‘Swamp People’ star gator hunter cited in undercover alligator hunting sting

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - Authorities in Louisiana say a gator hunter has been cited following an undercover sting operation.

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Troy Landry, a famed gator hunter from the reality TV show “Swamp People,” was charged with two counts of failing to tag an alligator upon taking it.

Agents said they received a tip last month that certain people were hunting alligators in Lake Palourde despite not having permission to hunt on the property.

The agency said two of its agents staked out the area for six hours until they spotted Landry, and two other people arrived at the lake by boat.

According to the incident report, the agents later determined Landry did indeed have permission to hunt on the property, but he did not have the proper alligator tags to hunt in the area.

Alligator tags, which are issued by the agency, are property-specific tags that are required for licensed hunters to harvest alligators in Louisiana.

The number of tags issued for a certain area is based on the number of alligators believed to be in that particular habitat, and the tags must remain attached to the alligator until it is processed, authorities said.

Agents also said they found a dead alligator floating in the lake with the same line hanging from its mouth as the rest of Landry’s lines.

Landry ultimately received two citations: one for having an improperly tagged alligator and for the dead gator, the agency shared.

The charges each carry a potential fine of up to $950 and the possibility of imprisonment of up to 120 days.

Landry said he has “nothing to say” regarding the allegations and citations.

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