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A group of Oklahoma hunters guided by David Hanson caught a 14-foot, 6-inch alligator on Little Tensas Bayou in Louisiana on Sept. 22. Hanson says the measurement was witnessed by state wildlife officials and that Safari Club International records place it fourth by length; Louisiana does not keep official alligator records.
A client of longtime Louisiana alligator guide David Hanson caught a 14-foot, 6-inch alligator on Little Tensas Bayou on Sept. 22, a catch Hanson says ranks fourth by length in Safari Club International records. State wildlife officials witnessed the measurement, according to Hanson, though Louisiana does not keep official alligator records.
Hanson, 59, of Swartz, Louisiana, took four hunters from Oklahoma out to check baited hooks set the previous day. He told Outdoor Life that the group caught eight alligators during the outing, with the animals ranging from about 8 feet long to the much larger bull gator caught by hunter Brandon Crossley.
Hanson said the large animal was hooked on a baited 14/0 hook attached to what he calls “Mule Tape,” a flat line rated to 1,800 pounds. Crossley used Hanson’s .357 revolver to kill the alligator with one shot, Hanson said. The group then used a gaff and several people to move it into Hanson’s airboat, which he calls the “Swamp Donkey.”
At Cypress Point Hunting Lodge, the group used a tractor to lift the animal out of the boat. Hanson said it weighed an estimated 700 pounds and measured 14 feet, 6 inches both while being handled and when laid flat. He said state wildlife officials witnessed the measurement. The animal is expected to be made into a full-size mount and shipped to Crossley in Oklahoma.
A High Ranking in SCI Records
The catch stands out because the reported length would place the alligator near the top of Safari Club International’s all-time list, which records trophy animals. Hanson said it ranks fourth, edging out a gator taken in Florida in 2010. The ranking is based on the organization’s records, rather than an official Louisiana state list.
The distinction matters for how the claim should be understood: the measurement was reportedly witnessed by state wildlife officials, but Louisiana does not maintain official alligator records. The available report does not describe an independent SCI review of this particular animal or say whether the organization has formally entered it in its records.
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How the Bayou Hunt Unfolded
Hanson said he set baited hooks the day before the hunt, using fresh liver to draw alligators into the area. The hunters checked the lines the next morning on Little Tensas Bayou. He said he recognized the large animal as a giant bull gator when they reached the bait around 9:30 a.m.
The reported catch is shorter than the longest alligator in SCI’s records: a 15-foot, 9-inch, 1,011-pound animal taken from Alabama’s Coosa River in 2014. Hanson identified Crossley’s alligator as the one ranked fourth, ahead of a gator taken by Robert Ammerman from Lake Washington, Florida, in 2010. These are SCI record comparisons; they do not establish a Louisiana state record.
““We called the Louisiana wildlife folks, and they witnessed the measuring of the gator to document it.””
— David Hanson, speaking to Outdoor Life
Record Entry Still Needs Clarity
The report attributes the fourth-place ranking to SCI records but does not include a direct statement from SCI confirming the new entry or explaining its verification process. It is also unclear whether the estimated 700-pound weight was measured on a scale or calculated, and the report does not provide weighing documentation. Louisiana’s wildlife officials reportedly witnessed the length measurement, but the report does not identify the officials or describe the measuring method beyond saying the animal was measured both during handling and flat on the ground.
Mount Planned for Oklahoma
Hanson said the alligator will be made into a full-size taxidermy mount and shipped to Crossley in Oklahoma. The report does not give a timeline for the work or say when SCI will publish or confirm an updated record entry. Any formal ranking will depend on the organization’s records and verification.
Key Questions
How long was the alligator?
Hanson said it measured 14 feet, 6 inches, both during handling and when laid flat on the ground.
Where was it caught?
The alligator was caught on Little Tensas Bayou in Louisiana, during a guided outing on Sept. 22, 2026.
Who caught the alligator?
Hanson identified Brandon Crossley, one of four visiting hunters from Oklahoma, as the hunter.
Is it an official Louisiana record?
No Louisiana state record is cited. Hanson said the state does not keep official alligator records and described the animal’s reported fourth-place standing as an SCI ranking.
What will happen to the alligator?
Hanson said it will be made into a full-size mount and shipped to Crossley in Oklahoma.
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