We got Steve at Reagan National Airport in D.C. and Scalise tells us the gator meat was finger-lickin' good, and gave us a taste of what it's like to hunt gators, fry 'em up and make gator jambalaya. Guess that's what Don Jr. had in mind when his father famously said, "drain the swamp."

He also defended President Trump's controversial stance on Puerto Rico's hurricane relief.

Steve and Don Jr. hit the bayou last week for Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry's annual gator hunt ... and they were joined by Kimberly Guilfoyle and GOP Rep. Brian Babin.

The congressman -- who was nearly fatally shot last year at the Congressional baseball practice -- has recovered enough to throw on some hunting gear and hit the swamp with his pals.