Over the last two weekends, hunters have gone up and down the Alabama River looking for an alligator to catch. Many of them have tagged their gators and have shown them off at Roland Cooper State Park in Camden.

Hunters from Decatur, Gardendale, Frisco City and many other cities and towns have taken part in this year’s hunt in the West Central Zone. Many of the teams have spent the last two weekends camping out at the park and eating in area restaurants, as well as buying hunting gear from local stores.

It may not seem like much, but it makes a difference in small rural communities like many of those in the Black Belt. Each year, the alligators caught in this area never seem to disappoint.

Someone always seems to catch a monster of an alligator. Hunting is one of this region’s most important industries that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves.