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

by
posted on June 6, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
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

Lederidge Women Lifestyle
Lederidge Women Lifestyle

New for 2026: ScentLok Ridge Series for Women

ScentLok has taken the features hunters love about its men's Ridge line and combined them with a fit designed to help women feel comfortable and agile in the field. It combines form-fitting designs with technologies like Carbon Alloy, Silver Allow and Precip-X to produce an excellent midseason option.

Does This Bioethicist Want to Make Us All Allergic to Meat?

When Dr. S. Matthew Liao, a “bioethicist” affiliated with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the director of the Center for Bioethics at New York University (NYU), floated the idea of deliberately making people allergic to red meat, he created a counterreaction that still reverberates on social media today.

How To Pull Coyotes Close

Use these strategies to lure coyotes into confident shooting range.

New for 2026: Savage 110 Trophy Series

Savage Arms has introduced its 110 Trophy Series. As part of the overhaul of the Model 110, the 110 Trophy Series is a four-gun lineup of rifles incorporating the 110 Trail Blazer, 110 Trail Blazer XP, 110 Ridge Hunter and 110 Carbon Hunter.

#SundayGunday: Dead Air Nomad 30

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the Dead Air Nomad 30, the 30-caliber hunting stalwart of Dead Air’s suppressor lineup. The stainless-steel can tips the scales at less than a pound, despite being rated for calibers up to .300 Norma Magnum, and 4400 ft.-lbs. of energy. For more on the Nomad 30, check out this exclusive video.

Eye on the Future of Hunting and Conservation

The dedication to passing on the enthusiasm and understanding of hunting’s role shows in the number of courses, seminars and special hunts already on the calendar with various state game and fish departments, and conservation organizations. Here are a few that crossed my desk just last week, but there are dozens of others—likely a few near you.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.