cover their extra travel costs, Jeromy and David are costs, Jeromy and David are gonna need to fill every tag." "Just like on Troy's land, it looks like they've got a looks like they've got a poacher." "poacher." "Their line's been cut and" "Their line's been cut and there's no gator to be found." "When alligator prices rise, thieves go on the prowl, thieves go on the prowl, stealing gators from hung lines." "stealing gators from hung lines." "(motor starts)" "Their entire canal's been picked clean by poachers." "It's a huge blow." "The boys spot something that would make any swamper's blood would make any swamper's blood boil." "Whoever shot this alligator didn't have tags and decided it didn't have tags and decided it was too small to risk getting was too small to risk getting arrested for poaching." "arrested for poaching." "So they left it to rot." "And now it's worthless." "To get away from thieves, the boys have no choice but to boys have no choice but to venture deep into the back of venture deep into the back of Mr. Jimmy's property." "Mr. Jimmy's property." "But it's a brutal journey." "NARRATOR:" "InBayouSorrel Junior Edwards' son Willie is back on the water." "This season, he's venturing out from under the safety of the from under the safety of the family business and doing it all family business and doing it all on his own." "WILLIE:" "Andit 'swhatI always wanted, to be out there always wanted, to be out there on my own and everything and on my own and everything and providing for my family." "providing for my family." "NARRATOR:" "Willie'sbeen" "NARRATOR:" "Willie'sbeen preparing to captain his own preparing to captain his own boat all his life, working as boat all his life, working as his daddy's right-hand man." "But it comes at a price." "Investing in a boat and supplies" "Investing in a boat and supplies has tapped Willie out." "So he's got to work without a deckhand." "Willie's secured 96 tags from a local landowner." "local landowner." "But before he can even get to" "But before he can even get to his first line, something grabs his first line, something grabs his attention." "Big bubbles means a big gator." "So Willie grabs his trusty" "So Willie grabs his trusty treble hook, just like his daddy treble hook, just like his daddy taught him." "But snagging an alligator when you're hunting solo could cost you're hunting solo could cost even an experienced swamper his even an experienced swamper his life." "Willie's got his first gator of the season on the line." "But without a deckhand to help pull it in, he's in a bind." "The gator's not slowing down, and Willie needs to end this and Willie needs to end this fast." "(gun clicking)" "NARRATOR:" "InBayouSorrel..." "Willie Edwards is battling a" "Willie Edwards is battling a wild eight-footer all by wild eight-footer all by himself." "(gun clicks)" "Without a deckhand to help him, he's got to think fast or he'll he's got to think fast or he'll lose his first alligator of the lose his first alligator of the season." "He secures the line with his boot... boot..." "but struggles to load the gun." "He's only got one bullet in the chamber." "chamber." "So this one-handed shot needs to" "So this one-handed shot needs to count." "(gunshot)" "WILLIE:" "Whew!" "NARRATOR:" "Willie'sgothis  first gator as the captain of first gator as the captain of his own boat." "But without a partner, it wasn't easy." "WILLIE:" "Itdon'ttakemuch ." "You slip up, you... it'll take" "You slip up, you... it'll take you... set you back three or you... set you back three or four days." "four days." "NARRATOR:" "Willieknowsit's" "NARRATOR:" "Willieknowsit's gonna be a long day." "gonna be a long day." "(Willie sighs)" "(Willie sighs) Over in Houma, having traveled" "Over in Houma, having traveled to the far reaches of Creole to the far reaches of Creole Bayou, R.J. and Jay Paul need to" "Bayou, R.J. and Jay Paul need to bag at least 20 gators today to bag at least 20 gators today to cover their expenses." "But after a good start, their next ten lines have come up next ten lines have come up empty." "Jay Paul's put up the money for this trip, and if things don't this trip, and if things don't turn around, he's facing a big turn around, he's facing a big loss." "JAYPAUL:" "Ididn'twant to come all the way out here for come all the way out here for nothing." "NARRATOR:" "It'sabitter disappointment." "If the Molineres' luck doesn't change soon their trip to Creole Bayou could be a huge setback." "Back in Bayou Sorrel it's Willie Edwards' first day as the solo captain of his day as the solo captain of his own boat, and it's got him hard own boat, and it's got him hard at work." "As he sets a fresh line, he hears a familiar sound." "hears a familiar sound." "(baby gator squeaking)" "It's a distress call." "(baby gator squeaking)" "(baby gator squeaking) And Willie follows the gator" "And Willie follows the gator trail up the embankment." "(baby gator squeaking)" "(birds chirping)" "It's a nest of baby gators, and they're in bad shape." "The nest has been abandoned." "So Willie decides to help out." "For Willie, saving these baby gators isn't just a good deed it's also about respecting the swamp that provides for his the swamp that provides for his family." "Willie knows he may cross paths with these gators one day in the with these gators one day in the future, but for now, he's done future, but for now, he's done the right thing." "Over in Raceland..." "After a morning of losing gators to poachers, Jeromy and David to poachers, Jeromy and David are headed across a marsh that are headed across a marsh that no one dares to travel." "To access the other side of Mr. Jimmy's land, they have to pass" "Jimmy's land, they have to pass through a treacherous area through a treacherous area called Hunter's Narrow." "The water is dangerously shallow." "If the boys get stuck, they might not be getting out." "NARRATOR:" "They'veinvested too much in this hunting trip to too much in this hunting trip to give up now, so Jeromy and David give up now, so Jeromy and David decide to go for it." "decide to go for it." "(motor starts)" "(laughing, whooping)" "They've got to keep their speed up, or risk getting stuck in the up, or risk getting stuck in the thick fog." "(whoops)" "(low growl) (owl hooting)" "NARRATOR:" "InRaceland..." "(David whoops)" "(David whoops) ...Jeromy and David are trying ...Jeromy and David are trying to run the shallow channels of to run the shallow channels of Hunter's Narrow at high speed..." "Hunter's Narrow at high speed..." "when things take a dangerous when things take a dangerous turn." "(whoops)" "JEROMY:..."Goto theleft." When I'm turning, the boat" "When I'm turning, the boat didn't want to turn, and we didn't want to turn, and we just... (whistles) just... (whistles) NARRATOR:" "Theboysare high" "NARRATOR:" "Theboysare high and dry... and dry..." "and miles from any help." "Jeromy and David do not want to spend the night in this hostile spend the night in this hostile swamp." "Getting the boat free is a must." "(strained grunting) Using brute force they get the boat free." "(groaning)" "(groaning) (laughs)" "(laughs) NARRATOR:" "They'reexhausted." "NARRATOR:" "They'reexhausted." "But there's no time to rest." "But there's no time to rest." "(motor starts)" "Jeromy and David finally get through Hunter's Narrow and they like what they see." "The day is ticking away, so the boys get cracking, hanging lines boys get cracking, hanging lines as fast as they can." "(motor starts) (laughing)" "Back in Creole Bayou..." "R.J. and Jay Paul have returned" "R.J. and Jay Paul have returned to the rendezvous point to meet to the rendezvous point to meet their supply boat." "After running all of their lines, they've only snagged six lines, they've only snagged six gators-- barely worth a thousand gators-- barely worth a thousand dollars." "dollars." "Their investment in hunting this" "Their investment in hunting this isolated area isn't paying off." "R.J.:..." "Jay,we gamblers, bro, we always take a chance, bro, we always take a chance, and if we bust, we bust." "and if we bust, we bust." "NARRATOR:" "Andthedefeatisa" "NARRATOR:" "Andthedefeatisa major blow to Jay Paul." "JAYPAUL:...financial-wise." "I put out so much money out to" "I put out so much money out to this area." "this area." "I took it in my own hands to go" "I took it in my own hands to go out and get this, and, uh..." "NARRATOR:" "Andnowthey'vegot a bigger problem." "They need to get these gators to the buyer or they'll spoil in the buyer or they'll spoil in the heat." "But their cousin Dylan, who was supposed to be back with ice and supposed to be back with ice and fuel, hasn't shown up." "Just when R.J. and Jay Paul's hopes are running out they catch a break." "They've got no time to lose." "NARRATOR:" "Withgasinthe tank and their catch on ice, tank and their catch on ice, Dylan will speed to the buyer," "Dylan will speed to the buyer, while R.J. and Jay Paul get while R.J. and Jay Paul get lines hung in their homeland lines hung in their homeland territory." "Meanwhile, in Pierre Part..." "Troy Landry is pushing out to the far reaches of the bayou to get away from poachers who ravaged his lines." "TROY:...weworksohard to do what we do and catch what we do what we do and catch what we catch, and somebody come and catch, and somebody come and steal from you right underneath" "steal from you right underneath your nose, and..." "NARRATOR:" "Theboyswillneed  to hustle to set new lines." "Even though they're under the gun, Troy is sticking with his gun, Troy is sticking with his plan to pass down some swamp plan to pass down some swamp knowledge to his nephew." "And today, Holden will set his own line for the first time." "HOLDEN:..."Here'saline." "You show me where you want to" "You show me where you want to set it, and we gonna set it."" "NARRATOR:" "Theycircleback to start checking their lines." "to start checking their lines." "(Troy whistles)" "Holden sees a good sign." "The line's caught in the thick swamp grass." "Troy clears out the lilies, and the gator is hunkered down, and the gator is hunkered down, prepared for battle." "The beast makes its move." "TROY:" "Whoa!" "(sputtering)" "(hissing)" "Holden's got to get the shot before the gator comes clean before the gator comes clean into the boat." "into the boat." "(gunshot)" "(Holden laughs) TROY:" "Huh?" "TROY:" "Huh?" "NARRATOR:" "TheLandrys" "NARRATOR:" "TheLandrys finally have a gator." "But they've got a long way to go to get the day back on track." "55 miles to the north, in Bayou Sorrel, Willie Edwards' first" "Sorrel, Willie Edwards' first day as a solo hunter is putting day as a solo hunter is putting him to the test." "him to the test." "He's got five gators in the" "He's got five gators in the boat, but doing double duty has boat, but doing double duty has been exhausting." "WILLIE:" "Bythetimetheend of the day come, I was just plum of the day come, I was just plum dead beat." "dead beat." "I couldn't even hardly move." "I couldn't even hardly move." "NARRATOR:" "Butas he" "NARRATOR:" "Butas he  approaches his last line, approaches his last line, Willie's determined to finish" "Willie's determined to finish strong." "(growling) WILLIE:" "Oh!" "NARRATOR:" "InBayouSorrell, Willie Edwards is on his last" "Willie Edwards is on his last line of the day." "(growling) WILLIE:" "Oh!" "WILLIE:" "Oh!" "NARRATOR:" "Andhe 'sgota" "NARRATOR:" "Andhe 'sgota hold of a ten-foot gator that's hold of a ten-foot gator that's on the attack." "on the attack." "(growling)" "(growling) WILLIE:" "Oh!" "WILLIE:" "Oh!" "NARRATOR:" "Willie'sdead" "NARRATOR:" "Willie'sdead tired, and with his hands raw tired, and with his hands raw from a brutal day fishing solo, from a brutal day fishing solo, he's struggling to hold on to he's struggling to hold on to the monster." "(growling)" "Willie tries to line up a one-handed shot on the thrashing one-handed shot on the thrashing beast." "(growling) (gunshot)" "(groans) It's a ten-foot, 300-pound" "It's a ten-foot, 300-pound backbreaker." "WILLIE:" "OnceIstarted getting him over the side of getting him over the side of the boat, trying to get him in the boat, trying to get him in the boat, I realized I had a... the boat, I realized I had a..." "I had a handful." "Even though Willie's worn himself out, he's excited to go himself out, he's excited to go collect his first payday, 'cause collect his first payday, 'cause he's got six alligators worth" "he's got six alligators worth almost $1,000." "A fine start to his first day in business." "NARRATOR:" "Overin Raceland..." "with poaching running rampant with poaching running rampant across the swamp, Jeromy and across the swamp, Jeromy and David have pushed through" "David have pushed through impossible terrain to get away impossible terrain to get away from gator thieves." "But they've wandered out to the far edges of Mr. Jimmy's far edges of Mr. Jimmy's property lines." "DAVID:...andJeromykept wanting to go deeper and deeper wanting to go deeper and deeper into the marsh..." "NARRATOR:" "AndDavid'sworried they could be hunting on someone they could be hunting on someone else's land." "Navigating an unknown marsh is proving tough, but the boys have proving tough, but the boys have lines to run." "(creaking)" "NARRATOR:" "They'vehookeda powerful, 11-foot alligator, and powerful, 11-foot alligator, and it's ready for a fight." "it's ready for a fight." "(laughs)" "(laughs) JEROMY:" "Oh!" "Oh !" "JEROMY:" "Oh!" "Oh !" "(grunting)" "NARRATOR:" "Theaggressive gator lunges... trying to take a gator lunges... trying to take a bite out of Jeromy." "(grunting) The boys have bagged a 400-pound" "The boys have bagged a 400-pound monster that'll bring them close monster that'll bring them close to $400... to $400..." "(grunting)" "(grunting) ...if they can get it in the ...if they can get it in the boat." "boat." "But they've got a bigger" "But they've got a bigger problem." "problem." "(engine approaching)" "(grunting)" "Jeromy and David are trespassing on Houma are trespassing on Houma territory." "NARRATOR:" "R.J.andJay Paul Molinere are back from Creole" "Molinere are back from Creole Bayou." "And Jeromy and David are hunting on their land." "JEROMY:...thatImightbe the poacher." "DAVID:" "I kepttellinghim we wasn't." "JEROMY:" "Yeah." "NARRATOR:" "Facingaheavy fine and possible jail time, fine and possible jail time, Jeromy and David need to make" "Jeromy and David need to make things right in a hurry." "R.J.:" "Ifit hadbeensomebody stealing our alligator." "Sounds good?" "NARRATOR:" "Ontheswamp, honest mistakes can be forgiven honest mistakes can be forgiven quickly, but only if they're quickly, but only if they're honest." "(motor starts)" "A little shaken by the close call, Jeromy and David will call, Jeromy and David will finish running their lines then finish running their lines then head to the buyer to settle up head to the buyer to settle up with the Molineres." "In Pierre Part Troy and Holden have also had to fend off a horrible day of to fend off a horrible day of looting on the swamp." "looting on the swamp." "But ever since they moved to one" "But ever since they moved to one of Troy's secret honey holes, of Troy's secret honey holes, they've been on fire." "And they've got an impressive 28 gators in the boat." "TROY:..." "Iwashopingwe didn't catch no more." "NARRATOR:" "Theyhaveone more line to check, and it's a line to check, and it's a special one." "There's a 12-foot giant on the bank just waiting on them." "But something's got Troy alarmed." "If the gator's broken free, getting on the bank with it getting on the bank with it would be suicide." "So Holden will have to make a shot from the unstable boat." "And he may not get a second chance." "chance." "(gator snarls)" "(gunshot)" "Holden's first gator is a 12-foot, 600-pound behemoth." "(Holden chuckles) And he's thrilled with his" "And he's thrilled with his catch." "TROY:" "Mmm." "The head weighs a hundred pounds" "The head weighs a hundred pounds on that son of a bitch." "on that son of a bitch." "(Troy grunting)" "(Troy grunting) NARRATOR:" "Ittakesall the" "NARRATOR:" "Ittakesall the  boys' strength..." "(grunting) ...but they manage to haul the ...but they manage to haul the monster up." "Now they have another problem." "(grunting)" "TROY:" "Sonof abitch." "Ooh." "NARRATOR:" "Holden'sproudof his big catch." "HOLDEN:..." "Idefinitelythink it showed my Uncle Troy that I it showed my Uncle Troy that I knew what I was doing." "NARRATOR:" "AndTroy'sswamp lesson paid off." "Back on dry land, David and Jeromy arrive at the buyer with" "Jeromy arrive at the buyer with the day's catch and the gator the day's catch and the gator they'll split with the they'll split with the Molineres." "(Jeromy laughs) R.J.:" "Abouteleven-six." "R.J.:" "Abouteleven-six." "JEROMY:" "Yeah!" "JEROMY:" "Yeah!" "R.J.:" "Hey,dude,goodjob," "R.J.:" "Hey,dude,goodjob,  brother." "brother." "I think it worked out really" "I think it worked out really good because we good people, good because we good people, they good people, we worked it they good people, we worked it out." "Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH" "Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org"