Troy Landry and Pickle Wheat Tackle Giant Gators at Fausse Pointe | Swamp People S16 E3 

In Swamp People Season 16, Episode 3, titled “Chaos Before the Storm,” which aired on January 16, 2025, Troy Landry and Pickle Wheat take the spotlight once again—this time facing a flood of aggressive gators and a rapidly closing window as Hurricane Francine barrels toward Louisiana.

Racing the Clock at Lake Fausse Pointe

With 48 hours before expected landfall, Troy holds over 750 of his 900 tags and heads to a hotspot: Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. Locals have been reporting oversized, aggressive gators threatening visitors near cabins and hiking paths. Troy, joined by Pickle (nicknamed Peewee), sets out to remove as many of these giants as possible.

Troy says, “They’ve been complaining for about a year now that there’s too many giant alligators in the park.”

This 6,000-acre park is overrun—and the gators, sensing the approaching storm, are already in a feeding frenzy. Alligator behavior tends to shift with changes in barometric pressure, making this timing particularly dangerous—and fruitful—for seasoned hunters.

All-Night Setup and Daylight Hunt

Troy and Pickle arrive late, set lines at dusk, and plan to stay overnight for a first-light run. As predicted, they quickly encounter huge, aggressive males. The lines are overloaded, the boat is filling fast, and they’re hours away from home.

Troy says, “We doing what we came for—we catching a lot of alligators, but it’s taking forever.”

They catch gator after gator—up to 20—including one close call when a gator nearly turns on Pickle. Troy shouts commands as she moves into position and lands the shot under pressure.

After they safely land the gator, Troy looks over and says, “Didn’t I tell you to be careful?” Just then, Pickle blurts out, “Good Lord—” and Troy adds, “come straight for you!”

A Boat Full of Gators—and a Race Against Spoilage

As the boat nears capacity, Troy worries if they can make the trip back to Duffy in time to keep the meat fresh. Proper icing is critical to preserving gator meat, which begins to spoil rapidly in warm bayou conditions.

Pickle says, “We got a long ways to travel back home. Hopefully we can keep these alligators cool enough.”

With adrenaline high, they stack their final gator—the 22nd—and hit the water fast, knowing the storm is just behind them.

Job Done, Just in Time

“We caught super good… filled a lot of tags, and we got it done before the weather gets really bad.”

Troy and Pickle leave a swamp nearly emptied of its most dangerous predators—proving once again that experience, speed, and teamwork are critical when the wild turns even wilder. Their haul not only reduces public risk near the park’s cabins and trails, but also demonstrates the crucial role of seasoned hunters in managing Louisiana’s gator population ahead of extreme weather.