Want to fish in Lake Istapoka Florida?

[theangler]

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/2567/size/big/cat/517"][/url]

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/2568/size/big/cat/517"][/url]

Not sure where this really all comes from but the email said Lake Istapoka Florida
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[fsh4fun05]

That last pic looks a little funky, look at the tail curl up off the ground, the first two I like.
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[tubeN2]

Either I get to use the tractor or (as I see in the first pic) I would like another Deer tag issued at no charge! [laugh]
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[Tarpon4me]

That last picture looks a little "fishy." LOL
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[theangler]

That is intresting, I didn't notice that but now that I look I don't see a shadow of the crane boom or the gator, but notice the trucks tailgate and the Wildlife agents shadow.

I think you might be right, fishy?
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[Fishhound]

[black][size 3]Great photos ![/size][/black]
[black][size 3][/size][/black]
[black][size 3]That is an interesting last picture with the back hoe holding up that gator.[/size][/black]
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[fyshrmn]

the strap holding up the gator is either taped to the ripper tooth on the bucket or is hanging from a shyhook. the strap from the truck to the gator doesn't run between the legs but is just hanging in mid air. Then there is the shadow of the man that is under the tail and not over it and the tail issue that has been mentioned someone needs to practice their photoshop. Just my opion

[Bassmaster-ND]

yeah that last picture is definetly fake.
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[Feydakin]

The only thing not obviously easy to explain is the rope to the bucket..

The tow strap wraps around the tail and outside the back legs to it does not pass between the legs.. It passes on the side closest to the deputy..

The gator shadow is coming towards you.. See the shadow of the sherrif's feet.. You can see the gator feet shadow there and rest coming toward you.. The shadow of the tow rope from the tailgate of the truck comes toward you and you can see that it runns right off the screen where it would be showing as a shadow touching the gater. Etc etc etc..

I think it's real..
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[tubeN2]

Either way, it is a wast of good game. The Deer Jerky will come out too watery and the Gator Sausage will be off limits.[]
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[hou_me]

That last picture isn't fake, but it aint from Florida either. It was taken here in the Lone Star State. Here ya go...

[url "http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/wcgator.asp"]http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/wcgator.asp[/url]
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[Bulldog626]

[cool] I don't know about this gator but I can tell you that some friends of mine hunt them here in Florida and they have pictures of 11 and 13 foot gators that they have killed. So there are some big ones out there.
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[solo_one87]

i live in florida and 've seen bigger then 14ft i didnt examine it but i seen it lol i was fishing and i seen something move(thinking its a gator) i tossed the nest fish i caught at its head to which it responded by raisein its body up from the deep 2 move ..... i then responded by getting in the truck and moving away

[fyshrmn]

I still say the picture is fake why does the shadow of the ranger and the back hoe run under the gator and not across the top of the tail which is lighter from the sun light

[bdn06]

I think there are some amateur detectives here, definitely engaged in over-analyzation of the photo. It isn't really of good enough quality to make all those distinctions. The rigging is obviously around the animal's neck, and the tail is curving up likely due to rigor mortis beginning to set in (probably the largest muscle group in the gator, and the first to start to stiffen due to the lack of available atp). What I don't understand, however, is why they would kill the animal. If it just harvested a deer, what would the reasoning be for putting it down?

I think the photo is legit. The glare and poor quality of the photo just lend itself to the discussion. It's actually Lake IstapoGa, and you can find a couple of references of the alligator-infested lake in question simply by googling.
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