they can be shot from the boat, bank, pier, etc. with a licensed trapper
but the chances are high you won't recover it.
you'd have to kill him stone dead on the bank or in really shallow water for a guaranteed recovery. each trapper has a limited number of tags
so getting a trapper to chance losing a big gator(tag) for a "sport" hunt is slim. it happens, but for a high price and the la wildlife & fisheries frowns on the practice.
typically they are "caught" on line & hook; set overnite, and shot at boatside with a .22lr.
the history channel has a series about louisiana gator hunters (swamp people) on right now
that's mostly what prompted this post. it's a popular topic of interest when i'm hosting out of staters at my fishin' camp
hunt when it's cold; fish when it's not.
South Louisiana IS the sportsman's paradise!