Travis Tritt -- It's a Great Day ... TO HUNT GATORS!!!

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Travis Tritt
It's a Great Day ...
TO HUNT GATORS!!!
Travis Tritt is a one-man alligator wrecking crew -- 'cause the country music legend put down a 13-footer recently that would even make the "Swamp People" blush.

Tritt was hanging in NYC yesterday when we asked about his penchant for hunting -- and Travis explained that he'll basically go after anything: "Gators, elk, deer ... you name it."

We did some digging and found out ... he's not kidding. Just last year, Tritt went out with the Beach Boys Gator Hunt in Florida ... and got himself a monster.

Fun Fact -- Travis is a big political activist and happens to be pro-death penalty ... for humans.

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Randy Travis -- Fitted with 'World's Smallest Heart Pump'

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Randy Travis
Fitted with 'World's Smallest Heart Pump'

Randy Travis has been outfitted with a device that's considered the "world's smallest heart pump" ... TMZ has learned.

Travis' publicist, Kirt Webster, tells TMZ ... the singer did NOT undergo heart surgery, contrary to reports, but did have an Impella peripheral left ventrical assist device placed in his heart for "stabilization while transferring hospitals."

According to the company that makes the Impella device, the pump is commonly inserted through a "standard catheterization procedure" -- in which the doctor inserts a catheter into an artery in either the arm, groin or neck and send it all the way to the heart.

We're told the device is considered the world's smallest heart pump -- the same size as a coffee stirrer and smaller in diameter than a pencil.

FYI -- according to the Mayo Clinic, a ventricular assist device (VAD) is "an implantable mechanical pump that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (the ventricles) to the rest of your body."

Travis' rep insists the procedure is minimally invasive -- and therefore NOT considered heart surgery.

Travis has also issued a statement ... saying, "We are very thankful to the fans for their love and support during this time."

We're told cards and well wishes can be sent to:
Randy Travis
266 Blanks Road
Tioga, Texas 76271

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Randy Travis -- Family and Friends 'Frantic' About Singer's Condition

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Randy Travis
Family and Friends 'Frantic'
About Singer's Condition

The people closest to Randy Travis are extremely worried about the singer's condition ... with sources telling TMZ his health had declined pretty rapidly in recent days after coming down with what he initially thought was a bad cold.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... just 3 weeks ago, 54-year-old Travis completed his court-ordered rehab stemming from a 2012 drunk driving arrest ... and was finally back on the road.

We're told ... once Travis began touring, he came down with what he thought was a cold ... but turned out to be pneumonia.

Our sources say Travis' health deteriorated quickly ... and Sunday he was airlifted to a hospital, where he was treated for complications stemming from viral cardiomyopathy.

One medical expert tells TMZ viral cardiomyopathy is not necessarily a death sentence ... and some patients can survive, depending on the level of permanent damage to the heart muscle.

Travis' camp hasn't released the particulars about his medical situation -- only to say he's in critical condition.

Still, we're told Randy's friends and family are "frantic."

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