Frog Gigging (pronounced gig’n) is a time-honored tradition among Southern men. Bullfrogs are found along the banks of rivers, creeks, ponds, and lakes. And where they are found, so, too, are country boys in search of them. These amphibians are sought-after for their decadent rear legs, served best when fried to a golden brown.The art of frog gigging (if it can be called an art) consists of spotlighting frogs and impaling them with a gig- a long pole with four to five sharp prongs, similar to a mini version of a devil’s pitchfork. The light actually serves two purposes. Number one is a no-brainer. Since gigging is done at night, the light is used to spot frogs through the black of night. And, two, once a frog is spotted, the light remains on the cold-blooded creature to “blind” it. The idea is that frogs become lethargic under the beam of strong lights, making them easier to gig.
Just as there’s more than one way to skin a cat, there are several different ways to catch frogs. Gigging is just one of those ways. Some hunters prefer to shoot their frogs with a small caliber rifle, such as a .22, while others (my Grandpa Southern included) prefer neither gig nor gun, use only their bare hands.
Laws on frog gigging/hunting are different from state to state. Contact your local wildlife management office for more details...
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