Hunting loud swamp predators on hot evenings
On sweltering summer evenings, bellowing beasts wait on dark, swampy shorelines ready to pounce on anything that might venture too close.
These vicious, gluttonous predators swallow whatever fits into their cavernous mouths. They will prey on those almost their same size. They even eat their own family members and can jump more than 10 times their own length.
Fortunately, these predators don’t grow more than about two feet long with their powerful legs extended and might weigh about 1.5 pounds. Not counting their legs, bullfrogs grow to about five to nine inches long. Their slightly smaller cousins, pig or lagoon frogs, grow to about 5.5 inches long. Bullfrogs and pig frogs look similar. Pig frogs have narrower, pointed snouts and bullfrogs look more rounded. A white lateral stripe through the rear and middle of each thigh also distinguish pig frogs.
A smaller cousin, bronze frogs also occur throughout Mississippi. They look similar to the others, but only grow to about four inches from snout to tail. Many people misidentify them as juvenile bullfrogs or pig frogs.
Practically all Mississippi swamps, lake and river shorelines, or other wetlands provide excellent habitat for the sonorous amphibians. Bullfrogs live throughout the state. Pig frogs generally range south of Hattiesburg.
Frogs usually turn more active on hot summer nights. They pick good spots in thick weeds or on shorelines, waiting for prey to pass close enough to snatch. They regularly bellow out their calls, giving away their positions.
Most people hunt frogs by boat. One person drives, cruising slowly along lake and river shorelines. Others in the boat shine lights to watch for frogs. The hunters scan shorelines, lily pad patches, weed beds, and other hiding spots.
When a light beam illuminates a frog, its white chin and eyes typically shine like two dots hovering over a bright cottony throat splotch. The light in its eyes temporarily stuns the normally wary frog so it freezes, allowing people to approach close enough to catch it.
Frogs usually turn more active on hot summer nights. They pick good spots in thick weeds or on shorelines, waiting for prey to pass close enough to snatch. They regularly bellow out their calls, giving away their positions.
Some people use nets or gigs to catch frogs. Others prefer mechanical “frog grabbers.” Some people choose to sneak close to frogs and grab them by hand. Before grabbing anything at night by hand, look around closely because other things, like snakes, alligators, or snapping turtles, might also want to catch that frog.
Although most sportsmen hunt amphibians by boat, froggers on foot can still jump into action. Ponds, stream shorelines, roadside ditches, small irrigation, or drainage canals and similar places make great places to hunt frogs on foot. Frogs thrive in the tiniest places as long as they remain reasonably wet with some access to dry ground or structure.
When frogging on foot, work in teams. Each person walks along a different side of the waterway. After spotting a frog, one person shines the light into its eyes while the other sneaks up from behind to catch the frog.
Hunting frogs on hot summer evenings creates great memories and can provide delicious meals. The tradition of eating sumptuous fried frog legs goes back centuries.
