Kelly Murphy's first Mississippi alligator hunt produced an animal that the Clarion Ledger reported weighed 770 pounds and measured 13 feet, 5 inches long.
She had reached that hunt after drawing a coveted state tag on her first application.
The massive catch made for a dramatic story, but it also served as a reminder that many wildlife encounters follow human decisions — from permit systems to how people enter and manage animal habitat.
Here's what to know
According to the Clarion Ledger, the Booneville, Mississippi, resident was hunting in the Mississippi River's Southwest Zone on Aug. 29 when her group landed the giant reptile.
The animal snapped multiple lines and wrecked two fishing rods in a fight that lasted about an hour before the group finally pulled it into the boat.
"It was unbelievable how big it was and seeing the head," Murphy recalled. "I've never seen anything like it."
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Josh McCoy, the only hunter in the party with prior alligator-hunting experience, helped hook the animal after casting near the bank, per Kelly's husband, Trey Murphy.
The group had already spotted smaller alligators before noticing the much larger reptile.
Demand for Mississippi alligator permits is steep: The Clarion Ledger reported that thousands of people seek them each year, even though fewer than 1,000 permits are issued.
More background
This was not a random encounter.
It happened during a legal, state-regulated hunt in habitat where alligators naturally live.
However, as the BBC has explained, human activity can increase overlap between people and wildlife.
Unwanted encounters between people and wildlife are occurring more often worldwide, and the outlet cited several factors for the uptick.
Higher average temperatures, extreme weather that is escalating in both frequency and severity, land development, and habitat loss are all driving this troubling trend.
Booneville hunter Kenzie Williams, who was also on the trip, described the shock of the moment plainly.
"He was strong. It was kind of a rush because you don't think you're going to wrestle an alligator at any point in your life," Williams recalled.
What's being done?
Mississippi's permit system limits tags and organizes hunts by zone, allowing wildlife managers to control how many alligators are harvested while still allowing recreational access.
McCoy told the Clarion Ledger that the hunters benefited from relatively shallow water, about 12 to 14 feet deep, and from the lack of nearby underwater debris that could have tangled the lines.
"It's just so surreal," Murphy said of the newsworthy catch.
"This was a life-changing experience, and I want to do it forever."
Where can I learn more?
These stories look at other ways people have crossed paths with alligators, from neighborhood sightings to dangerous encounters.
• In one backyard encounter, a homeowner was hospitalized after a gator attack near his mulch pile.
• In Marion County, Florida, wildlife officials investigated after a woman was filmed petting a wild alligator.
• In Charleston, officers were seen wrestling a thrashing alligator as mating season intensified nearby.
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