12-foot gator pulled from Alabama lake

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EUFAULA, Ala., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- A man said he pulled a 12-foot alligator from an Alabama lake after wrangling with the big reptile for about 9 hours.

Zach Moore, hunting alligators for the first time, caught the gator at Lake Eufaula, WTVM-TV, Columbus, Ga., reported Monday.

Moore said he first shot the alligator with a bow and arrow to connect a wire so he could get the creature out of the lake.

"I tied him and strapped him up. I had to get in the water with him. And I pulled a couple back muscles. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be," Moore said.

Moore said he was eventually able to shoot the alligator with a gun and load it into his boat.

It was the opening day of alligator hunting season.

"We skinned him out and we got his meat in the freezer. We got about 200 pounds of meat and we definitely plan on sharing it and eating some of it," Moore said.