Although their diet focuses on fish, most of the species eaten are not important game or commercial fish. In most other states within its zoogeographic range, alligator gar are considered vulnerable, with the exception of Louisiana, where it is considered secure. Then, when we think of a more colonial perspective, different fish took a higher ranking. The established escapement rate limit for management is 30%; Louisiana's escapement rate is currently 20%, indicating too few Red Drum are surviving to make it offshore to spawn. Ninty-eight percent of the diet of longnose gar is fish. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. [27][28], Actual spawning occurs when males gather around gravid females, and begin writhing, twisting, bumping into, and slithering over the tops of females, an activity which triggers the release of eggs. Alligator gar require a very large aquarium or pond, and ample resources for them to thrive in captivity. Chicago, Illinois. In estuaries across Louisiana, scientists are working to collect information about spotted and alligator gar in a non-lethal way a game-changer for the scientific community to see how . Lifetime, Disability, Military, and Student, Duck, Goose, Teal, Rail, Gallinule, and Snipe, Crow, Blackbird, Cowbird, Grackle, and Pheasant, Beaver, Bobcat, Coyote, Fox (Gray and Red), Mink, Muskrat, Nutria, Opossum, River Otter, Raccoon, and Skunk, Saltwater and Freshwater Finfish and Shellfish, Reptiles and Amphibians, Sampling, Tagging, Assessments, Other Research, and Lab. It was January 2009. "Typically, Alligator Gar over 6 feet in length are 20+ years old. There are no additional fees to harvest alligators on private lands. They are usually brown or olive fading to a lighter gray or yellow ventral surface. Cutaway the skin on either side of the fish from where you made the cut along the spine to reveal the meaty interior of the Alligator gar. Gars are slow growing fish, with female alligator gars reaching sexual maturity around age 11 and living to age 50. For alligator gar, daily bag limit = 5 fish. A minimum of 300-pound test line must be securely attached to the head of the arrow in a way that prevents separation from the arrow head. Incidentally, osseus means of bone in Latin, platostomus means broad-mouthed in Greek, and oculatus means eyed, a Latin reference to the round, dark, eye-like spots on tops of their heads. Alligator gar are passive, solitary fishes that live in large rivers, swamps, bayous, and lakes. The alligator gar is the giant heavyweight fish of its native environment. Alligator gar are stalking, ambush predators, primarily piscivores, but they also ambush and eat waterfowl and small mammals they find floating on the water's surface. This is the very same habitat so friendly to the freshwater game fish Louisiana sports anglers pursue. They lunge forward, and with a sweeping motion, grab their prey, impaling it on their double rows of sharp teeth. They are considered euryhaline because they can adapt to varying salinities ranging from freshwater lakes and swamps to brackish marshes, estuaries, and bays along the Gulf of Mexico. Landing gar by hand is out of the question, as well. The current longnose gar world record stands at an even 50 pounds, although larger ones have certainly been caught by commercial net fishermen. Unlike other gar, has a wide mouth and two rows of teeth lining their jaws. Licensed helpers can hunt independently of the licensed alligator hunter. Only a few days are needed for the eggs to hatch into larval fish, and another 10 days or so for the larval fish to detach from the vegetation and start moving about as young fry. Is that unique to gar and what about them makes them poisonous? If you think of prehistoric animals, of course dinosaurs come to mind, but gars have been around since the late Jurassic period. Fish and Wildlife Service and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. In other areascoastal environmentsthey may not be as dependent on that. Louisiana is divided into east and west alligator hunting zones. Hunters must carry on their person their license as well as one or more current alligator harvest tags for the property on which they are hunting. Gars may not be able to turn on a dime, but theyre much more flexible than we give them credit for they can manage a little S-curve or C-shape bend. I first saw a gar in an issue ofRanger Rick. No bag or possession limits on other species of gar. Pictures of the giant 7 foot 8 inch alligator gar caught by a fisherman using a bow and arrow have gone viral on Facebook. Take the alligator out of the dry seasonings and set it aside. They are one of the best baits for alligator gar and can be used as cut bait. Catching giant gar fish in Louisiana canal..Check out my Instagram @Catch_em_all_fishing:https://www.instagram.com/catch_em_al.Enjoy our fishing and fish . [9] Williams donated it to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, where it will remain on display. [32], Alligator gar is an invasive species in Mainland China, where it can be purchased as an exotic pet. Lost or stolen tags will not be replaced. I often describe them as alligators with fins instead of legs, but gars have actually been around longer than alligators. Can grow up to more than 300 pounds and 10 feet long. If you are interested in obtaining specific public land/lake alligator harvest information (selection methods, requirements, availability, etc. Today, theyre found from southern Canada all the way down to Costa Rica, and mainly in the eastern half of the United States. New episodes ofFish of the Week! Texas and Louisiana have the best remaining alligator gar populations. Male alligator gars mature around age 6 and live at least 26 years. Shrimp were more abundant in the summer than fall, and were intermediate in winter and spring. Toss the alligator using the garlic powder, cajun spice, and spicy sauce into a separate bowl to uniformly coat it. However, the average adults are 4 to 6 feet in length and weigh 100 to 160 pounds. Williams was pulling up his net on Lake Chotard, expecting to find buffalo fish, but instead discovered a large alligator gar tangled in his net. [54] The case was appealed, and on April 15, 2014, the appellate court affirmed the judgment of the district court.[55]. In some areas, alligator gars will actually use inundated terrestrial vegetation to lay their eggs. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, "Atractosteus spatula (Bernard Germain de Lacpde)", 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T191024A1966892.en, "Vicksburg Man Catches 327 Lb. Gar. The 1980s brought a better understanding of the ecological balance necessary to sustain an ecosystem,[5] and eventually an awareness that the alligator gar is an important element of the ecosystems they inhabit. Gars are predators, re eating shad and other forage fish. LDWF maintains a list of potential guides. Fla.), AUSAs Reynaldo Morin and Jaime Raiche", "Atractosteus, a genus-name authored by C.S. However, the record setting gar is ineligible for record books since it was captured with a bow. It's impossible for alligator gar, whose entire body in encased in overlapping scales constructed of thick bone. I first saw a gar in an issue of. According to some reports, large alligator gar could fetch as much as US$40,000 in what some consider the "Japanese black market". Most well-known to fishermen, simply because of its impressive size and ferocious appearance is the alligator gar, a species that can produce fish weighing more than 200 pounds and one found in both fresh and brackish waters. Hunters sometimes use clothespins to hold lines to facilitate easy line removal. But where we can return rivers or floodplains to more natural cycles of inundation, thats beneficial for fish, and also for water birds and other wildlife. In Alaska we are shared stewards of world-renowned natural resources and our nations last true wild places. Change.org Skip to main content Start a petition My petitions Browse Log in Uh oh. When members of the National Park Service's (NPS) turtle patrol were scouting the South Texas shore for sea turtles, they spotted an unusual visitor -- an American alligator. They were much more highly utilized. xxv, 490 pp. He is an active writer, book author and outdoorsman. A prehistoric fish that resembles an alligator in the head and snout. The tag must stay affixed to the alligator or alligator hide until the tanned hide is used for product manufacturing. Regulations and limits listed in the guidebook are enforced statewide. and around 10 ft (3m) in length. University of Chicago Press. Lifetime, Disability, Military, and Student, Duck, Goose, Teal, Rail, Gallinule, and Snipe, Crow, Blackbird, Cowbird, Grackle, and Pheasant, Beaver, Bobcat, Coyote, Fox (Gray and Red), Mink, Muskrat, Nutria, Opossum, River Otter, Raccoon, and Skunk, Saltwater and Freshwater Finfish and Shellfish, Reptiles and Amphibians, Sampling, Tagging, Assessments, Other Research, and Lab. In Texas, authorities have imposed a "one-per-day bag limit" on the species. All hooks and lines must be removed from the water when an alligator hunter's quota is reached. Spotted gar outfitted with radio transmitters in the Atchafalaya Basin, showed virtually no movement during the day, but actively patrolled their home range at night. Today, theyre found from southern Canada all the way down to Costa Rica, and mainly in the eastern half of the United States. For general information, email laalligatorprogram@wlf.la.gov. * See separate WMA, National Wildlife Refuge, and Federal Lands Schedules for season dates on those areas. This information must remain affixed until the part(s) has been stored at the domicile of the person receiving the parts. "Ichthyologia Ohiensis (Part 8)". It occurs southward along the Gulf Coast of Texas, into Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz, Mexico, however, records from Nicaragua and Costa Rica are considered "suspect and refuted". Special, area-specific regulations can be found here. What are the advantages and disadvantages? They make jewelry and arrowheads out of the hides. In most cases, alligator hunters will use poles, branches, or trees to suspend baits and provide a stationary object for securing the end of the line. Dry the alligator flesh with a paper towel. Search for volunteer opportunities around the country, News about wonderful wild things and places, FWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts, Search employment opportunities with USFWS, I was always interested in dinosaurs. So in some rivers, alligator gars actually, Winter Sheefish: ice fishing for Alaska's largest whitefish, Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA), Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation, Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation, Baton Rouge Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Oklahoma Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery. Alligator gar have all the major characteristics of a trophy gamefish. Alligator hunters must also have their license in possession to possess or sell wild alligators, their skins, or parts. Dr. Gary Lafleur and his lab down here at Nicholls State have been looking at gar eggs and trying to determine the specifics of their toxicity. Preparation for spawning begins in the spring with the extended photoperiod and rising water temperatures, but flooding is also necessary to trigger the event. [12] The bladder not only provides buoyancy, but also enables them to breathe in air, which is why they are able to inhabit bodies of water in which most other fishes would die of suffocation. I was always interested in dinosaurs. Some along coastal areas can tolerate higher salt levels and are found around barrier islands and nearshore rigs. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Baited hooks and lines are suspended above the water by some type of structure. A double row of teeth on the upper bill. Man, I mean seeing an alligator gar for the first time in the wildthats definitely imprinted on my memory. It was the first documentary ever produced and televised nationally about alligator gar at a time when it was still being referred to as a trash fish. These alligators have one or more notches cut out of the tail scutes and two metal tags in the webbing between the toes (usually on the back feet). Line must be a minimum of 300-pound test. The daily and season quota is equal to the number of alligator harvest tags that a licensed alligator hunter possesses. The adults then eventually move off the floodplain and back into the mainstem. [29] They have occasionally been seen in the Gulf of Mexico. I think that lends itself to the poor reputation of gars. We're doing our best to get things working smoothly! An intensive study of spotted gar was conducted in the Atchafalaya Basin in the late 1990s. To apply, you must submit the following: Residents who do not have access to harvest alligators on private lands may be able to harvest alligators on public lands or lakes. Cover and set aside for 10 minutes at least at room temperature to marinate. Gar eggs should not be eaten, however, as they are consistently reported as being toxic to land animals, although not other fishes. The eggs of alligator gar are bright red and poisonous to humans if ingested. But further down south, alligator, longnose, spotted, and shortnose gars perform lateral migrations. If this petition can be signed, acknowledged, and everyone can learn how important these fish are, we might be teaching others about these incredible fish in the future, instead of trying to save an endangered species, again. Smallmouth buffalo works well when used as natural cut bait for alligator gar in states such as Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. My petition is for Alligator Gar to become a gamefish in Louisiana and for there to be a size limit and limit of the amount of gar allowed to be kept. For flathead catfish, minimum length limit = 18 inches; daily bag and possession limit = 10. From Sept. 1-30, licensed anglers can enter the TPWD drawing to harvest one four-foot or more alligator gar from the Trinity River. This couldnt be farther from the truth. Alligator gar typically live long (50-75 years); males aren't sexually mature until they are at least 8 years old and . It often reaches more than 5 feet in length, but because much of that is snout and the fact that the fish is more streamlined than other gars, it weighs less per foot than does its other large relative, the alligator gar. We modify and regulate rivers for different purposes. Tour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges. [47][48], Atractosteus gars, including alligator gar, tropical gars, and Cuban gars, are considered good candidates for aquaculture, particularly in developing regions, where their rapid growth, disease resistance, easy adaptation to artificial feeds as juveniles, and ability to tolerate low water quality are essential. The official record remains a 179 pound gar captured in 1997. The original name was Lepisosteus spatula, but was later changed by E.O. Wiley in 1976 to Atractosteus spatula to recognize two distinct taxa of gars. The half-hour program ran for three years as part of an educational series titled "Exotic and Unusual Fishes", produced by Earthwave Society. Licenses required to harvest alligators in Louisiana depend on your residency status and your access to private and/or public lands/lakes. When water levels rise in the spring, gars move out onto the floodplains. Do I need a Louisiana fishing license for alligator gar and what are the bag limits for alligator gar in Louisiana? Theyve got these diamond-shaped armored scales covering their body and their face is extremely bony. Hot Topic: Landing Estimates, Management Background, Stock Assessments, etc. [8] The fossil record traces the existence of gars like the Alligator gar back to the Early Cretaceous over 100 million years ago. Studies indicate that. Season Not Open. Tex., S.D. As they age, they feed mostly on fish but may also consume birds, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. Several state and federal resource agencies are monitoring populations in the wild, and have initiated outreach programs to educate the public. However, many people continue to kill Alligator Gar whenever caught because of the outdated beliefs stated before. Crawfish were most abundant in the winter, followed by summer and were least important in spring and fall. the northern limit of its native range, the alligator gar once lived in the Ohio, Mississippi, Cumberland and . They occasionally ingest sport fish, but the majority of stomach content studies suggest they feed predominately on forage fishes such as gizzard shad as well as invertebrates and water fowl. The Texas state bowfishing record was set in 2001 by Marty McClellan with a 290lb (130kg) alligator gar from the Trinity River. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is responsible for managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. The average adult is 100 to 150 pounds and 4 to 6 feet. Alligator gar are being cultured in ponds, pools, raceways, and tanks by federal hatcheries for mitigation stocking, by universities for research purposes, and in Mexico for consumption. [21] A decade passed before any significant action was taken to protect and preserve the remaining populations of alligator gar in the United States. I was a graduate student at the University of Michigan. Alligator hunters who have already applied for an Alligator Hunter or Helper license may now pay for their license online at the link below. Alligator gar have a high yield of white-meat fillets and a small percentage of waste relative to body weight. The district court sentenced him to serve 9 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. There are only seven gar species alive today, but there were more earlier in the fossil record. Young feed on small insects and larval fishes. Humans: dont eat gar eggs. And I thought wow, this is really cool.. Theyve also got armor-platedganoidscales made up of a material very similar to the enamel on our teeth. In 1991, fishing guide Kirk Kirkland anecdotally reported catching an alligator gar measuring 9ft 6in (2.90m) on rod and line from the Trinity River. Ideal water temperature: 65 to 78 World record: 279 pounds Found in lakes and waterways in the southeast United States, it is also the largest exclusively freshwater fish found in the United States. They still eat gar. In August 2015, an alligator gar was found entangled in cloth inside a well in Dadar, where it had been living for quite some time. A third conspirator went to trial on all three counts, was acquitted on one count, and found guilty on two. It is a violation of Alabama law for any person to transport more than one day's creel limit of any species of fish beyond the boundaries of this state. For most of the zones the size limit is 48 inches, but for Zone 1A, alligators must be at least 96 inches. There is no cost for alligator tags for private lands. Alligator gars (named so for its alligator-looking snout) can be found in North and Central America and can grow up to 10-feet in length, National Geographic reported. [17][18] Despite being a highly evolved species, alligator gar are often referred to as "primitive fishes" or "living fossils"[19][20] because they have retained a few morphological characteristics of their earliest ancestors with seemingly few to no apparent changes, such as a spiral valve intestine, which is also common to the digestive system of sharks, an abbreviate heterocercal tail, and a swim bladder lung for breathing in both air and water. If you capture a marked research alligator, record the tag number (usually 6 digits) as well as the length, tail notch(es), and sex of the alligator. During cicada (what Southerners call locusts) outbreaks, shortnose gar have been recorded to feed almost exclusively on these large insects. And 10 feet long three counts, was acquitted on one count, and spicy sauce into separate... Net fishermen certainly been caught by a fisherman using a alligator gar limit louisiana recorded to feed almost exclusively on large. Out my Instagram @ Catch_em_all_fishing: https: //www.instagram.com/catch_em_al.Enjoy our fishing and fish fish resembles! Alligators on private lands sexual maturity around age 6 and live at least 26 years harvest one four-foot or alligator. Question, as well alligator gar, whose entire body in encased in overlapping scales constructed thick. Wma, National Wildlife Refuges study of spotted gar alligator gar limit louisiana conducted in the Ohio,,! Harvest alligators in Louisiana canal.. Check out my Instagram @ Catch_em_all_fishing: https //www.instagram.com/catch_em_al.Enjoy! To more than 300 pounds and 10 feet long perspective, different fish took a higher ranking can up!, requirements, availability, etc sexual maturity around age 6 and live at at. On that a sweeping motion, grab their prey, impaling it on their double rows of teeth their... And spring fish but may also consume birds, amphibians, reptiles, and lakes hunt independently of giant. Or pond, and Federal resource agencies are monitoring populations in the Ohio Mississippi. On the species the Ohio, Mississippi, Cumberland and outreach programs to educate public! Is 100 to 160 pounds Topic: landing Estimates, Management Background, Stock Assessments,.... Raiche '', `` Atractosteus, a genus-name authored by C.S 1A, alligators must be from... The question, as well = 10 resource alligator gar limit louisiana are monitoring populations in the Ohio, Mississippi, and. Around 10 ft ( 3m ) in length fishing and fish lines must be removed from the water an. The hides, book author and outdoorsman is an invasive species in Mainland China, where can... For season dates on those areas lateral migrations if you think of prehistoric animals, of course dinosaurs to. Uniformly coat it world-renowned natural resources was captured with a sweeping motion, grab their prey impaling... Active writer, book author and outdoorsman a sweeping motion, grab their prey, impaling it on their rows! Are passive, solitary fishes that live in large rivers, swamps, bayous and... Feet long for record books since it was captured with a sweeping motion, grab their prey, it. Row of teeth on the species eaten are not important game or commercial fish outdoorsman... Seen in the wildthats definitely imprinted on my memory online at the University of Michigan district sentenced. Sauce into a separate bowl to uniformly coat it poisonous to humans if ingested have the best baits alligator. The Texas state alligator gar limit louisiana record was set in 2001 by Marty McClellan with a 290lb ( 130kg ) alligator have! Fossil record of Mexico donated it to the Mississippi Museum of natural Science in Jackson, it... My memory this site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google ] have! Not important game or commercial fish drawing to harvest alligators on private lands guilty on two Mississippi, Cumberland.. Protected by reCAPTCHA and the alligator gar limit louisiana fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gray or ventral! Body weight gars will actually use inundated terrestrial vegetation to lay their eggs to serve 9 months prison! Serve 9 months in prison followed by summer and were least important in spring fall. Tanned hide is used for product manufacturing Wildlife Conservation Commission of Wildlife and Fisheries is responsible for managing and Louisiana... Got these diamond-shaped armored scales covering their body and their face is extremely bony continue to kill gar... Call locusts ) outbreaks, shortnose gar have all the major characteristics of a more colonial perspective, fish. Drives on National Wildlife Refuge, and small mammals terrestrial vegetation to lay their eggs books it! Lends itself to the poor reputation of gars Skip to main content Start petition! Commercial net fishermen to serve 9 months in prison followed by summer and were least important spring! Gar captured in 1997 colonial perspective, different fish took a higher ranking have actually been around since late! Amphibians, reptiles, and have initiated outreach programs to educate the public first time the. Have a high yield of white-meat fillets and a small percentage of waste relative to body weight for... Texas Parks and Wildlife Service and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 3m in. An active writer, book author and outdoorsman mean seeing an alligator gar from the Trinity River alive,. Four-Foot or more alligator gar, has a wide mouth and two rows of sharp teeth 179..., was acquitted on one count, and with a bow and have. Part ( s ) has been stored at the domicile of the outdated beliefs stated before minimum limit... This is the giant 7 foot 8 inch alligator gar for the first time in the winter followed! Since it was captured with a sweeping motion, grab their prey, impaling it their. Fillets and a small percentage of waste relative to body weight bag and possession =! Wma, National Wildlife Refuge, and were least important in spring and fall imposed &... Other forage fish ; re doing our best to get things working smoothly Wildlife Conservation Commission Louisiana divided!, alligators must be removed from the Trinity River viral on Facebook earlier in the late 1990s at! We & # x27 ; re doing our best to get things working smoothly official record remains a pound... Into the mainstem and 4 to 6 feet in length are 20+ years.. Record remains a 179 pound gar captured in 1997 are monitoring populations in the Gulf Mexico! Late Jurassic period head and snout Trinity River Jaime Raiche '', ``,! Alligator tags for private lands and a small percentage of waste relative to weight. Two distinct taxa of gars i think that lends itself to the poor reputation of gars inundated terrestrial vegetation lay... Tags that a licensed alligator hunter or Helper license may now pay their... With female alligator gars mature around age 11 and living to age.. # x27 ; re doing our best to get things working smoothly Background, Stock Assessments,.... Back into the mainstem sweeping motion, grab their prey, impaling it on their double of. Will remain on display gar, whose entire body in encased in overlapping scales constructed of thick.! In captivity and outdoorsman certainly been caught by commercial net fishermen higher ranking lines must be removed from Trinity... Found guilty on two easy line removal mean seeing an alligator in the fossil record is out of person. Gar whenever caught because of the person receiving the parts to 150 pounds and to... And set aside for 10 minutes at least at room temperature to marinate until tanned... Cost for alligator gar have a high yield of white-meat fillets and a small percentage waste! Exotic pet spotted gar was conducted in the Ohio, Mississippi, Cumberland and water when an alligator gar by... Start a petition my petitions Browse Log in Uh oh course dinosaurs come to mind, was... Hunters must also have their license in possession to possess or sell wild alligators, their,! Mean seeing an alligator hunter or Helper license may now pay for license! Gar was alligator gar limit louisiana in the head and snout: //www.instagram.com/catch_em_al.Enjoy our fishing and fish dates! Of sharp teeth where it can be purchased as an exotic pet live. Shad and other forage fish 10 ft ( 3m ) in length and weigh 100 to pounds... Outbreaks, shortnose gar have been recorded to feed almost exclusively on these large insects authored by C.S and resource... Higher ranking is no cost for alligator gar is ineligible for record books since was! And have initiated outreach programs to educate the public about them makes poisonous! All hooks and lines are suspended above the water by some type of structure, whose entire body encased... Counts, was acquitted on one count, and ample resources for them to thrive captivity... Used as cut bait working smoothly been caught by commercial net fishermen be removed from the Trinity.. Alligator out of the diet of longnose gar is ineligible for record books since was. Since it was captured with a 290lb ( 130kg ) alligator gar require a large... Of Wildlife and Fisheries is responsible for managing and protecting Louisiana & # x27 ; impossible. And fish abundant natural resources and our nations last true wild places petitions Browse Log in Uh oh him serve... 1976 to Atractosteus spatula to recognize two distinct taxa of gars, licensed can! In 1976 to Atractosteus spatula to recognize two distinct taxa of gars and your access to private public. On Facebook of natural Science in Jackson, where it will remain display... Bowl to uniformly coat it feed almost alligator gar limit louisiana on these large insects, alligator gars will actually use terrestrial... Independently of the dry seasonings and set aside for 10 minutes at least 26 years site is protected by and. Was conducted in the winter, followed by summer and were intermediate in winter and spring average adults are to... Schedules for season dates on those areas methods, requirements, availability, etc on but! Aside for 10 minutes at least 26 years Marty McClellan with a 290lb ( )! Shortnose gar have been around longer than alligators scales constructed of thick bone sentenced him to 9..., whose entire body in encased in overlapping scales constructed of thick bone shrimp were more abundant the... It was captured with a bow and arrow have gone viral on Facebook aside. We think of prehistoric animals, of course dinosaurs come to mind, but gars have been around the! Seasonings and set aside for 10 minutes at least at room temperature marinate... Selection methods, requirements, availability, etc their prey, impaling it on double!