The BEST episodes of Swamp People season 3

Every episode of Swamp People season 3, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Swamp People season 3!

Deep in the heart of Louisiana lies America's largest swamp–a million miles of inhospitable bayous, marshes and wetlands where nature rules and humans struggle to tame it. Many of its inhabitants are the hardened descendants of French refugees who were forced out of Canada in the 18th century and settled in this harsh yet majestic environment. Today, these people are known as the Cajuns, a group renowned throughout the world for their flavorful cuisine, distinctive music and vibrant culture. Resilient, self-reliant and fiercely independent, the Cajuns of the Atchafalaya Swamp still carry on many of their ancestors' trades and traditions.

Last Updated: 12/14/2024Network: HistoryStatus: Continuing
King of the Swamp
star
8.50
124 votes

#1 - King of the Swamp

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 6/21/2012

It's down to the final 4 days and Troy's road to the crown takes an unexpected turn. A good friend and fellow hunter has passed away. When his long-time helper asks Troy to help fill their remaining tags, Troy has a dilemma. If he helps, he will have to put his own tags on hold and with so little time left in the season, it could mean that he doesn't tag out. R.J. and Jay Paul are working tirelessly to fill their bayou-best 500 tags this season. As the season enters its final days, R.J. is more focused than ever before. Willie and Randy are embarking on their last day as partners this season. Starting tomorrow, Randy has to move onto the next commercial hunting season, fishing for buffalo fish. Determined to go out with a bang, the brothers are hunting in a favorite childhood spot. Bruce's longtime sidekick Tyler isn't feeling well. With the season ticking away quickly, Bruce has no choice but to focus on the hunt, but it isn't long before worry for Tyler becomes too great to ignore.

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Big Gators, Big Dollars
star
8.44
120 votes

#2 - Big Gators, Big Dollars

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/31/2012

Troy and Clint have the perfect plan to find the big-money gators they need; R.J. and Jay Paul go after an enormous beast that is tearing apart fishing pots; Austyn and Blake sell to a new buyer.

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Something Wicked this Way Comes
star
8.19
190 votes

#3 - Something Wicked this Way Comes

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/29/2012

It's been the best start to alligator season in a decade, and every record has been shattered. Now, the biggest storm since Hurricane Katrina is headed straight for the swamp. Forecasters predict it will make landfall by day's end so hunters across the bayou are using every second they've got to fill as many tags as they can. After days on the sideline with a wrenched back, Joe LaFont can't stay away any longer. He and his stepson Tommy are reunited on a mission to stay ahead of the storm. Troy Landry is once again running a two-boat operation. Troy wants to catch as many gators as possible before the storm makes landfall--so he's dividing to conquer multiple territories at once. Over in Pecan Island, Liz and her helper Kristi are also looking to use a two-pronged strategy: running lines and sharp shooting in open water. Rookies Austyn and Blake have five more tags from their buyer. If they fail to fill their tags before the storm arrives, their season could be over.

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Voodoo Bayou
star
8.18
153 votes

#4 - Voodoo Bayou

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/17/2012

Flooding in the Mississippi Delta has raised water levels almost two feet and now the once unreachable corners of the bayou are accessible. Troy is using the high water to his advantage, riding it straight into an area that the Landry family has lived and hunted for generations, and he wants to share the trip with his son Chase. R.J. and Jay Paul will travel the flooded channels into a Houma territory that's considered sacred in their culture--once used as a burial site. Joe and Tommy are preparing to take a big gamble. The high waters have made a remote canal accessible...and despite its eerie reputation, they're going in. Back across the swamp, cousins Austyn and Blake have their own plan to make the most of the conditions. The duo head toward an area known as Dead End Bayou. In low water, the territory is blocked and unreachable. But today, high water has flooded the bank, and the rookies can cruise right in.

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Under Seige
star
8.15
160 votes

#5 - Under Seige

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/26/2012

Troy hunts a gator that has eluded him for years; Glenn and Mitchell help a friend move his houseboat; and Liz has trouble taking down an enormous alligator.

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Never Say Die
star
8.03
151 votes

#6 - Never Say Die

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 6/7/2012

Liz and Kristi start slow; Junior's works with his cousin Gerald; Jacob and Chase get assigned to a tough fishing area; Joe and Tommy head to an area saved for the home stretch of the season.

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Avenged
star
7.99
183 votes

#7 - Avenged

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/8/2012

As the end of week one comes to a close hunters are faced with new challenges. Troy makes a shocking discovery, a monster gator is feeding dangerously close to his home. To protect his family, he and his boys set out to do battle with the monster in a tiny boat and come face-to-face with disaster. R.J. and his son Jay Paul summon the powers of their ancestors in an ancient tribal ceremony to prepare for battle with a beast known as Big Foot. Liz and Kristie encounter something rarely seen on the swamp; a gator so bold, that he takes the bait in broad daylight right in front of them. When they attempt to haul the beast in, he breaks off the line and the battle is on! The Guist brothers find themselves in need of lumber, but they don't head to the home improvement store. Instead, they turn to the swamp, and an age-old technique of harvesting lumber as they go in search of sinker cypress.

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Cold-Blooded
star
7.89
152 votes

#8 - Cold-Blooded

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 6/14/2012

With only 5 days left in the season, the swamp is blindsided by a cold front sweeping across Louisiana, bringing a punishing frigid rain. When temperatures drop, gators run for cover, and the hunters will have to chase them down. R.J. and Jay Paul are at a spot where R.J.'s betting gators will be on the move. But the front brings strong high winds, and their airboat isn't equipped to handle them. All season Junior Edwards has run a two-boat operation, but today he's reuniting the Edwards "A" Team. Willie is back at his father's side, and the duo is hoping their combined experience will help them track down gators. Bruce is anxious about the weather because his hunting grounds border Lake Pontchartrain. Even a few inches of rain can cause the lake to overflow, and force the gators to look for freshwater further inland. Troy's sons are hoping they can have a big day despite the cold front. They've got a secret weapon--a special bait to lure gators from hiding.

Rising Waters
star
7.89
216 votes

#9 - Rising Waters

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/5/2012

A tropical storm puts alligator season in jeopardy; Troy faces the daunting task of filling 300 tags while shorthanded; and Bruce braves rising water levels with his shooter Ron.

Man Down
star
7.88
156 votes

#10 - Man Down

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 6/28/2012

After a fellow hunter dies, Troy offers to help fill his tags for the community; exhaustion sets in for R.J.; Joe and Tommy focus on big gators; Glenn and Mitchell look for garfish.

Treebreaker 2
star
7.82
155 votes

#11 - Treebreaker 2

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/15/2012

In Houma, R.J. and Jay Paul are headed to an area known as the Hive. Every beehive has a queen bee...and the Hive has a king, a monster alpha male. Before the day is done, the boys are out to fill their boat, land the King and take another step toward their own crown. Over in Pierre Part, Troy Landry's sons are out to make their own name. Last season, Jacob and his dad bagged a legendary beast known as Treebreaker. In the swamp, when one alpha male is removed, another takes his place. Jacob plots to track down the Son of Treebreaker...and step out from his own dad's shadow. Across the swamp, Junior Edwards' sons Willie and Randy are also on the hunt, working for their dad. To keep his boys focused, Junior's made a big decision: NO hook. Junior knows that it's easy to catch a bad case of "treble hook fever," and spend all day looking for a target. Down on the Conway Bayou, Glenn and Mitchell are after a prehistoric fish known as alligator gar.

Turf War
star
7.80
188 votes

#12 - Turf War

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/24/2012

Joe and Tommy go shrimping; a gator threatens Kristi's cattle; Malcom angles for catfish; and Glenn and Mitchell fix an old motor for a friend.

Fight to the Finish
star
7.76
156 votes

#13 - Fight to the Finish

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 7/5/2012

Joe follows Tommy's lead to new hunting territory; Troy must rush to fill his remaining tags; R.J. and Jay run out of fresh hunting ground; and Liz and Kristi search for gators in Liz's father's favorite hunting spot.

Rebound
star
7.66
191 votes

#14 - Rebound

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/12/2012

Rebound - The hunters are forced to adjust their plans in the aftermath of a tropical storm; R.J. and Jay Paul search for gators inland; Junior and Malcolm explore an area that's normally inaccessible; and Glenn and Mitchell hunt for dinner in the swamp.

Monster Marsh
star
7.58
191 votes

#15 - Monster Marsh

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/1/2012

Tommy is on his own for the first time in his career. His step dad Joe wrecked his back while wrangling gators, so now Tommy must carry the load all by himself. Veteran Bruce Mitchell, his sidekick Tyler and their new sharpshooter Ron are hoping for another big day. To fill the boat, Bruce will move their hunt to a remote bog known as Stinky Bayou. The area earned its nickname from the methane gas that bubbles to the surface there, emitting a rotten and pungent stench. In Pecan Island, Liz and her new helper Kristi are taking a huge risk in hopes of another enormous payday. The ladies are headed to a spot that locals call "Monster Marsh," home to territorial and aggressive alpha males. While veterans with hundreds of tags hunt for numbers, over in Bayou Pigeon, rookies Austyn and Blake are looking for one beast in particular. Their buyer has given them one tag to catch one huge gator that's threatening his property.

Secret Weapons
star
7.57
155 votes

#16 - Secret Weapons

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/3/2012

Troy receives help from his family while filling tags in Pierre Part; Austyn and Blake are presented with a difficult challenge; and Bruce uses a rotten chicken as bait.

No Guts, No Gator
star
7.52
186 votes

#17 - No Guts, No Gator

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/16/2012

In Southern Louisiana the Gator Gold Rush is in full swing. Buyers are paying top dollar for alligators, and Troy has a plan to get his share. He’s taking a special boat called a “Gator Tail” to an old family honey hole. But when he encounters an unexpected obstacle, he risks it all to fill his boat. Junior Edwards and his son Willy are stalking an elusive beast known for his distinctive roar they call Leo The Lion. But Leo is a formidable adversary and it comes down to Leo, Willy and a pocketknife. Down at Pecan Island, Liz and her partner Kristie are taking a calculated risk of their own, hunting the canals from land to capture a monster that has been terrorizing the local population. R.J. and Jay Paul spy outsiders setting lines directly across from theirs, a direct violation of the code of the swamp. Things escalate quickly and the two-time world arm wrestling champion and his son don’t hesitate to take matters into their own hands.

Endgame
star
7.44
98 votes

#18 - Endgame

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 7/12/2012

Troy hopes to make a statement by catching an enormous gator; R.J. and Jay attempt to set a tagging record; and dead fish cause trouble for Liz and Kristi.

Divide to Conquer
star
7.37
192 votes

#19 - Divide to Conquer

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/23/2012

Day three of the month-long alligator season in Louisiana finds the hunters working at a frantic pace to fill their tags. King of the Swamp, Troy Landry and Master hunter, Junior Edwards are following identical strategies; by putting their sons on a second boat with a specific mission: Catch Big Gators. It’s a mission the new captains won’t find easy to fulfill. Meanwhile, in Myrtle Grove, Joe LaFont and his stepson Tommy are back on the water. With more tags than ever this season, they’re on track to make big bucks until… Joe sustains a potentially season-ending injury. In Bayou Pigeon, newcomers Austyn and Blake are trying to earn their way into the alligator business a few tags at a time. With five tags in hand, they set out to prove to their buyer that they are the next generation of swamp legends.

Gator Gold Rush
star
7.22
199 votes

#20 - Gator Gold Rush

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/9/2012

It's day one of the thirty-day alligator-hunting season in Louisiana. This year prices are 30% higher, and with big bucks on the line, a Gator Gold rush is about to begin. Troy Landry has a plan to cash in; reuniting with 20-year partner Clint and running a second boat with son Jacob at the helm. With 430 tags, more than ever before, he's determined to retain his crown. Down in Pecan Island, Troy's helper from last year, Liz Cavalier, is running her own boat this season with 260 tags of her own. Joining her is helper Kristi Broussard, a born and bred Cajun woman who's eager to show what she's got. In Houma, two-time world arm wrestling champion R.J. Molinere and his son R.J. are back. This season he's taken on 500 tags, more than anyone else, with one goal in mind...to prove that he's the king of the swamp. Swamp legend Bruce Mitchell is gearing up with plans of his own. He's got a new secret weapon, former military sharpshooter Ron Methvin.

Scorched
star
6.96
157 votes

#21 - Scorched

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/10/2012

As the sun rises on day 18, it's already 96 degrees on the bayou. Every hunter knows the heat drives the gators into a feeding frenzy. But the scorching sun can spoil hides and meat once the gators are in the boat. Troy and Clint are targeting Lake Verret to make the most of the voracious gators. Junior Edwards is also expecting a huge day. Five years ago, in 105-degree heat, he had the best day of his career. Today, he's hoping to repeat past glory. Liz and Kristi are primed to fill the boat by midday, and Liz is on the verge of her best catch all season. But soon, things turn on a dime when the swamp throws Liz a curve she never saw coming. Across the swamp, veteran hunter Bruce, Ron and Tyler are looking to cash in on the heat wave by targeting a hunting ground called "Cypress Graveyard." It's part of local lore, and Bruce believes it will deliver, but getting there is difficult--it lies at the end of a maze of canals that can confuse even the most experienced swamper.

Gates of Hell
star
6.50
160 votes

#22 - Gates of Hell

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/19/2012

It's the halfway point of the month-long alligator season, and it's time to rally. Boat traffic is spoiling one of Troy's go-to hunting grounds, so he and Clint decide to brave a treacherous swamp guarded by the legendary Gates of Hell. Over in Myrtle Grove, the high water levels that remain after the storm have given Joe and Tommy a rare opportunity. Today, the guys are headed to one of Joe's daddy's favorite honey holes, located in a flooded drainage ditch they haven't been able to access in years. In Houma, today is a very special day for R.J. Molinere...it's his 50th birthday. In keeping with family tradition, the boys set a lofty goal--to catch one gator for each of RJ's 50 years. Meanwhile, Willie and Randy are facing some serious pressure from their dad, master hunter Junior Edwards. Junior's tasked his boys with a quota of six gators...and if they don't fill it, Junior will stop running their boat.