Crime & Safety
Large Gator Shot Dead Near Georgia Park, Two People Arrested
In a rush to load the big gator into their truck, the two men charged busted out the back glass of their truck, GA wildlife officials said.
AUGUSTA, GA — Two people are facing charges after Georiga wildlife officials said they shot and killed a nearly 11-foot alligator over the weekend.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, someone notified them Saturday that an alligator had been shot near the Lock and Dam Park entrance in Richmond County, and that two people were loading it into their truck.
An officer with the agency responded to the location.
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Joshua Albert Owens, 41, of Hephzibah and Alvester Owens, 74, of Augusta were charged with hunting an alligator out of season. DNR officials did not say if the two are related to one another.
They were booked into the Richmond County Jail.
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"You might notice that in their haste to load the 10'8" gator, the poachers also busted out the back glass of their truck," DNR posted to Facebook.
Georgia's alligator hunting season, which typically begins in mid-August, has been designated as a "quota hunt" where a limited number of hunters are allowed to harvest one alligator each from a specified hunt zone. To participate, hunters must have a permit.
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