LUCRATIVE BUSINESS Swamp People alligator hunter reveals the most ‘valuable’ part of the creature after bringing down the beast

FOR the Swamp People, catching gators is just one part of the jigsaw.

The stars of the hit History Channel TV show are shown risking life and limb in their boats, catching the terrifying beasts and dragging them aboard.

Gator meat is very popular in the United States and all parts of the animal are consumed or used for items like handbags or beltsCredit: A&E

Gator hunters work tirelessly to catch their allotted amounts of gator during the specified hunting season but there’s much more to do once it’s taken off the boatCredit: A&E
All their work is completed in designated catching seasons, which sometimes can last for two months.

Everything is done in the name of conservation, and all hunters are given an exact amount of tags that they must attach to their catches.

The system helps wean out the illegal poachers who try their luck in the alligator-infested waters of Louisiana.

But what happens once Pickle Wheat, one of the stars of the A&E show, and her fellow hunters have their part of the deal?

“There’s nothing that’s wasted on the alligator,” Pickle told The U.S. Sun.

From the skins to the meat, every inch of the creatures is sold.

Alligator meat is pretty pricey – around 3lbs will set you back around $100 – while some prefer to simply buy them whole before turning up their grill.

The skins, of course, can be used to make handbags, wallets, or belts although for the highest quality, however, the gators must be farm-raised.

The ones hauled out of the swamp have probably been in their fair share of scraps with their pals in the water and are caught with damaged or torn skin.

The ones on the farms, however, lead a far more peaceful life, which, in turn, ensures their meat is tender and not tough like those taken from the swamp.

“The farmed ones have perfect hides and skins, the ones we’re catching naturally, but the skins are quite valuable as well,” said Pickle.

A look on the Exotic Meat Market website gives you everything you need to know about what culinary delights are available.

The tail, liver, head, heart, cheek, ribs, tongue, and tail are all for sale.

The capture, and killing, of the gators look pretty brutal, but Pickle stresses the Swamp Hunters are doing nothing but protecting the environment.

“If we were hurting the environment and the population, I wouldn’t be involved with that at all,” she said.

“So, I really think that the Louisiana Wildlife does their best to issue the correct amount of tags per season to keep the alligator hunters steady with the job, and also keeping the population down.”

Shooting the gators looks brutal on TV, but it’s all done in the name of conservation

Some of the gators on Swamp People exceed 8 ft and can be difficult to drag onto the boat once killed