Florida (US), April 7 (IANS): In a rare catch, alligator hunters in Okeechobee, Florida, captured a 15-feet long alligator on their farm.

Outwest Farms Inc. owner Lee Lightsey was doing a guided hunt with his nine-year-old son, a guide and two hunters on Saturday when they came across the gator. 

Lightsey says the alligator measured around 15-feet and weighed in at 780 pounds. The state record for weight of a captured gator is 1,043 pounds, reports WFLA news channel.

"Gators that size are 100 years old. They're few and far between," Lightsey says.

The giant alligator was found in bull pasture on the property. Outwest Farms told media they believe the alligator was killing their cattle, due to remains they found.

The reptile was so big, the hunters needed to use a front-end loader to pull it out of the water.

Nine-year-old Mason said this wasn't his first hunting trip, and it was "not scary at all" to hunt such a huge animal. He even posed next to the animal that was hoisted above the ground by a tractor's loader. The picture posted on Outwest Farms Facebook page has been shared over 4,000 times, said CNN.

According to CNN affiliate WPLG, the remains of the alligator are being harvested. Experts tell them they can get between 100 and 200 pounds of alligator meat from the tail alone.