Massive Alligator Caught Not Once, But Twice, near Hilton Head, S.C.

by
posted on June 6, 2014
wilder_ah2015_fs.jpg (18)

Finding an alligator prowling around the area is something that residents in the southeastern part of the country are relatively accustomed to dealing with—but finding a 12-foot monster that looks like it walked right out of a Discovery Channel special? That's a little less common. Even more so when it turns up a second time.

That's essentially what happened in Hilton Head, S.C., according to a report from The Island Packet. Last week, Critter Management owner Joe Maffo was called to help take care of one massive gator—which he estimated was 12-feet, 8-inches long and weighed nearly a half-ton—that had appeared on a local roadway. Maffo and his team showed up, wrangled the big ol' reptile and ultimately released it at the point of a local creek, expecting that it would decide Hilton Head was too much trouble and head for greener pastures.

They were wrong. The next day, Maffo responded to another call on the island—and came face-to-face with the same gator. He and his team corralled it, again, and released it—again. This time he chose a spot near a wildlife refuge. Someone managed to get some video of the monster during the release, which you'll find at the bottom of this post.

The Associated Press is reporting that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is actually planning on investigating the case, since "nuisance" alligators are typically eliminated, rather than re-released, for the safety of the public.

Get a look at the gargantuan gator yourself in the video embedded below.

Latest

Fenson Wild Turkey Dip (1)
Fenson Wild Turkey Dip (1)

Recipe: Kicked-Up Wild Turkey Dip

Wild turkey has incredible flavor and is highly versatile. Consider using it for a tailgate party, watching your favorite sports team or as the ultimate starter in a hunting camp.

Argentina: Where Ignorance is Bliss, and the Dove Hunting is Heavenly

They say that ignorance is bliss, and it is, until that bliss is snatched away by the cold, icy hand of reality. In this case, that hand was wielded by a fellow hunter sitting shotgun in an approaching pickup truck.

4-Play Turkey Calls Debuts Diaphragm Calls

The folks over at 4-Play turkey calls, not content to constrain themselves to their excellent line of box calls, have debuted a line of diaphragm calls that are sure to make toms close that las tidbit of distance.

New for 2025: Rossi R95 TBP Series

Rossi USA has unveiled the next evolution in the R95 family: the R95 TBP (Triple Black Pistol). This new lever-action pistol delivers all the features shooters enjoy about the rugged R95 Triple Black rifle in a compact, maneuverable platform.

Head to Head: 7mm Remington Magnum vs. 7mm STW

We recently ran a battle between the two newest 7mms—7mm PRC vs. 7mm Backcountry. In the comments, we noticed quite a few folks having an entirely different debate about two older stalwarts—7mm Rem. Mag. vs. 7mm STW. Read on to find out which of these classic cartridges comes out on top.

First Look: JK Armament 195 SGX 20GA Shotgun Suppressor

The JK Armament 195 SGX 20GA (available in black and FDE) is a fully modular shotgun suppressor designed for 20 gauges. Its fully configurable design means that you can modify the suppressor for optimal performance whether you’re engaged in hunting, fun on the range or competition.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.