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Kristin Winet

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November 30, 2019 By Kristin Leave a Comment

On the Dark Shores of the Delta

Featured in Witness Magazine – Winter 2019

In which I go to the deep south to investigate alligator-hunting culture.

IF YOU DRIVE A HALF-HOUR south from Mobile, Alabama, you will find your-self on the shores of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The waters here aren’t clear at all but are perfectly dark and mysterious, the kind you can’t artificially saturate with a camera filter or lighten up by fiddling with the contrast. These waters are simply gray, murky gray, the perfect place for an animal to hide, the perfect place for a man with a boat to slice through the waters in the middle of the night with a flashlight, looking for the tell-tale amber-red glare of an alligator’s eyes, like a bicycle reflector.

The grassy shores of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta rivers

On a July day every summer, when the humidity is already so thick you can wipe the air away with your hand, thousands of hopefuls sit at their computer screens and start hitting the refresh button over and over again at exactly 8 a.m., hoping this will be their year. They’ve partnered up with friends to increase their chances, hedged their bets by applying for various zones, and have probably been applying for years. Because they recently implemented a preference point system, the system will increase the likelihood of a repeat registrant being selected as long as the applicant continues to apply year after year. What no one will tell you is that it’s basically a lottery, although it’s not actually a lottery, because lotteries are technically illegal in Alabama (for religious reasons, of course). The state calls it a “random selection process” instead, which is really just a nice way of saying it’s a lottery. Everyone is in on the joke. On that July day, all fingers are poised on the keyboards, waiting for the page to update. When it finally does, players can begin the process of scrolling through the 125-200 names that have been selected, hoping to find their names on the list. If they do, they’re given one week to accept.

Pelicans looking for their breakfast on the surface of the water

The state of Alabama decides exactly how many tags to allot on a year-to-year basis, depending on the estimated population of residents in the swamp at the time and how many gators can die without compromising the ecosystem. It only costs $22 to enter. Since most people work in groups to increase their chances, everyone will submit their names to all the zones in the hopes they’ll get a tag for one of them: Southwest zone, Southeast zone, West Central zone, and Lake Eufaula zone. Of course, hopeful winners can pay by credit card, but ballots are completely non-refundable. Each winner must be at least 16 years old, is allowed to harvest only one animal, and must attend the official one-day training camp here at Five Rivers in Spanish Fort prior to the actual event.

Michael’s riverboat (you’ll read about this in the essay!)

The dates are very specific. Each zone has its own unique window of time, and those who win a tag must adhere, under no uncertain terms, to the very narrow timeframe allotted them. There is no exception. The Southwest zone, for instance, begins at Official Sunset Time on the second Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the second Sunday in August, and from Official Sunset Time on the third Thursday in August until Official Sunrise Time on the third Sunday in August. The hunt must be done in the dark, too—boats can only be out from Official Sunset to Official Sunrise, and the whole endeavor must succeed or fail before daybreak. The dates and times are chosen each year and strictly enforced by The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the same group who holds the random selection process every summer.

It’s a team effort from beginning to end.

Read the full story in Witness Magazine.

Filed Under: CNF, Travel Writing, Uncategorized Tagged With: Alabama, alligator, animal, conservation, green travel, Mobile, tourism, travel writing

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Meet Kristin

I'm a writer, teacher, traveler, and a new mom living in the sunny Sonoran Desert! I write to share stories about our complex, beautiful world, and I teach to help others think more deeply about their words and their stories. Read More…

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Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of things. It changes your daily rhythm, your space to think, your ability to throw stuff in a backpack and just go somewhere, the solitude of a writing life. I’ve been working on figuring out who I am in this new life, so I decided to take a baby step this weekend and hop back - slowly! - into my travel writing self 🙌 So tonight, I’m out exploring Cat Mountain Lodge, a super-cute boutique hotel right at the foot of the Tucson mountains 🏔 This pic is from the entrance ☀️ Ryan and Riley came for dinner and toured the property with me - and they’ll be back in the morning for a sunrise breakfast ☕️ Everything still feels weird and unknown, but it also feels messy and new. I’m glad for baby steps...I’m glad to be here❤️ Gladly taking advice from mamas who are also travelers!
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I know that babywearing has been a custom around t I know that babywearing has been a custom around the world for centuries (probably millenia?). Today, I see why ❤️ I finally figured out how to put on the Moby wrap and snuggle little Riley into it! When we’re feeling a little more brave, I might even take him out of the house and walk with him around the neighborhood 🥰 What a wild ride...so far, we’ve made it six weeks together!
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My morning view, a little different than what I’ My morning view, a little different than what I’m used to! ❤️ Our little Riley James, seeing the world for what always feels like the first time 🥰
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Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom’s been a little busy lately, but she’s back (and promises not to post a million baby photos). **Happy one month birthday to our newest adventure!**
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A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 An A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 And, omg, his fresh ceviche!!! *swoon* @abedhabush @viasabra
Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 year old tile in the ancient ruins of Caesarea....I have to say, it's looking pretty good! 🤣😍 @viasabra
I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of it here in the states...we always want to cover up every ding, dent, peel, or crack. I like this. Walking the streets of Tel Aviv 😍
Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄 Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄
On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelma On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelmarket with our first guide, Anat from @viasabra! Tel Aviv seriously has some of the best street markets you could ever imagine 😍 I'll try not to inundate you with food pics 😉
One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummu One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummus is the **best** hummus? If it's from #Abuhasan, then it's chunky and topped with fava beans. Ryan adored it...me...? Well, it did have beans on top, and they kind of looked like Mexican refried beans. I think I'll keep looking for my favorite hummus 🤣@viasabra
One of my FAVORITE things ever came at the end of One of my FAVORITE things ever came at the end of Day 1, and guess what? It starts with a pita!! 😂 This is an Iraqi Jewish food called #sabich. It's fabulous. And I love the chef who makes it - he told us he was an architect because everything is layered precisely inside the pita (namely fried eggplant and hard boiled eggs, among other things) 🥙🥙🥙
Yes, this is a carbonated water with plants in it. Yes, this is a carbonated water with plants in it. And we got to drink it (eat it?) while sitting in an old pickup truck in Levinsky Market (They have no seating in the market, so the owner drives his truck around and keeps parking it in different spots!) @visit_israel #levinskymarket
Starting our first morning off right - with a food Starting our first morning off right - with a food tour of Carmel Market, which is one of the best street food #markets I've ever been to. Here, we got to taste this thing called #burika, which is a Lebanese street food. Basically, it's a fresh #pita stuffed with mashed potatoes and fried egg and smothered in this spicy harissa red sauce. Never have I ever had something like this!! @viasabra @deliciousisrael @visit_israel
I didn't mention this in my first pic, but we are I didn't mention this in my first pic, but we are here with @rollinscollege as part of an #RIG grant to explore a question: Is there such a thing as an Israeli cuisine? 🌿🌱 We are working with @viasabra on our journey!

So, naturally, we start by exploring hummus. And when the famous #Abuhasan hummus spot in Jaffa is packed to the brim for lunch, you get the hummus as takeout and sit in the street 😉😉
Welcome to our Tel Aviv food tour!! I don't always Welcome to our Tel Aviv food tour!! I don't always post #food pics, but this trip kind of necessitates it 😄 Here we are, Tel Aviv, and first up? Falafel, of course 😁
Before we head off on our newest adventure, I need Before we head off on our newest adventure, I need to wrap up my #Mardigras series!! This pic is from the Dragons Ball, which we were invited to after interviewing the King! #alabamaroadtrip #kwalabama #alabama
Never a place without beads during Mardi Gras 👍 Never a place without beads during Mardi Gras 👍 @tweethomeal @inbirmingham @city_of_mobile @visitalbeaches #alabamaroadtrip #mobile #joecainday #mardigras #mardigras2018
Mardi Gras wouldn't be complete without a visit to Mardi Gras wouldn't be complete without a visit to Church St Graveyard. Joe Cain, the man responsible for reviving carnival after the civil war, is buried here.  Plus? It's full of cherry blossoms! 🌱🌿 @tweethomeal @inbirmingham @city_of_mobile @visitalbeaches #alabamaroadtrip #mardigras #mardigras2018 #mobile #kwalabama
If it can be fried, it will be fried. The mantra a If it can be fried, it will be fried. The mantra around here 🤣 @paninipetes @tweethomeal @inbirmingham @city_of_mobile @visitalbeaches #alabamaroadtrip #mardigras #mardigras2018
Peanuts are a very big thing here 😍👌 @tweeth Peanuts are a very big thing here 😍👌 @tweethomeal @inbirmingham @city_of_mobile @visitalbeaches #alabamaroadtrip #mobile #alabama #sweethomealabama #kwalabama #mardigras2018 #mardigras #mobilemardigras #deepsouth #alabamatourism
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I'm a writer, teacher, traveler, and a new mom living in the sunny Sonoran Desert! I write to share stories about our complex, beautiful world, and I teach to help others think more deeply about their words and their stories. Read More…

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kristinwinet

Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of things. It changes your daily rhythm, your space to think, your ability to throw stuff in a backpack and just go somewhere, the solitude of a writing life. I’ve been working on figuring out who I am in this new life, so I decided to take a baby step this weekend and hop back - slowly! - into my travel writing self 🙌 So tonight, I’m out exploring Cat Mountain Lodge, a super-cute boutique hotel right at the foot of the Tucson mountains 🏔 This pic is from the entrance ☀️ Ryan and Riley came for dinner and toured the property with me - and they’ll be back in the morning for a sunrise breakfast ☕️ Everything still feels weird and unknown, but it also feels messy and new. I’m glad for baby steps...I’m glad to be here❤️ Gladly taking advice from mamas who are also travelers!
.
.
.
#whyilovewhereilive #tucson #mountains #catmountainstation #travelwriter #travelmom #visitarizona #catmountainlodge #arizona #southernaz @catmountainstation5520 @visittucson
I know that babywearing has been a custom around t I know that babywearing has been a custom around the world for centuries (probably millenia?). Today, I see why ❤️ I finally figured out how to put on the Moby wrap and snuggle little Riley into it! When we’re feeling a little more brave, I might even take him out of the house and walk with him around the neighborhood 🥰 What a wild ride...so far, we’ve made it six weeks together!
.
.
.
#babywinet #mobywrap #babywearing #travelmom #newmom #newmomlife
My morning view, a little different than what I’ My morning view, a little different than what I’m used to! ❤️ Our little Riley James, seeing the world for what always feels like the first time 🥰
.
.
.
#momtraveler #babywinet #newmom
Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom’s been a little busy lately, but she’s back (and promises not to post a million baby photos). **Happy one month birthday to our newest adventure!**
.
.
.
#babywinet #newbaby #baby #newmom
A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 An A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 And, omg, his fresh ceviche!!! *swoon* @abedhabush @viasabra
Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 year old tile in the ancient ruins of Caesarea....I have to say, it's looking pretty good! 🤣😍 @viasabra
I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of it here in the states...we always want to cover up every ding, dent, peel, or crack. I like this. Walking the streets of Tel Aviv 😍
Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄 Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄
On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelma On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelmarket with our first guide, Anat from @viasabra! Tel Aviv seriously has some of the best street markets you could ever imagine 😍 I'll try not to inundate you with food pics 😉
One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummu One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummus is the **best** hummus? If it's from #Abuhasan, then it's chunky and topped with fava beans. Ryan adored it...me...? Well, it did have beans on top, and they kind of looked like Mexican refried beans. I think I'll keep looking for my favorite hummus 🤣@viasabra
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