The alligator market fluctuates every year, and so do the fortunes of the hunters who rely on selling wild alligators to make their living. The market hit a high $40/f ft. rate for gators in the late 80′s and dipped to an unsustainable $13/ ft. for the same size gator in 2010, but things have been getting slowly better. Read on to see how the market was for alligators this year.

The Season 3 premiere of Swamp People revealed that alligator prices sky rocketed in 2011, creating a gold rush of sorts in the swamps of Louisianna. Find out just how much the prices increased with our foot-by-foot alligator pricing chart, and see our estimates of what some of the stars will be binging in if they’re able to fill all of their tags. Who knows, maybe all the thrills and the $$$ will have you thinking about buying a boat, some hooks, and a bunch of rotten chicken and trying your luck with a new summer job!

The fourth quarter of Superbowl XLVI may or may not go down in history for its great football, but it will live forever in the memories of everyone who has ever dreamed of riding in RJ and J Paul Molinere’s airboat, having a cold beer with the Guist Brothers, or hearing Troy Landry yell “choot ‘em” in their ear. Because this isn’t just the year of Superbowl XLVI, this is Swamperbowl I! Here’s the “This is Your Boss” video — our first glimpse of Swamp People Season 3.

When Troy Landry goes out to hunt alligators, he almost always has his son Jacob at his side. This year, he’ll have a son on both sides because his youngest, Chase, has joined the crew for Swamp People Season 3! What happened to Liz Cavalier, and which Landry will be Troy’s new “chooter?” How will Chase change things on the Landry crew? Keep reading!

If you’re a big fan of The History Channel’s blockbuster reality series Swamp People then you’ve probably heard the alligator hunters referencing a “quarter-sized kill spot” on the top of a gator’s head, which is where you have to shoot it to guarantee a quick kill. And, if you’re like me, then you’ve probably wondered where that “kill spot” is. (Who knows, we just might bump into a gator on our way to work next week, right?) Keep reading for illustrations that should help clarify so you can become a real deal alligator killer seem even more manly while talking around the water cooler at the office.

The History Channel has an absolute smash hit on their hands in the form of Swamp People. Fans of the show are borderline obsessed with these Louisiana swampers like Troy Landry, Terral Evans, Liz Cavalier and of course the Guist Brothers. Well the obsession is only going to spread I’m guessing because there’s an upcoming official casting call for tried and true alligator hunters! Find out when, where and how you can load it up, choot ‘em and become an official swamp star.

When Swamp People‘s Troy Landry isn’t wrestling a 500lb alligator into his boat he spends some of his time trying to round up a different breed of 500lb monsters – cypress logs! Keep reading to let the “King of the Swamp” take you on a narrated swamp tour as he searches for ancient cypress logs left behind by cypress sawmills abandoned ages ago. (Even if you don’t like swamps, alligators or wood, I promise you the clip is worth it just to listen to Troy talk – his Cajun charm puts Paul Prudhomme to shame!)

Troy Landry may be King of the Swamp, but he isn’t the only royalty running alligator lines in the bayous around Pierre Part. In fact, he’s not even the only Swamp royal in his own boat! Rounding out Landry’s crew this season and handling most of the “chooting” is the Gator Queen herself, Liz Cavalier. Keep reading for Elizabeth’s amazing story that includes gator hunting trips before she was even off the bottle and the surprising truth about how she teamed up with Troy!

The Guist brothers’ daily grind seems to be: hang out, get hungry, go kill something, cook it, eat it, hang out. The other alligator hunters on Swamp People might make a living off the land, but the Guist brothers really LIVE off it. Keep reading to find out more about Glenn and Mitchell, perhaps our country’s most unlikely (but entirely deserving!) television stars!

Anyone who watches Swamp People knows that alligator hunters care about how much money they make.  With the notable exception of the Guist brothers, the hunters featured on the show are quick to talk about what makes the difference between a profit and a loss during the one-month alligator season in Louisiana. But how much are these guys really making?   What kind of money are we talking about?